The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum for skin with dark spots
Copper Tripeptide-1
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Sodium Hyaluronate
Lactococcus Lysate Ferment
Average
- HighNormal Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for skin with dark spots; other serums fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dark spots: hyperpigmentation, sun spots, and uneven skin tone. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Offers excellent skin treatment for normal skin due to the presence of multiple peptides like Copper Tripeptide-1 and Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, which stimulate collagen and boost ECM synthesis for plumping and minimizing fine lines.
- While Glycerin and Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer provide hydration and skin barrier support, these benefits are mostly supportive and do not directly address your main goal of pigmentation.
- The product is safe for your normal skin with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Apply this serum as part of your PM routine starting 3x/week and build up to daily use if your skin likes it.
- Place the serum after cleansing and toning, but before your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and wait a minute for it to absorb.
- Apply the serum on dry skin to help fade pigmentation effectively.
- Avoid the eye area and always use SPF 30+ during the day.
People Say
★4.5Overall rating based on 3.2k+ reviewsA notable number of reviews mention a metallic scent and some users report experiencing irritation or stickiness, particularly those with sensitive skin.
Highlights
Improves firmness Often Mentioned
- “Nature's botox”
- “snatched my skin”
- “bouncy and plump”
- “defined jawline”
- “restored elasticity”
Lightweight absorption Often Mentioned
- “Sinks in immediately”
- “not greasy”
- “layers well”
- “watery texture”
- “no residue”
Smooths texture Often Mentioned
- “Glass skin effect”
- “pores look smaller”
- “texture is gone”
- “smoother than usual”
- “softens rough patches”
Unpleasant scent Often Mentioned
- “Smells like vinegar”
- “metallic penny smell”
- “weird rusty scent”
- “stinks upon application”
- “chemical odor”
Accelerates healing Sometimes Noted
- “healed acne scars”
- “reduced redness”
- “repaired skin barrier”
Value for money Sometimes Noted
- “Cheaper than NIOD”
- “affordable copper peptide”
- “great price point”
- “worth every penny”
- “accessible anti-aging”
Initial stickiness Sometimes Noted
- “Tacky at first”
- “sticky finish”
- “feels like glue”
- “needs time to dry”
- “slightly tacky”
Product conflicts Sometimes Noted
- “Hard to layer”
- “pills with Vitamin C”
- “can't use with acids”
- “complicated routine”
- “oxidizes with other serums”
Pricey for brand Rarely Noted
- “Expensive for Ordinary”
- “small bottle size”
- “price went up”
- “priciest item they sell”
- “runs out fast”
Skin irritation Rarely Noted
- “Caused breakouts”
- “stung my face”
- “redness and burning”
- “tiny bumps appeared”
- “sensitized my skin”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, ulta.com, theordinary.com, skinsort.com, lookfantastic.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum work for skin with dark spots?
This serum works for skin with dark spots, though other products fit your skin better. While it offers great hydration and plumping benefits, it lacks direct ingredients for pigmentation, and this skin needs a product with effective antioxidants and soothing ingredients that target dark spots without irritation.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for skin with dark spots?
This serum is an average fit for skin with dark spots because its peptides mainly help plump and smooth skin rather than target pigmentation directly. To better fit this skin, a product of this type needs effective antioxidants and soothing ingredients that fade dark spots without causing irritation.
What does Copper Tripeptide-1 do for skin with dark spots?
Copper Tripeptide-1 helps calm irritation and protects skin from UV-related damage that can lead to dark spots. When paired with specific ferment extracts, it helps improve overall tone and strengthens the skin barrier.
What does Argireline do for skin with dark spots?
Argireline is not known to do anything for dark spots on the skin. It is used to help smooth lines and reduce skin roughness by targeting facial wrinkles.
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for skin with dark spots?
This treatment serum goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing, following a safe profile for your skin. While it provides good hydration and peptides, dark spots need a product with targeted brightening ingredients like vitamin C or niacinamide.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum with retinol by applying the serum first and following it with your retinol. Because this product is gentle and lacks harsh ingredients, it is unlikely to irritate your skin when paired this way.
How often should I use this serum?
This serum works well in the evening routine. Skin with dark spots needs dedicated ingredients like brightening agents or targeted tyrosinase inhibitors.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for skin with dark spots?
