SkinMedica Products and Company History

Wondering where to buy SkinMedica products online? We are an authorized dealer and we run ecommerce for over 280 doctors that sell SkinMedica. We can help you shop by your skin type to find products from one of the best selling medical-grade skincare brand – SkinMedica®? As a dermatologist and skin care expert, I understand the importance of using products that are effective, evidence- based and recommended by dermatologists. I will help you find the best SkinMedica products online.

SkinMedica is a top skincare brand that was founded by a dermatologist, recommended and sold by many dermatologists, and has gained recognition for its groundbreaking use of growth factors in skincare. SkinMedica products were the first to contain growth factors in an antiaging skin serum.

I will help you find the best SkinMedica products for your skin type! Then I will discuss the technology known as TNS, how it was developed, and the history of SkinMedica. Don’t miss the SkinMedica company history section at the end of this blog- it is fascinating!

Ready to shop for SkinMedica products?

Step one is to take the quiz to find out your skin type. After the quiz you will receive a custom skincare routine where you can combine SkinMedica products with other skincare brands in your routine.

SkinMedica Products

In my Miami dermatology practice, I like to pick the best skincare products from SkinMedica and combine them with other brands in a custom skincare routine that matches my patient’s skin type. These are the products that I tend to recommend the most and a brief description of why I like them. Click the individual product to see a complete dermatologist review on that SkinMedica product. (These are being added so not all products have these yet.)

The Best SkinMedica Product

The very best SkinMedica product combines the TNS technology with the TNS-MR technology. You can read more about these different technologies and how they were developed below. The SkinMedica TNS Advanced + Serum is the most advanced and best growth factor serum with TNS (tissue nutrient solution).

SkinMedica TNS Advanced + Serum

I’m impressed by SkinMedica’s TNS Advanced+ Serum—it has 450 growth factors derived from fibroblasts and stem cells, more than previous TNS serums. These growth factors boost collagen and cell activity to truly address aging skin. The lightweight, non-comedogenic serum works well for all wrinkle-prone skin types. My patients see improvements in wrinkle, tone and texture on the face, neck and chest using TNS Advanced+ Serum. It can be layered before retinol in your skincare routine to boost it’s antiaging abilities.

This serum has Lactococcus Ferment Lysate and Saccharide Isomerate to stabilize the skin’s microbiome .It also contains the antiaging peptide Dimer Tripeptide-43.

Click to learn more about this bestselling antiaging serum!

Shop for SkinMedica Products

SkinMedica is most known for their serums. They have good antiaging, skin lightening, and hydrating serums. Take the skin type quiz to see which SkinMedica Products are best for you. In this section I will give you the same advice that I give me patients on how to choose a SkinMedica serum to use in your skincare routine.

Best Antiaging Serums from SkinMedica

SkinMedica has several types of antiaging serums with different combinations of these antiaging ingredients:

Growth factors

Tissue Nutrient Solution

Retinol

Vitamin C

Hyaluronic acid

You can click on the ingredient above to learn about it or continue reading to get advice on how to choose which SkinMedica antiaging serum is best for you.

SkinMedica Retinol

Retinol is always the first antiaging serum you should buy. It is the most effective and has the most evidence-based research. The SkinMedica retinol serum is well made, has a good form of retinol, and is manufactured and bottled in a light and air free environment that helps keep retinol stable and effective.

These are some of the best dermatologist-recommended retinols. They come in 3 strengths. Retinol beginners should always choose the lowest strength and follow these how to use retinol instructions. Do not use retinol if your skin is stinging, peeling, or you have active rosacea.

This is the lowest strength retinol that SkinMedica makes. If you are beginning a retinol, choose this strength and use it every third night after your moisturizer in your evening skincare routine.

Once you are used to the 0.25% retinol and are using it every night, you should increase to the mid strength 0.5% retinol. This strength is not as strong as prescription tretinoin. Follow our retinol instructions on how to increase the strength from 0.25% to 0.5%.

The 1% retinol is the strongest retinol by SkinMedica. It is not as strong as the weakest prescription strength tretinoin (0.025%), but it is very effective and can cause side effects if you do not use it properly in your skincare routine. Make sure you are using it with the right cleansers and moisturizers for your Baumann Skin Type to avoid irritation.

SkinMedica TNS and Growth Factors

Many SkinMedica products have growth factors and it can be hard to choose. This guide can help you figure out which growth factor serum to buy if for some reason you do not want to take the free skin type quiz which will also tell you which SkinMedica product is right for your skin type.

