When it comes to innovative, effective active ingredients in skin care, growth factors are absolutely at the top of that list. First things first, what is a growth factor, exactly? Growth factors are substances that naturally occur in your body and help manage essential tasks like replicating cells, reducing inflammation and stimulating collagen production. “When you apply certain growth factor skin care products, you’re giving your body more of what it already makes by itself, so it’s a natural, safe and effective anti-aging ingredient,” says board-certified dermatologist and LovelySkin CEO Dr. Joel Schlessinger. Ready to learn more about growth factors in skin care? We’ll give you the full rundown on what do growth factors do for your skin, including:

• Boost skin cell growth

• Provide cutting-edge anti-aging benefits

• Address multiple signs of aging at once

• Help delay the need for cosmetic procedures

• Work well with all skin types, including sensitive skin

• Pair well with skin care products you already use

1) Topical growth factors help rejuvenate skin

When applied topically, growth factors are one of the best active ingredients for total skin rejuvenation. In fact, growth factors have the ability to communicate with your cells to help stimulate the creation of more collagen and elastin, which in turn keeps skin smooth and firm for a healthy, youthful-looking complexion.

One of the best growth factor serums on the market today is SkinMedica TNS Advanced+ Serum. Formulated with more than 450 growth factors, this anti-aging serum is proven to reduce wrinkle depth, as well as increase firmness making it one of the latest, greatest innovations in growth factor skin care. “This serum contains 450 growth factors, tri-peptides, is non-fragranced and smells good! It also includes probiotics to support the health of skin's microbiome," Dr. Schlessinger says.

2) Growth factors are on the cutting edge of anti-aging science

Anywhere you look today, people are talking about growth factor skin care products—and they’re the next big thing for a reason. Growth factors are truly unique because they not only promote collagen and elastin growth at the cellular level, but they also provide your skin with the building blocks needed for total skin rejuvenation. So, it’s easy to understand why growth factor serums and skin care products are great additions for anyone who wants to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to anti-aging advancement.

ReVive Skincare has been using epidermal growth factors in its skin care products for years. Its top product is ReVive Skincare Moisturizing Renewal Cream Nightly Retexturizer, a night cream that pairs peptides and epidermal growth factors with exfoliating glycolic acid and hydrating glycerin. Together, these ingredients work to help improve radiance, diminish fine lines and improve uneven skin tone and texture.

For a once-weekly bonus treatment, Joanna Vargas Twilight EGF Repairing Face Mask uses epidermal growth factors to address signs of aging and repair sun damage by stimulating cell growth. It also features arbutin and niacinamide to help brighten dark spots and discoloration.

3) Growth factors for skin help address multiple aging concerns at once

Anti-aging skin care products that contain growth factors are famous multitaskers, tackling all kinds of issues from wrinkles and dark spots to lack of firmness and sagging decolletage area and everything in between. If you have multiple concerns you want to address and still want to keep things simple, even adding one growth factor skin care product can often take the place of a few others in your routine.

Try Biopelle Tensage Daily Serum if you’re looking for a growth factor serum designed to address multiple anti-aging skin concerns and rejuvenate the look of mature skin. Formulated with a blend of growth factors, antioxidants and brightening agents like CoQ10 and niacinamide, this Biopelle serum takes care of it all.

Another fantastic option when it comes to epidermal growth factor serums is Replenix Growth Factor Restorative Serum. This formula contains patent-pending growth factors paired with a peptide complex and hyaluronic acid to help soften the look of wrinkles and visibly firm your skin. It also contains antioxidant-packed ingredients such as green tea, chamomile and CoQ10 to help defend against free radicals.

4) Growth factors can help delay the need for cosmetic procedures

Growth factors in skin care are great for addressing skin sagging and laxity, so if you’re not quite ready for a cosmetic procedure but still want to care for your skin and restore a youthful complexion, growth factor products are your best bet. "They also help extend the benefits you get from cosmetic procedures, so you don’t need to have them done as often," Dr. Schlessinger says.

PCA SKIN Pro-Max Age Renewal Advanced Serum helps boost your skin’s production of collagen and help lax skin look more lifted. This growth factor serum contains patent-pending Micro Growth Factor Technology, which penetrates deep into your skin, as well as peptides and hyaluronic acid. Together, these ingredients help skin appear smoother, younger and fuller. In a 24-week clinical study, this growth factor serum helped visibly lift and firm the appearance of skin by 60% and deliver a 58% visible improvement in plumping.

Another option is Allies of Skin Multi Peptides & GF Advanced Lifting Serum, which helps tighten sagging skin and address the five most common types of fine lines and wrinkles: forehead lines, frown lines, crow’s feet, marionette lines and nasolabial folds. A growth factor complex teams up with a lifting peptide complex to help improve the overall quality of your skin, helping it feel and look smoother and stronger.

5) Growth factor skin care pairs well with the products you already use

If you have other anti-aging products you love to use, you can easily add growth factor serums and skin care products into your daily regimen to help boost your results. Growth factors get along great with other skincare ingredients like vitamin C, retinol, hyaluronic acid, hydroquinone ... and the list goes on! So, whatever treatments you’re using now, don’t be afraid to incorporate the added benefits of growth factors into the mix as well.

Glo Skin Beauty Bio-Renew EGF Drops integrate seamlessly into just about any existing skin care routine. This lightweight epidermal growth factor serum can either be used as a standalone product, or it can be mixed with another face serum or moisturizer to maximize skin results. It contains vegan epidermal growth factors, which help signal your cells to boost elastin and collagen production as well as a multi-peptide complex that works to stimulate your skin’s natural repair process.

6) Growth factors are great for every skin type, including sensitive skin

Since growth factors are found naturally in your body, they’re an especially gentle skin care ingredient. Most people experience very little or no adverse reaction to using skin care containing growth factors, so even those with very sensitive skin types or post-procedure skin can benefit from using growth factor skin care.

For sensitive skin, try the Neocutis Bio Serum Firm Rejuvenating Growth Factor & Peptide Treatment. This anti-aging facial serum provides skin with intense nourishment and repair using the highest concentration of growth factors and peptides available. Hyaluronic acid also provides immediate moisture to thirsty skin while squalane delivers antioxidant benefits.

Are you intrigued by post-procedure skin care? Learn what skin care product to pair with laser treatments, injectables and more on the LovelySkin Blog.