This serum is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on skin with dark spots because it is free of harsh ingredients that usually trigger irritation. However, since it focuses mainly on firming rather than dark spots, skin with dark spots needs a treatment containing brightening ingredients like vitamin C, niacinamide, or alpha arbutin.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Argireline treatment twice daily for 4 weeks produced a significant anti-wrinkle effect with 48.9% total efficacy and decreased skin roughness in Chinese subjects compared with 0% efficacy and no decrease in roughness in the placebo group.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2013Acetyl hexapeptide-3 and tripeptide-10 citrulline demonstrated antiwrinkle efficacy and decreased transepidermal water loss in twenty-four healthy volunteers compared to control groups, though synergistic effects between the two peptides remained unclear.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2017Argireline applied twice daily for 4 weeks achieved a total anti-wrinkle efficiency of 48.9% and notably reduced wrinkle depth compared to placebo in Chinese subjects.
Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2013A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Topical copper tripeptide complex on CO2 laser-resurfaced skin caused no significant reduction in erythema or objective improvement in wrinkles compared to controls, but significantly increased patient satisfaction regarding overall skin quality.
Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery, 2006A novel regimen combining a hydroxy acid-based scrub and copper tripeptide serum significantly reduced adherent scalp flaking by 61.24%, increased hair density by 12.48%, increased hair thickness by 25.36%, and improved scalp skin hydration by 76.24% in adults with mild to moderate dandruff over 15 days.
Cureus, 2024The combination of Thermus thermophilus and Bacillus subtilis mixed-culture ferment extract and copper tripeptide-1 GHK-Cu reduced inflammatory cytokines, protected skin explants from UV-induced damage, and improved wrinkles and skin barrier conditions compared to individual components or controls.
Skin Research and Technology, 2026Treatment with cross-linked hyaluronic acid-based microneedle patches combined with acetyl hexapeptide-8 or epidermal growth factor significantly improved wrinkles and skin hydration compared to the patch alone in Korean females over 29 days.
Annals of Dermatology, 2019Daily topical acetyl hexapeptide-8 showed a trend toward a longer time until return to baseline Jankovic Blepharospasm Rating Scale scores compared to placebo (3.7 months vs. 3.0 months) in 24 patients with blepharospasm receiving botulinum toxin therapy.
European Journal of Neurology, 2013Dissolving microneedles loaded with 3-O-ethyl ascorbic acid and acetyl hexapeptide-8 achieved higher cumulative transdermal delivery than aqueous solutions and significantly reduced photoaging signs while restoring oxidative balance in a UV/D-galactose-induced mouse model.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2026A multi-modal methodology combining MALDI-MSI, in vivo RCM, echography, and histology revealed age-related decreases in extracellular matrix and epidermal-dermal junction proteins and undulation depth, while a blend of palmitoyl oligopeptide and palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 improved subepidermal low-echogenic band thickness, density, and extracellular matrix structure compared to placebo.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2015Chronomodulated daytime application of baicalin and nighttime application of palmitoyl tripeptide-1 synergistically improved skin luminance by 16.29%, nasolabial fold depth by -36.35%, and firmness by 24.35% in 30 female participants.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026Palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7, acetyl hexapeptide-8, palmitoyl tripeptide-1, and palmitoyl tetrapeptide-10 significantly increased type III collagen levels in human dermal fibroblasts following UV exposure, with their combination demonstrating a greater effect in vitro and enhancing type I, III, and IV collagen levels in ex vivo skin tissues compared to individual components.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2026Topical application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.
Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.
BMC Oral Health, 2019
Why other serums fit skin with dark spots better
Niacinamide significantly decreased hyperpigmentation and increased skin lightness compared with vehicle alone after 4 weeks of use in women by inhibiting melanosome transfer.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Treatment with 14% ferulic acid and 12% l-ascorbic acid significantly reduced pigmentation and erythema while improving hydration and elasticity in 20 women with photoaged skin, with neither acid proving definitively more effective overall though ascorbic acid showed slightly greater skin lightening.
Dermatologic Therapy, 2022
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Lactococcus Lysate Ferment, Copper Tripeptide-1, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Pentapeptide-18, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate, Acetylarginyltryptophyl Diphenylglycine, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Glycine, Alanine, Serine, Valine, Isoleucine, Proline, Threonine, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Arginine, Aspartic Acid, Trehalose, Fructose, Glucose, Maltose, Urea, Sodium Pca, Pca, Sodium Lactate, Citric Acid, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Acacia Senegal Gum, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Polysorbate 20, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Sodium Benzoate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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