This is the most advanced of any growth factor TNS serum on the market. If you cannot tolerate retinol, this is the best antiaging serum for you. You can use this in your morning or night regimen. You can use it before retinol a night. This is a good choice if you have reactive sensitive skin such as rosacea and cannot use a retinol. Do not use if you have had skin cancers on your face.

SkinMedica HA5

The SkinMedica HA5 serum contains five distinct molecular weights of hyaluronic acid (HA) ranging from 800 kDa to less than 10 kDa. This allows the product to provide both surface hydration as well as deeper skin penetration and hydration. The 800 kDa HA is an extremely long chain molecule that creates a moisture-binding film on the skin’s surface, acting as a humectant. The longer chain 500 kDa and 200 kDa HA molecules also provide humectant properties while being small enough to penetrate into the epidermis. The 50 kDa medium chains and less than 10 kDa short chains are able to penetrate through the epidermis into the dermis. These tiny HA fragments bind water and help the serum carry other ingredients, like vitamins and antioxidants, deeper into the skin where they can provide more targeted treatment.

In addition to the multi-weight HA, the HA5 also contains several peptides including Tripeptide-29 and Tripeptide-1. These peptides boost collagen and elastin production in the dermis, helping to firm and smooth skin texture.

Overall, the combination of different sized HA molecules, collagen-supporting peptides, antioxidants and other ingredients allows the HA5 to deeply hydrate while also treating signs of aging for a more youthful appearance

This hyaluronic acid serum also has antioxidants like green tea leaf extract and vitamin E to provide protection against free radical damage.

This serum is great light moisturizer for oily skin types. Dry skin types should use this HA serum in combination with a barrier repair moisturizer.

The Best Skin Lightening Products from SkinMedica

The best serum from SkinMedica to lighten dark spots is SkinMedica Lytera 2.0. This was the first topical serum on the market to contain tranexamic acid.This is one of the most popular serums to treat dark spots because it blocks melanin production in many different ways.

SkinMedica Lytera 2.0

SkinMedica Lytera 2.0 has these skin lightening ingredients that work together to treat hyperpigmentation:

Niacinamide- PAR-2 Blocker

Phenylethyl Resorcinol- Tyrosinase inhibitor

Tranexamic Acid

Artemisia Capillaris Flower Extract

Vibrio Alginolyticus Ferment Filtrate

Alteromonas Ferment Extract

Tocopheryl Acetate(Vitamin E)-Antioxidant

Phytic Acid- alpha hydroxyacid- exfoliant

the story behind skin medica

The Story Behind SkinMedica

SkinMedica’s journey as a bestselling skincare brand began when the interest in injectable dermal fillers grew to the point that research was looking into how to make dermal fillers from human collagen instead of cow collagen. The process of growing human tissue in the lab developed into the discovery of Tissue Nutrient Solution (TNS) and the birth of one the top 10 bestselling skincare brands in the world.

TNS Recovery Complex was the first growth factor serum released on the market in 2001.

Dr. Gail Naughton

Scientist Gail Naughton and her team first described using fibroblast cell culture media for topical use around 1999. They named this growth factor rich serum NouriCel . (3,4)At this time injectable collagen (Zyderm® and Zyplast®) were new cosmetic procedures and fillers known as CosmoDerm® and CosmoPlast® were being developed from fibroblasts grown from a piece of foreskin using technology developed by Dr. Naughton. The rumor was that the donated skin was from a circumcision of someone in the company’s son but I have no idea if this is true. CosmoDerm® and CosmoPlast® were approved by FDA as dermal fillers in March 2003. The fibroblast cells used to make CosmoDerm and CosmoPlast grew in a conditioned media that was full of growth factors produced by the growing fibroblasts. This media was called Nouricel® and later Nouricel-MD® but now is known as Tissue Nutrient Solution® (TNS).

“I began hearing about growth factors for skin rejuvenation in 2001 when I was writing Cosmetic Dermatology: Principles and Practice (McGraw Hill 2002).” Leslie Baumann MD

I was a Professor at the University of Miami running the Department of Cosmetic Dermatology when Dr.Richard Fitzpatrick began lecturing on the use of growth factors to rejuvenate the skin. I was doing research trials for the company Inamed® who made the CosmoDerm® and CosmoPlast® fillers from which TNS was extracted. I remember being very excited about this new technology. It was so new that growth factors were only briefly mentioned in my textbook on cosmetic dermatology which was the first cosmetic dermatology textbook in the world. That’s how new growth factors were at the time! But we all knew they would play an important role in skin rejuvenation and restoring skin collagen.

