Selfore Whisper · Edition N°01
The Formulation.
Every ingredient. Every percentage. The full document.
If a peptide is on the front of the bottle, the percentage is on the back of the bottle. The Selfore standard, repeated here in full. This page is the complete formulation document for Whisper, V4. Every active. Every excipient. Every CAS number. The numbers are not rounded for marketing. The list is not curated for the eye. This is what is in the bottle.
Looking for the philosophy behind the disclosure? Read The Science.
§ 01 — At A Glance
The headline numbers.
Eight figures that describe the formula. Each one is disclosed in full further down the page.
Argireline 8% · SNAP-8 1.5% · Leuphasyl 1.5%
GHK-Cu, true 1% peptide content
Ectoine, at the upper bound of published use
Dual molecular weight, 0.3% HMW + 0.2% LMW
Oat 1,3 / 1,6
Provitamin B5, barrier support
Pal-GHK 0.05% + Pal-GQPR 0.05%
Fragrance · dye · alcohol · silicone. By design.
§ 02 — A Note On The Copper Peptide
A true 1% peptide, not 1% of a complex.
The most quietly misleading number in peptide skincare is the copper peptide percentage. Many serums list "1% copper peptide" while delivering far less, because the percentage refers to a pre-diluted complex or solution rather than to the peptide molecule itself.
Whisper is formulated at 1% GHK-Cu peptide content — the upper bound of published research concentrations for the active molecule, not for a dilution of it. The vivid blue of the serum is the copper ion bound to the peptide. No dye is added. The color is, in practice, a visual indicator that the peptide is present at the load the label describes.
This is the single largest formulation cost in the bottle. It is also the reason you can see, by eye, that the active is there.
Read more: What is a copper peptide?
§ 03 — The Full Formulation
Disclosed in full. No asterisks.
The complete formulation for Whisper V4, organized by manufacturing phase. Percentages are % w/w. INCI names are the regulatory identity; common names are the names you'll see in the literature; CAS numbers are the chemical registry identifier, supplied so the curious reader can verify each ingredient at its source.
Phase A — Aqueous Base
| Ingredient (INCI) | Common Name | CAS No. | % w/w | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aqua | Deionized Water | 7732-18-5 | 65.80% | Solvent base |
| Sodium Phytate | Phytic acid sodium salt | 14306-25-3 | 0.10% | Chelator; spares copper |
| Pentylene Glycol | 1,2-Pentanediol | 5343-92-0 | 3.00% | Humectant, preservative booster |
| Glycerin | Glycerol | 56-81-5 | 1.00% | Humectant |
| Sodium Hyaluronate (HMW) | High molecular weight HA, 1.0–1.5 MDa | 9067-32-7 | 0.30% | Surface hydration |
| Sodium Hyaluronate (LMW) | Low molecular weight HA, 50 kDa | 9067-32-7 | 0.20% | Deeper hydration |
| Beta-Glucan | Oat Beta-Glucan 1,3 / 1,6 | 9041-22-9 | 0.25% | Soothing, barrier support |
| Xanthan Gum | Xanthan Gum | 11138-66-2 | 0.07% | Rheology |
| Ectoine | Ectoin | 96702-03-3 | 1.00% | Peptide stabilizer, protease protection |
Phase B — The Active Stack
| Ingredient (INCI) | Common Name | CAS No. | % w/w | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panthenol | Provitamin B5 | 81-13-0 | 2.00% | Barrier, soothing, humectant |
| Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 | Argireline | 616204-22-9 | 8.00% | Neuropeptide · SNAP-25 internal-domain inhibition |
| Acetyl Octapeptide-3 | SNAP-8 | 868851-49-2 | 1.50% | Neuropeptide · SNAP-25 N-terminus inhibition |
| Pentapeptide-18 | Leuphasyl | 64963-01-5 | 1.50% | Neuropeptide · enkephalin pathway |
| Copper Tripeptide-1 | GHK-Cu | 89030-95-5 | 1.00% | Carrier peptide · collagen and elastin signaling |
| Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 | Pal-GHK (Matrixyl 3000 part 1) | 147732-56-7 | 0.05% | Signal peptide · matrix signaling |
| Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 | Pal-GQPR (Matrixyl 3000 part 2) | 221227-05-0 | 0.05% | Signal peptide · anti-inflammatory |
Phase C — Preservation & Antioxidant
| Ingredient (INCI) | Common Name | CAS No. | % w/w | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tocopherol | Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 59-02-9 | 0.10% | Oil-soluble antioxidant |
| BHT | Butylated hydroxytoluene | 128-37-0 | 0.05% | Synergistic antioxidant |
| Phenoxyethanol | Phenoxyethanol | 122-99-6 | 0.80% | Broad-spectrum preservative |
| Ethylhexylglycerin | Sensiva SC 50 | 70445-33-9 | 0.30% | Preservative booster |
Phase D — pH Adjustment
| Ingredient (INCI) | Common Name | CAS No. | % w/w | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Citric Acid (10% sol.) | Citric Acid | 77-92-9 | q.s. | pH adjustment, downward |
| Sodium Hydroxide (10% sol.) | Lye | 1310-73-2 | q.s. | pH adjustment, upward |
Target pH: 5.5-5.8. Total peptide load: 13.1% (11% neuropeptide system + 2.1% remodeling and stability peptides). Fragrance: none. Dye: none. The color is GHK-Cu.
