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

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 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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