This is an image from 2003 of the large vats used to grow fibroblasts to make the dermal fillers CosmoDerm and CosmPlast. The media used to make TNS was isolated from these cells. The technology has changed and been improved since this time with the acquisition of HIstogen’s technology.

Dr. Richard Fitzpatrick

Dr.Richard Fitzpatrick founded SkinMedica in 1999. He started talking about growth factors in skin care around 2000-2001. (Note that this is Richard Fitzpatrick who is not the same Dr.Thomas Fitzpatrick from Harvard Medical School who wrote the textbook and described the Fitzpatrick Skin Types.)

I am not sure how Gail Naughton and Richard Fitzpatrick teamed up, but they both lived in San Diego California at the time. SkinMedica launched the first growth factor serum using TNS in 2001.

Tissue Nutrient Solution

This groundbreaking discovery of growth factors in cultured fibroblast media paved the way for the development of TNS (Tissue Nutrient Solution), a proprietary blend of growth factors, soluble collagen, antioxidants, and matrix proteins. This growth factor-rich media is a key ingredient in SkinMedica products. Over the years, SkinMedica has continually improved the formulation, ensuring that it remains at the forefront of medical-grade skincare. In 2017, SkinMedica (owned by Allergan at the time) acquired the skincare line Regenica owned by Dr. Naughtons’s company Histogen. (7) Regenica used Multipotent Resignaling Complex (MRCx) which also contains growth factors. There is a new version of TNS called TNS-MR that combines the TNS and MRCx technologies to form the most advanced growth factor serum on the market now. TNS Essential Serum contains 380 dermal derived growth factors while TNS-MR contains 450 epidermal and dermal derived growth factors.

“Histogen has developed a next-generation regenerative cell technology, harnessing the power of growth factors and stem-cell signaling molecules for skin rejuvenation that complements Allergan’s flagship growth factor technology—TNS,” said Rahul Mehta, PhD, vice president of research and development at SkinMedica, an Allergan Company.” MedEsthetics July 27, 2017

Human Fibroblast Conditioned Media

Human Fibroblast Conditioned Media is the INCI name found on the product ingredient label and is essentially the same thing as Tissue Nutrient Solution (TNS) or Multipotent Resignaling Complex (MRCx). It is the name for the solution that contains growth factors.

Allergan and SkinMedica

SkinMedica Is owned by Allergan: Allergan is owned by the pharmaceutical company Abbvie. Allergan acquired SkinMedica in 2012 for approximately $350 million. It is not one of the top science-based medically proven skincare brands in the world.

Is SkinMedica the Best Skincare Brand?

The best skincare brand for you depends upon which of the 16 Baumann Skin Types you are, your values, and budget.

Take the free skin type quiz to find out which products are best for you and build a custom skin care routine.

