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Top Growth Factor Serums for Anti-Aging: Best Options Revealed
Beauty

Top Growth Factor Serums for Anti-Aging: Best Options Revealed

11 April 2025


Growth Factors in Skin Care




There are many types of growth factors in skin care products. Which growth factors are best for antiaging? The answer is complicated. This blog will review the human growth factors, which growth factors are in topical skin care, and problems and safety of growth factors in skin care products.



Looking for the best growth factor serums?




You should shop for products using your Baumann Skin Type. Its the only way to find products that are right for your skin concerns.



The best way to know is to take the skin type quiz and get a dermatologist-recommended skin care routine. You will be able to choose from growth factor products from many brands if they are right for you. Whether you are looking for affordable growth factor serums or luxury creams, we




can help and you will be able to read reviews from others with your same skin type.



Before you spend a lot of money on expensive growth factor serums, make sure they are right for YOU!.




Discovery of Growth Factors



Skinmedica was the first company to come out with growth factors in skin care products. SkinMedica uses an ingredient called tissue nutrient solution in their growth factor serums. It is a combination of many types of growth factors.




What are growth factors?



Growth factors (GFs) are special proteins or steroid hormones that are made by various cells like keratinocytes, fibroblasts, platelets, and certain immune cells. GFs are signals used to change gene expression or communicate with other cell structures. Because of this, GFs play a crucial role in how cells move, grow, multiply, and change.




There are many types of GFs. Some of them can revitalize older skin cells like keratinocytes and fibroblasts, making them work better. However, it’s essential to understand that GFs don’t act alone. They work together as a team, where each player has a role. If you remove one player (or type of growth factor), it can change the whole game’s dynamics. That’s why when we study GFs individually, it’s hard to see the full picture of what they can do.



When we talk about growth factors in skin, there are epidermal derived and dermal derived growth factors that have different effects. What they do depends upon which ones are present.




Many skin serums use only one or two types of growth factors. TNS, or human conditioned fibroblast media- is the growth factor ingredient in SkinMedica products. TNS containing products have only dermal-derived GFs. This is not the same as what occurs naturally in the skin where epidermal and dermal derived growth factors work together. However, SkinMedica has new technology knowns as TNS-MR that has a wider range of growth factors which makes the SkinMedica TNS Advanced + Serum the best growth factor serum.



What do growth factors in skin care products do?




Growth factors are used to rejuvenate the skin. They prompt fibroblast skin cells to make important things that the skin needs to look younger such as collagen, elastin, and glycosaminoglycans. Loss of these skin components causes wrinkles, thin skin, and sagging.



What growth factors do in skin:




Affect cells close to where they are produced.



Regulate cell growth, proliferation, and differentiation.

Bind to specific receptors on the surface of their target cells.

Increase the production of collagen, hyaluronic acid, and elastin, which are key components for maintaining skin’s elasticity and hydration.

Speed skin healing

Make skin look smoother and younger

Exfoliate by promoting cell turnover and shedding of the older outer skin layers

Formulation of Skin Care Products With Growth Factors

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most common growth factors

List of growth factors in skin care products.

Click the growth factor (if underlined) to learn more about how it works in skin.

Epidermal Growth Factors

Fibroblast Growth Factors

Insulin-like Growth Factor (IGF)-I

Keratinocyte Growth Factor

Platelet-derived Growth Factors

Transforming growth factor alpha

Transforming Growth Factor β (TGF-β)

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor

best anti-aging growth factors

Which growth factor is best as an antiaging ingredient?

TGF-β has the most data to support its use for antiaging.

Platelet derived growth factors found in exosomes have also been shown to be beneficial to treat aged skin.

You can learn more about which is best: stem cells, exosomes, or growth actors at this link.

Are Growth Factor Serums Worth The Price?

Growth factor serums are expensive. Are they worth it? It depends upon how well they are formulated, how long they have been in the cream and on the shelf, where they are stored, if they are stored in air conditioning, and what other products they are used with in the skin care routine.

Problems with growth factors in skin serums that decrease effectiveness

Skin products with growth factors are a waste of money if active growth factor do not make it deep into the skin’s dermis where the fibroblasts are.

There are many issues that make it difficult for active growth factors to penetrate into these layers such as:

Unstable in the bottle or jar

Difficulty penetrating into the skin because they are too big (2, 3)

Rapidly broken down by protease enzymes on and in the skin

Damaged by free radicals (5)

Do not make it to the target receptors

Inactivated before they can do anything

Short half life (5)

For these reasons, the way that the growth factor products are formulated, how they are layered with other ingredients, and the step they are used in the skin regimen is very important!

Your skin care routine affects how well growth factors work

The presence of other products in your routine has a huge effect on growth factor serum effectiveness. For example, low pH cleansers lower the skin’s pH which could inactivate growth factors unless a higher pH moisturizer is layered on top.

These issues affect how well growth factors work in your skin routine:

Skin pH

Presence of occlusives

Presence of penetration enhancers

Presence of heparan sulfate

Status of the skin barrier

Are growth factors safe?

There has been a lot of buzz around growth factors (GFs) and their potential benefits, but there is still a lot we don’t know about the safety of cosmeceutical GFs. For instance, we are not entirely sure which GFs or their combinations in beauty products might promote or prevent skin cancer. What we do know is that certain skin cancers have receptors for the Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF), and when EGF is present, the outlook isn’t so great. And there are skin care products that proudly tout the presence of EGF in them! Yikes!

Some studies suggest that factors like EGF, TGF-α, FGF, VEGF, and PDGF might have negative roles in cancer.