§ 04 — The Four Categories, In This Bottle
Stacked mechanisms, not stacked names.
Selfore formulates across the four published categories of cosmetic peptide. Whisper represents three of the four in a single bottle. Here is where each ingredient sits.
Category 01
Neuropeptides — 11% total
Argireline 8%, SNAP-8 1.5%, Leuphasyl 1.5%. Three peptides working on the same biology from three different angles, for the visible look of softer expression lines.
Category 02
Carrier peptide — 1%
GHK-Cu at true 1% peptide content. Ferries copper into the skin, where it acts as a cofactor for the enzymes that build and remodel matrix.
Category 03
Signal peptides — 0.1%
Matrixyl 3000: Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 and Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7. Mimics fragments of collagen breakdown, signaling fibroblasts to produce new matrix. The second peptide in the pair also spans the enzyme-inhibitor category.
Category 04
Enzyme-inhibitor peptides — represented by Pal-GQPR
Spans the signal and enzyme-inhibitor categories. Slows the activity of the MMPs that degrade collagen and elastin.
More on the four categories: Peptide stacking, explained.
§ 05 — The Supporting Architecture
Stability is a formulation, not a marketing word.
A peptide formula at this load lives or dies on its excipients. The ingredients below are not actives, but they are the reason the actives are still doing their work in month six.
Read the supporting architecture detail.
Ectoine, 1%. A naturally occurring extremolyte from halophilic bacteria. Stabilizes peptides through preferential exclusion — a thermodynamic mechanism that protects fragile molecules from denaturation. Selfore considers ectoine the most under-credited ingredient in the formula. Read more: What is ectoine?
Sodium phytate, 0.10%. A chelator chosen specifically because it spares copper. Standard EDTA chelators would bind the copper in GHK-Cu and undermine the active. Sodium phytate is the formulation-correct choice for a copper-peptide system.
Dual-weight sodium hyaluronate, 0.5% total. High molecular weight (1.0–1.5 MDa) at 0.3% for surface hydration; low molecular weight (50 kDa) at 0.2% for deeper penetration. Two weights, two jobs.
Pentylene glycol, 3%. Humectant and preservative booster. Selected for its compatibility with high-peptide systems.
Phenoxyethanol + ethylhexylglycerin. Broad-spectrum preservation at 0.80% and 0.30%. The combination is the cosmetic-industry standard for fragrance-free, low-sensitization preservation.
Tocopherol + BHT. Antioxidant pair. Tocopherol is the natural antioxidant; BHT is a synergist that extends its activity. Both are present below 0.10%.
§ 06 — What Is Not In The Bottle
Restraint, by design.
| What's not in Whisper | Why not |
|---|---|
| Fragrance | The most common cosmetic allergen in the dermatology literature. |
| Dye | Obscures the visual signal of a real active. The blue is copper, not pigment. |
| Alcohol (denatured) | Can compromise the barrier under high-active care. |
| Silicone | Changes how a formula feels without changing what it does. |
| Essential oils | Often sensitizing; not formulation-necessary for an aqueous serum. |
| Retinol | A different category of active. Whisper layers cleanly underneath. |
| Sulfates | Not relevant to a leave-on serum, but worth saying. |
| Parabens | Replaced by the phenoxyethanol / ethylhexylglycerin system. |
| PEGs | Not used in the formula. |
| Animal-derived ingredients | Whisper is vegan. |
Why fragrance-free matters -> the journal entry.
§ 07 — Specifications
The technical document.
