Stem Cells in Skincare

If you’ve been following breakthroughs in skincare in the last few years, you’ve probably heard a lot of hype about stem cells. For good reason, too; skincare products with stem cell derived, active ingredients can get serious results in terms of anti-aging effects. However, the topic can be difficult to understand if you’re not versed in the lingo. Human stem cells, plant stem cells, stem cell extracts, cytokines, growth factors, so on and so forth; it’s a lot to take in, especially if you don’t have a background in biology or skincare. Well, I love breaking down tough topics, so let’s get to it!

• What Are Stem Cells?
• Plant Stem Cell Extracts
• The Best Stell Cell Skincare Products: AnteAGE & NeoGenesis

What Are Stem Cells?

In short, stem cells are small cells which subdivide and and specialize to transform into other cells. That means, in your body, a stem cell can become any number of different things. Embryonic stem cells, the most well known variety of stem cells, come from human fetuses. Skincare, however, uses stem cells from two different sources: plant stem cells and adult stem cells.

We’ll touch on plant stem cells later, but right now let’s focus on adult stem cells. These are stem cells that occur in small quantities in most tissues in your body. Whether it’s fat, bone marrow, or muscle tissue, there are some stem cells there, ready to split apart and make new cells. Up until the last two decades, scientists believed that adult stem cells were very limited in function. For example, they thought that fat stem cells could only make more fat or that bone marrow stem cells produced just blood.

However, it turns out they are much more flexible than we imagined. They can even make multiple different cells out of one type of stem cell. Beyond that, scientists can program or “condition” the stem cells to create different cells in laboratories! So, when you’re using skincare products with “human stem cells” you’re using what’s called stem cell conditioned media! This is, essentially, cell cultures that are great for human skin that scientists manufactured using stem cells. These cell cultures contain cytokines and their their specific subset, growth factors. When we look for “stem cells” in skincare, these little cells are what we’re truly looking for!

What Are Cytokines & Growth Factors?

Cytokines are a type of cell that communicates with other cells and gives out orders, so to speak. Growth factors are a type of cytokines that are similar to peptides. Each different growth factor comes coded with a specific message that it delivers to a target cell. For example, epidermal growth factors (or EGF) stimulate the growth of skin cells, especially fibroblasts which produce collagen and elastin! There are many different types of growth factors that are great for skin; they’re the absolute best at skin rejuvenation. Whether it’s collagen synthesis, wound healing, or anti-inflammatory benefits, they’re what you want in your skin care.

When you choose a product with stem cell conditioned media or “human stem cells” in, you’re really getting cytokines/growth factors! Scientists in a lab have “programmed” the stem cells to create these small signalling proteins. The cell culture is then strained off and we’re left with the good stuff your skin wants.

How Are Human Stem Cells Obtained?

Great question! Laboratories and researchers get adult stem cells by offering money to carefully screened donors. It works fairly similar to blood, sperm, or ovum donors in terms of process, but more stringent. Donors must be in excellent health and in a narrow age range, about 18-24 years of age. This ensures that only healthy stem cells end up creating cytokines for skincare products.

Plant Stem Cell Extracts

As you can guess, plant stem cells are different, but in their own way just as wonderful. Plant stem cells, by themselves, don’t have the same effects as the human stem cell conditioned media. Human cell cultures have bio-identical components that naturally work with our bodies. Plant stem cells, on the other hand. just can’t do things like boost collagen production.

You might be wondering now, why would you want to use plant stem cells? Well, it turns out that plant stem cells have potent antioxidant properties! When you see any kind of plant stem cell extract in your skincare, you’re likely getting a boost of antioxidants.

That being said, be careful of skincare companies that over hype the efficacy plant stem cells in skincare. If they promise a reduction in fine lines and wrinkles due to the plant stem cells, it’s probably slight misinformation. You could be looking at a formula that has plenty of other goodies, like peptides and acids, that are causing those great results. Once again, plant stem cells are quite wonderful, but they aren’t as potent as some marketers want you to believe.

The Best Stem Cell Skincare Products: AnteAGE & Neogenesis

Okay, now that we’ve established why stem cells are so powerful, I want to introduce you to my two favorite lines that utilize stem cell technology: AnteAGE and NeoGenesis. While each company has a slightly different approach, they’re both backed by excellent research and real, clinical results.

For us, there are three things that immediately set these two companies apart from any of the competition: nothing but the highest quality stem cell conditioned media, clever formulations, and a smart delivery system for the growth factors. Both AnteAGE and NeoGenesis have their own merits on the first two points, but they share the same smart delivery system. Let’s dive in and explore why it’s so great!

A Nano-Lipid “Envelope” Delivery System

Both companies place their growth factors from stem cells into “lipid envelopes” (nano-liposomes) that can penetrate skin. This allows the GF and cytokines to slide through the epidermis (outer layer of skin) and go to where they are needed in the dermis. Remember how I mentioned that stem cells are never actually in skincare products? This is largely why. Since skincare products are topical, all active ingredients have to either work on the epidermis or be able to breakthrough. Stem cells are too large to make it through the epidermis and do nothing when they sit on top of our skin. Growth factors and cytokines, on the other hand, are relatively small, especially when “packed” into lipids. By using an intelligent bio-compatible lipid delivery system, both AnteAGE and NeoGenesis guarantee that your skin gets as many growth factors as possible!

AnteAGE System

AnteAGE’s crowning achievement is their AnteAGE System, a combination of their Serum and Accelerator. The serum works to heal skin, diminish fine lines, and bring anti-inflammatory effects at a cellular level. Meanwhile, the accelerator helps support the skin’s barrier and defends against environmental damage. While each one has a potent quantity of human stem cell conditioned media, they also each have powerhouse actives like niacinamide, bakuchiol, and peptides. Together, they team up to offer one of the greatest healthy aging combinations we’ve ever seen.

NeoGenesis Recovery Serum

This serum is unbelievably amazing at healing, restoring skin, and minimizing the visible signs of aging, full stop. Recovery serum improves healing results for any process, from chemical peels to micro-needling. It’s so effective and fabulous, it even helps assist in healing skin with minimized scarring.

If you’re less interested in wound healing, NeoGenesis Booster Serum offers similar anti-aging benefits. However, it focuses more on hydrating and rejuvenating skin as opposed to healing wounds. It’s just as great as the Recovery Serum, just ever-so-slightly different.

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Well, I hope you learned about stem cells and their role in skincare. Stem cells aren’t going into your skincare, they’re making good stuff that powers it up! Until next time, may your skin be glowing and gorgeous!