Skincare products with GFs taken from fibroblast cells have been available for years. But here’s the catch: we don’t have a clear picture of how safe they are, especially for those with skin cancer. While there haven’t been any reported cases of skin cancer directly linked to growth factors in skin care products, a lawsuit in 2014 raised concerns about undisclosed risks. This lawsuit was eventually dismissed in 2018. The lingering worry? That these GFs might encourage unwanted skin cells to grow. So, if you choose to use GFs, watch your skin for any unusual growths and see a dermatologist immediately if you see anything suspicious.

does growth factor serum work

Find the best antiaging products for you by shopping by your Baumann Skin Type!

Take the Quiz

Growth factor products:

Neocutis BIO CREAM FIRM RICHE – Extra Moisturizing Smoothing & Tightening Cream

$83.00

Add to Cart

Neocutis BIO GEL FIRM Moisturizing Hydrogel

$83.00

Add to Cart

Neocutis MICRO GEL – Moisturizing Hydrogel 50 ML

$207.00

Add to Cart

SUZANOBAGIMD Retivance Skin Rejuvenating Complex

$150.00

Out of Stock

Biopelle Tensage Stem Cell Cream

$180.00

Add to Cart

EltaMD PM Restore Moisturizer

$17.00

Add to Cart

ISDIN Age Contour

$120.00

DQH Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C? It’s easy to create a skincare routine, but knowing how to use it is another thing entirely. In most cases, if you’re not getting the desired skin results, it could be due to the layering of conflicting ingredients. So, is it possible that salicylic acid and vitamin C are such ingredients? Or are these active ingredients the duo that’s been missing from your skincare routine? If you want answers, stick around because today we are going to explain the benefits of salicylic acid and vitamin C and how they can be used in your daily life. What are the benefits of salicylic acid for skin? Salicylic acid is one of the most commonly used beta hydroxy acids and is favored by many people with oily, acne-prone skin. This acid is derived from willow bark, and unlike its water-soluble relatives (called alpha-hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble, which means it can penetrate deeper into the lower layers of the skin. Once it reaches the lower layers, it can help unclog pores of excess sebum, dirt, bacteria, debris, and impurities. This results in clearer skin tones and greater definition. Not only does salicylic acid benefit the underlying layers, but the outer surface of the skin benefits as well. When applied to the skin, salicylic acid removes the buildup of dead skin cells. This is accomplished by breaking the bonds that hold dead cells to the surface. Over time, this can cause the complexion to look dull and prone to acne, blackheads, and other blemishes. If you’d like to learn more about salicylic acid and how it can improve your skin, check out this dedicated blog post from a beauty insider. What are the benefits of vitamin C for skin? Vitamin C is considered one of the most powerful antioxidants, which means it is very effective at fighting free radicals and preventing them from causing further skin damage. Examples of free radicals include pollution, central heating, UV rays and harsh climate. They attack proteins, fats and cell membranes as soon as they come into contact with the skin, causing signs of premature aging such as fine lines and wrinkles as well as hyperpigmentation, flaky patches of skin and loss of elasticity. Many people usually prefer to use vitamin C in their morning routine as this ingredient gives the complexion a radiant glow. You’ll also find that vitamin C can target areas of hyperpigmentation, plumping the skin and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The thing about vitamin C is that there are a lot of outdated studies going back to the 1950s that describe vitamin C as an unstable skin component. Thanks to improvements in modern technology, this is no longer the case as all products now contain a stable form of vitamin C. Visit The Beauty Insider to learn more about vitamin C. So please check out our blog post. Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C? Yes, you absolutely can. In fact, it’s thought that using salicylic acid before using vitamin C ensures it penetrates faster and works faster. This is an efficient way to utilize two power sources, and the reason has to do with pH. For example, the skin’s natural pH is about 4.7, making it slightly acidic. Salicylic acid and vitamin C are also both acidic, and you’ll find that vitamin C is absorbed quickly into the skin. Therefore, using salicylic acid beforehand can increase the acidity of the skin and allow vitamin C to penetrate into the skin faster. While this is considered an effective way to combine two powerful ingredients, you need to be aware of your skin type and how it reacts to certain active ingredients. Even people with perfect, normal skin can experience skin sensitivity and irritation. Therefore, always consult a doctor or dermatologist before using any new products on your skin. It’s also important to follow skin application rules. In this case, you need to use the product correctly to ensure you get the best results for your skin. If you’re not sure what I mean, the basic rule for skin is to start with the thinnest consistency and work your way up to the thickest consistency. This prevents a barrier from forming on the surface, preventing other active ingredients from penetrating the skin. Can I use salicylic acid at night and vitamin C in the morning? Yes, absolutely, this is considered the most effective way to get returns without any adverse side effects. This is because there is enough time between applications to ensure that the skin’s pH levels return to balance. You’ll also find that Vitamin C is rich in antioxidants and is perfect for use in the morning to ensure your skin is protected and looking its healthiest. Due to the small size of salicylic acid molecules, it is an acid that is able to reach the deepest parts of the skin. While this is effective at keeping skin clear, it also increases the risk of irritation and photosensitivity. Therefore, many people prefer to use powerful BHAs in their evening routine without exposure to UV rays, pollution, or harsh weather. Warning: If you avoid using sunscreen every day, none of these ingredients will do what your skin needs. The combination of chemical peels and powerful ingredients increases the risk of further damage to the skin’s surface. Use SPF 50 every day to keep your skin protected and your lipid barrier healthy, even on cloudy days, keeping your skin in top condition.
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