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Fill volume | 30 ml · 1.0 fl oz |
| Format | Aqueous serum |
| Target pH | 5.5 – 5.8 |
| Total active peptide load | 13.1% |
| Color | Vivid blue (GHK-Cu, no added dye) |
| Fragrance | None |
| Primary packaging | Clear flint glass flacon, glass dropper, matte black bulb |
| Shelf life (unopened) | 24 months |
| Period after opening (PAO) | 6 months |
| Country of formulation | Canada |
| Suitability | Vegan, cruelty-free, non-comedogenic |
| Suitable for | Sensitive and reactive skin types; fragrance-free formulation |
§ 08 — The Honest Footnote
About what this evidence supports.
Cosmetic peptide research is overwhelmingly conducted at the ingredient level, not the finished-formula level. The studies that inform Whisper demonstrate that the individual actives — Argireline at 5–10%, GHK-Cu at concentrations up to 1%, SNAP-8 and Leuphasyl in the 1–2% range — produce the cosmetic effects described in the published literature.
They do not demonstrate clinical results for Whisper itself as a registered drug, because Whisper is not a drug and does not make drug claims. Selfore treats this distinction as a matter of honesty, not legal positioning.
The full reference list is on The Science page.
§ 09 — Questions About The Formulation
For the technical reader.
What is the full INCI list for Selfore Whisper?
Aqua, Pentylene Glycol, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Panthenol, Acetyl Octapeptide-3, Pentapeptide-18, Glycerin, Copper Tripeptide-1, Ectoine, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Beta-Glucan, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol, Sodium Phytate, Xanthan Gum, BHT, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide.
What percentage of Argireline is in Whisper?
8.00% w/w. Argireline (acetyl hexapeptide-8) is loaded at the upper bound of published research concentrations, which span roughly 5% to 10% in the peer-reviewed cosmetic literature.
Is the 1% copper peptide in Whisper a true 1% peptide?
Yes. The 1% figure refers to the active GHK-Cu peptide content in the formula — the molecule itself — not a 1% dilution of a pre-formulated copper peptide complex. This is the upper bound of published research concentrations for GHK-Cu in cosmetic use. The vivid blue color of the serum is the copper ion bound to the peptide; no dye is added.
Why is Whisper blue?
The blue color is produced by GHK-Cu (copper tripeptide-1) at 1%. The copper ion in the peptide complex has a natural blue chromophore. The intensity of the color is a rough visual indicator that the copper peptide is present at the labeled concentration. Whisper contains no added dye.
What is the pH of Whisper?
5.5 to 5.8. This range is chosen specifically to maintain peptide stability while sitting close to the skin's natural surface pH.
Does Whisper contain parabens, sulfates, or PEGs?
No to all three. Preservation is provided by phenoxyethanol (0.80%) and ethylhexylglycerin (0.30%), a fragrance-free preservation system. Whisper contains no sulfates (irrelevant to a leave-on serum, but worth stating) and no PEG-derived ingredients.
Why is sodium phytate used instead of EDTA?
Standard EDTA chelators would bind the copper in GHK-Cu and undermine the active. Sodium phytate is a copper-sparing chelator, and is the formulation-correct choice for a copper-peptide serum.
Is the ectoine in Whisper synthetic or naturally derived?
The ectoine in Whisper is biotechnologically produced — fermented from halophilic bacteria, the natural source of the molecule. It is identical to the ectoine produced in nature.
Is Whisper formulated in Canada?
Yes. Whisper is formulated and manufactured in Canada to ISO 22716 cosmetic GMP standards.
What molecular weights of hyaluronic acid does Whisper use?
Two: high molecular weight at 1.0–1.5 MDa (loaded at 0.30%) for surface hydration and film, and low molecular weight at approximately 50 kDa (loaded at 0.20%) for deeper hydration.
Is Whisper vegan and cruelty-free?
Yes. Whisper contains no animal-derived ingredients and is not tested on animals at any stage of formulation or production.
Are there allergens in the Whisper formulation?
Whisper contains no added fragrance and is free of the 26 fragrance allergens disclosed under EU Cosmetic Regulation. The formula contains oat-derived beta-glucan; readers with severe oat allergies should patch-test. The full INCI list above is the complete formulation document — there are no hidden components.
§ 10 — The Acquisition
The standard, in a bottle.
Whisper. Edition N°01.
Whisper. Edition N°01. The first formula built to the disclosure standard described on this page.