DQH Knowledge drop: In your 20s, your skin cell turnover decreases. (Cell turnover is a key component in keeping your skin youthful.) You know what else slows down? Your collagen production. Starting in your 20s, collagen decreases by about 1 percent per year. Should you want to prevent fine lines and wrinkles, start by eliminating behaviors that contribute to premature aging. “If it’s bad for you, it’s bad for your skin,” says dermatologist Michel Somenek. “Cigarette smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and causes premature wrinkling and a dull skin texture. Making the repeated pursed motion to inhale can also cause smoker’s lines. Alcohol and recreational drugs are toxins for the skin that damage its cellular structure and DNA,” Somenek tells us. “The faster you eliminate vices while you are young, the better chance your skin and body have to recuperate.” Also, adopting an anti-aging routine in your 20s is key. After all, the best offense is a good defense. We spoke to Somenek and experts Joshua Ross and Audrey Kunin to find out more. Keep reading for the best anti-aging products for your 20s, according to skincare professionals. Sunscreen “We all know that the sun is the number one cause of skin aging and starting the prevention in your 20s is very important,” Ross says. “The majority of your sun damage won’t start to appear until you’re in your 30s, so don’t wait until you see it surface or you’ll be behind the curve. Stay ahead of it with a good-quality zinc-based sunscreen worn daily.” Farmacy Green Defense Daily Mineral Sunscreen An invisible sunscreen with SPF 30, plus botanical extracts meant to protect skin with tons of antioxidants. Bonus: It’s clean and fine to use under makeup. Bareminerals Complexion Rescue™ Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Although we recommend you use your SPF and moisturizer separately, we also understand moments when you don’t have time or energy for that extra step. For those times, this bareMinerals moisturizer is a great thing to have on hand. Vitamin C Serum “A great introduction to anti-aging is to start with a vitamin C serum in your morning skincare routine,” Ross says. “It’s a powerful antioxidant that will neutralize free radicals and brighten the skin.” He adds that it’s a great way to counteract the effects of the sun’s harmful rays, which, as previously mentioned, are among the biggest causes of premature aging. Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ Vitamin C Day Serum The Drunk Elephant C-Firma is a lightweight serum that promises to give skin a glow by combining the brightening powers of vitamin C with ferulic acid, l-ascorbic acid, and vitamin E. The included sodium hyaluronate is meant to replace hydration loss, so you shouldn’t have to deal with any irritation. Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum This potent serum is jam-packed with vitamin C (15 percent, to be exact), which means it’s a potential superstar at both brightening skin and dousing it in antioxidants. Peptides Using peptides on your skin has many benefits, says Somenek. “The skin barrier is what defends the body against pollution, UV rays, bacteria, and toxins. It can be damaged by several everyday factors. Using topical peptides aids in building a stronger barrier,” he says. “Peptides comprise elastic fibers, which are a type of protein. These fibers help to make skin appear taut and firm. Peptides can also help repair damaged skin, relieve inflammation, and even out skin tone. Some peptides can kill acne-causing bacteria that is common in 20-somethings.” Kunin agrees, saying, “Peptides are an excellent entry point for supporting collagen.” She recommends looking for face and eye treatments that contain these collagen-boosting powerhouses. Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue Cream This Charlotte Tilbury super-emollient eye cream has a base of coconut oil and shea butter (read: it’s incredibly hydrating). Botanicals plus peptides are meant to help reduce dark circles and boost collagen, respectively. This creamy moisturizer serves up potent collagen-boosting peptides and pycnogenol, and antioxidant-rich vitamin C. “Instead of sitting on top of the skin, peptides penetrate the outer layer so they go deep. The ‘signals’ they send tell the cells to produce elastin and collagen, which are needed for youthful-looking skin,” explains Somenek. At-Home Peel Pads Remember that skin cell turnover fiasco we talked about earlier? One way to help support it is by exfoliating. “Exfoliation is important to help keep skin fresh and luminous,” Kunin says. She recommends using at-home peel pads as an easy and effective way to exfoliate. “The goal in your 20s is to fight the slowing pace of cell turnover. It is wise to use products that gently exfoliate, yet still remove oil and other impurities. Products that have Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) or Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA) are a good choice.” According to Somenek, you should only exfoliate two to three times a week. “People of all ages are guilty of over-exfoliating and that can be too much of a good thing,” he says. Dermadoctor Kakadu C Intensive Vitamin C Peel Pad A few swipes of this Derma Doctor powerful peel pad promise to leave your skin glowing and smooth, thanks to the seven (yes, seven) types of chemical exfoliants, including AHA and BHA. It also contains vitamin C via Kakadu plum extract for added brightening and antioxidant protection. KEY INGREDIENTS Kakadu plum extract is sourced from the Kakadu plum, a fruit grown in northern Australia. It contains vitamin C, which restores the skin’s natural barrier, increases collagen production, and soothes irritation. Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel Pads These are the gold standard of peel pads, with a cult following and over 900 five-star reviews on Sephora. They’re easy to use and contain a blend of anti-aging exfoliating acids. Emollient Night Cream “In your 20s, you need to start upping the hydration in your skincare routine. You may have been cautious of over-moisturizing because of acne in your teens, but as you enter your 20s, your skin transitions and becomes drier,” Ross says. “I recommend an emollient night cream added into your evening skincare regimen.” “Twenty-somethings need to make sure that they are not using creams that will clog their pores and cause excess oil production,” says Somenek. Opt for non-comedogenic products. Cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream One great choice is the CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream, which is a non-comedogenic night cream that leaves skin soft and glowy. It combines the moisturizing powers of ceramides and hyaluronic acid. RoC Retinol Correxion Max Hydration Creme “The best night cream ingredients contain retinol, benzoyl peroxide, and/or salicylic acid or hyaluronic acid. The goal is to moisturize, yet remove excess oil,” says Somenek. This Roc Retinol Correxion cream fits the bill as it contains both hyaluronic acid and retinol so it promises to moisturize while also being non-comedogenic.

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