If you've seen "growth factors" popping up on skincare labels and wondered what they actually are, you're not alone. Between marketing buzzwords and scientific jargon, it can be surprisingly difficult to get a clear answer.
The reality is that growth factors are among the most researched and scientifically substantiated ingredients in modern skincare. They're also one of the most misunderstood. So let's start with the basics.
What Is a Growth Factor?
Your skin cells are constantly communicating. They send protein signals back and forth—chemical messages that tell neighboring cells what to do, when to do it, and how. Growth factors are among the most powerful of those signals.
Think of it like a language. One cell sends a message. Another cell receives it and responds. Growth factors are the words that carry the most weight in that conversation, the signals that influence how skin looks and behaves at the surface.
As skin ages, the production of these signals naturally slows down. The conversation gets quieter. And the visible effects—changes in texture, tone, the appearance of fine lines—are part of what happens when that communication diminishes.
Growth factors in skincare are designed to replenish that signal. To give your skin's cells something to work with.
Not All Growth Factors Are the Same
Here's where source matters—a lot.
Growth factors have to come from somewhere. The source determines the quality, the completeness, and ultimately what you're actually getting in the formula.
Some brands use growth factors derived from plant cells. In simple terms: plants are not human! Their cellular signals are structurally different from ours, and while plant extracts can offer other benefits, plant-derived growth factors don't interact with human skin cells the way human-derived growth factors do.
Some brands use growth factors derived from fibroblasts, a cell type found in human skin. Fibroblasts are a reasonable source of some growth factor signals. But they produce a limited range of proteins. If growth factor signals were letters of the alphabet, fibroblast-derived products might give you A through G.
FACTORFIVE uses a different source entirely.
Plant-derived
Plant cells
Structurally different from human cell signals. Don't interact with human skin cells the way human-derived growth factors do.
Limited spectrum
Fibroblast-derived
A reasonable source of some signals, but a limited range of proteins—think "A through G" if it were the alphabet.
FACTORFIVE
Adipose stem cells
A remarkably broad profile of growth factor signals—A through Z. A more complete set of signals reaching your skin.
Adipose-Derived Stem Cells: Why the Source Matters
FACTORFIVE growth factors are derived from adipose stem cells—cells collected from fat (adipose) tissue donated with full consent by healthy adult volunteers undergoing liposuction. The safety bar is high—the same as organ donation standards—with multiple rounds of screening throughout the process and additional testing by our team. No embryonic tissue, no fetal tissue, no ethically questionable sourcing.
The choice of adipose tissue is deliberate. The hypodermis, the deepest layer of skin, is made up largely of adipose tissue, and adipose tissue has the highest concentration of adult stem cells of any tissue in the body.
These stem cells, called ADSCs (adipose-derived stem cells), produce a remarkably broad profile of growth factor signals. Where a fibroblast source might give you A through G, ADSCs give you A through Z. That wider profile means a more complete set of signals reaching your skin.
Important to know
FACTORFIVE products do not contain stem cells themselves, only the proteins those cells produce. The stem cells are carefully filtered out through a multi-step process. What remains is a purified, concentrated collection of growth factors: the signals, not the source cells.
How FACTORFIVE Growth Factors Are Made
This part matters more than most brands admit.
Growth factors are proteins. Proteins are fragile. Heat denatures them, breaking them down structurally and rendering them inactive. Many skincare manufacturers use heat during formulation, which can compromise the integrity of the very ingredients they're trying to deliver.
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1Cold formulation — FACTORFIVE is manufactured using a cold-formulation process in an FDA-regulated lab. The proteins are protected from degradation throughout production.
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2Liposomal encapsulation — A liposomal encapsulation system is used to shield the growth factors further, helping them remain intact from manufacturing all the way to your skin.
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3Dynamic Culture Media — FACTORFIVE's patent-pending technology creates an environment that signals to the cells that there's a wound in the body that needs attention. The cells respond by producing a high concentration of growth factors—exactly what they're designed to do! That output is then collected and concentrated into a conditioned medium that becomes the primary ingredient in FACTORFIVE's formulas.
