Is CAIS2 worth the 10× price premium over The Ordinary's Buffet?

It's a question of concentration, not quality. CAIS2 delivers substantially more GHK-Cu per application. If you're specifically targeting the copper-peptide pathway aggressively, the math favors it. For general anti-aging peptide layering, The Ordinary Buffet or INKEY List give broader mechanism coverage at a fraction of the cost.

What does 3:1 refer to?

The ratio of active copper tripeptide to supporting amino-acid ligands — Deciem's stability engineering. The practical effect is that the copper-tripeptide coordination complex holds for longer, reducing the blue-to-clear decay that affects cheaper copper peptide serums.

serum15-30ml

Copper Amino Isolate Serum 3:1 (CAIS2)

Name: Copper Amino Isolate Serum 3:1 (CAIS2)
Brand: NIOD
Availability: InStock

NIOD

CAIS2 is NIOD's flagship copper peptide serum, positioned several tiers above the entry-level copper peptide market. The formulation delivers GHK-Cu at a substantially higher concentration than The Ordinary's Buffet (CAIS2's supplier-spec active concentration approaches the upper end of evidence-backed use, 0.15-0.2% free base). The 3:1 designation refers to the ratio of active copper tripeptide to supporting amino-acid ligands in the formulation — Deciem's engineering argument for stability and activity retention. Price point reflects the concentration: roughly 10× the per-ml cost of The Ordinary but delivering a different class of exposure.

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Peptides in this product

GHK-Cu (Copper Tripeptide-1)

~0.15-0.2% free base (estimated from supplier blend)

High-concentration collagen stimulation

Targets

Peptides for Anti-Aging Peptides for Skin & Glow

Key ingredients

Copper Tripeptide-1GlycineHistidineLysine

How to use

Apply a pea-sized amount AM or PM to clean skin before moisturizer. Do NOT layer with direct-form vitamin C in the same routine — copper deactivates ascorbic acid. Alternate days or AM/PM split recommended.