What Growth Factors Do for the Appearance of Skin
When FACTORFIVE growth factors are applied to skin, they support the processes that influence how skin looks at the surface.
Over time, with consistent use, some of the benefits include:
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Fine Lines: Helps smooth the look of wrinkles and expression lines.
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Uneven Tone: Reduces the appearance of sun spots and discoloration.
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Elasticity: Supports skin's natural-looking bounce and resilience.
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Firmness: Helps skin appear firmer and more supple.
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Texture: Promotes a smoother, more even-looking complexion.
These aren't overnight results—that's not how skin works. You can't rush biology. What growth factors do is give your skin the right conditions to do what it's already designed to do, and that shows up gradually in the way your skin looks and feels week over week.
Growth Factors vs. Retinol
Retinol is one of the most studied ingredients in skincare. It works by accelerating cell turnover, pushing newer cells to the surface faster. The results for the appearance of fine lines and texture are well-documented.
But retinol comes with tradeoffs. It can cause dryness, sensitivity, and irritation—especially for skin that's already compromised, reactive, or post-treatment. It also isn't appropriate for use during pregnancy.
That said, not all retinol is created equal. FACTORFIVE's Night Retinol Cream uses retinyl linoleate, a retinyl ester that acts as a slow-release retinol, delivering vitamin A gradually throughout the night with significantly less sensitivity than high-strength formulas. The growth factors in the formula work alongside it, creating a more balanced combination for the appearance of skin over time.
Growth factors work differently from retinol on their own, too. They're generally well-tolerated, including by sensitive skin, and are considered appropriate for use in the post-treatment window when retinol is not.
They're not competitors; they serve different moments in a routine. And when formulated together thoughtfully, as in our Night Retinol Cream, they bring out the best in each other.
Growth Factors vs. Peptides
Peptides are short chains of amino acids, the building blocks of proteins. In skincare, certain peptides are used as signaling molecules that help support the skin's natural processes, including the production of collagen and other structural proteins.
Growth factors are naturally occurring proteins that cells use to communicate with one another. Because they are larger and more structurally complex than peptides, they can participate in sophisticated cellular signaling pathways involved in skin renewal and maintenance.
If peptides are individual messages, growth factors are part of a broader communication network. Both ingredients can play valuable roles in a skincare routine, and they're often used together. Rather than being redundant, they support skin through different but complementary mechanisms.
Where to Start
If you're new to growth factor skincare, the FACTORFIVE Regenerative Serum is the most direct place to start. It delivers a concentrated dose of our adipose-derived stem cell growth factors in a lightweight serum format, making it an ideal foundation for any skincare routine.
From there, each FACTORFIVE product builds on that same growth factor technology while serving a different purpose. Some formulas are designed to deliver deeper hydration, while others focus on barrier support or visible hair density. Different textures, ingredients, and application methods allow you to choose the products that best fit your skin's needs and your personal preferences.
Every FACTORFIVE formula is intentionally designed. Growth factors are the foundation, but they're paired with other science-backed ingredients selected to support specific skincare goals. Whether it's antioxidants, peptides, hydrators, or skin-conditioning ingredients, every component is included for a reason and works alongside our growth factor technology to create a complete formula.
With one exception: a clean start. Our Gentle Gel Cleanser is designed to give your skin a fresh, effective cleanse and prepare it for the products that follow. Every other FACTORFIVE product contains our stem cell-derived growth factors, making them the core technology that connects the entire collection.
The Bottom Line
Growth factors are not a trend. They're one of the most scientifically grounded categories in modern skincare, and the source, formulation process, and delivery method determine whether what's on the label is actually doing anything by the time it reaches your skin.
FACTORFIVE was built around getting those details right: ethically sourced adult stem cells, cold formulation to protect protein integrity, and a concentrated delivery system designed to keep the science intact.
That's the 101. If you want to go deeper, we're always here to keep the conversation going!
Where to Start
The FACTORFIVE Regenerative Serum is the most direct place to start—a concentrated dose of adipose-derived stem cell growth factors in a lightweight serum format.
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