Ingredient Education
What Is a Growth Factor Serum?
A breakdown of what growth factors are, where they come from, and what a growth factor serum actually does for the appearance of your skin.
A growth factor serum is a skincare formula that delivers growth factors, naturally occurring proteins that support the skin's appearance of firmness, smoothness, and radiance, directly to the skin's surface. Unlike traditional actives like retinol or vitamin C, growth factors work by mimicking the signals skin already produces on its own, making them a favorite ingredient in both professional treatment rooms and at-home routines.
If you've heard the term tossed around by your esthetician or seen it on a serum label and wondered what it actually means, here's the breakdown.
Growth Factors, Explained Simply
Growth factors are proteins your body naturally produces. Think of them as messengers: they signal to skin cells what to do and when to do it. As skin matures, natural growth factor production slows down, which is part of why skin can start to look less plump and less radiant over time.
Growth factor serums are formulated to help replenish this supply topically, supporting the skin's natural appearance of youthfulness from the outside in.
Where Do Growth Factors Come From?
Growth factors used in skincare can come from several sources, including plant stem cells, human stem cells, and lab-cultured cell lines. At FACTORFIVE, our formulas feature growth factors derived from adipose (fat tissue)-derived human stem cells, selected for their compatibility with human skin. The adipose tissue is sourced from healthy young adult donors undergoing elective liposuction procedures, using tissue that would otherwise be discarded.
"These are adult stem cells. They come from healthy people who are getting lipoaspirate removed from their body. We get consent from those people to donate their tissue, and we thoroughly test their stem cells to make sure they have no communicable diseases."
Dr. David Stachura, PhD — Chief Scientific Officer, FACTORFIVE
Here's a simplified look at how it works at FACTORFIVE: adipose tissue contains stem cells, which are isolated and grown in a lab setting outside the body. As Dr. Stachura explains:
"We 'trick' them into thinking that there's a wound in the body that they need to repair. So the stem cells naturally secrete growth factors, extracellular matrix proteins, and immune signals to repair what they believe is a wound that needs to be healed."
Dr. David Stachura, PhD — Chief Scientific Officer, FACTORFIVEThat protein-rich solution is what becomes the active ingredient in a growth factor serum, similar to how the body is always producing its own proteins behind the scenes, just captured and concentrated for use in a formula.
Why sourcing matters
Adipose-derived stem cells are known to release a notably broad mix of proteins, including structural ones like collagen and elastin, proteins associated with skin's natural firmness and bounce. That's a meaningfully wider range than what's typically found in growth factor products sourced from other cell types, like fibroblasts, which tend to offer a narrower protein profile.
What's Actually in the Bottle?
Before any of this reaches a bottle, it's thoroughly tested. As Dr. Stachura puts it:
"We isolate the conditioned media that the stem cells secrete. To identify the proteins the cells are secreting, we perform proteomics analysis and use a technique known as an ELISA. We have a special protein 'fingerprint' that we look for."
Dr. David Stachura, PhD — Chief Scientific Officer, FACTORFIVESkin naturally relies on hundreds of different proteins to support its structure and appearance. Growth factor serums are formulated to introduce some of that same protein family topically. A few worth knowing:
| Protein Type | What It's Associated With |
|---|---|
| Structural proteins (collagen, elastin, laminin) | Skin's natural firmness and elasticity |
| Antioxidant proteins | Helping address everyday environmental stressors |
| Signaling proteins | Messengers that tell skin cells what to do and when |
You don't need to memorize the list. The takeaway is simply that a well-formulated growth factor serum is delivering a whole family of naturally occurring proteins, not just one.
Why Human Cells, Not Plant?
You might wonder why FACTORFIVE uses human-derived growth factors instead of plant-based ones. You'll see plant stem cells in some other skincare formulas, too. The answer comes down to compatibility.
"Human cells can only interpret proteins from closely related animal species. While plant cells secrete proteins like antioxidants that function in our bodies, they don't secrete growth factors that human skin can interpret. The most useful cells for skincare are from the human body. They speak the same language, and we can respond to them."
Dr. David Stachura, PhD — Chief Scientific Officer, FACTORFIVECurious for more? Dr. Stachura breaks this down further in his Medium article, and our Plant vs. Human Stem Cells page goes deeper into the science.
What Does a Growth Factor Serum Actually Do?
A growth factor serum is designed to support the skin's appearance in several ways:
- Smoother-looking texture Helping skin feel and look more refined over time.
- Improved appearance of fine lines Supporting a more youthful-looking complexion.
- Enhanced radiance Helping skin appear brighter and more even-toned.
- Better-looking hydration Supporting a plump, dewy finish.
Results vary by individual and by formula, and consistency matters. Most people start noticing visible changes in the appearance of their skin with regular use over several weeks.
How Is It Different From Other Serums?
Where an exfoliating acid works by resurfacing skin, or a vitamin C serum works as an antioxidant, a growth factor serum takes a different approach: it's formulated to complement the skin's own natural processes. That's why growth factor serums are often layered with other actives rather than used as a replacement for them.
Some formulas take care of that layering for you. FACTORFIVE's Regenerative Serum and Lash/Brow Growth Serum, for example, both combine growth factors with sodium ascorbyl phosphate, a vitamin C derivative, in a single formula. FACTORFIVE's Night Retinol Cream pairs growth factors with retinyl linoleate, a retinoid derived from vitamin A. So you get complementary actives working together rather than needing to build that combination yourself.
| Serum Type | How It Works | Best Paired With |
|---|---|---|
| Growth factor serum | Complements skin's natural processes with proteins | Layered alongside other actives |
| Exfoliating acid (AHA/BHA) | Resurfaces skin | SPF, hydrating serums |
| Vitamin C serum | Works as an antioxidant | Growth factor serum, SPF |
| Retinol | Increases cell turnover | Hydrating serums, SPF (AM avoid) |
Who Should Use a Growth Factor Serum?
Growth factor serums are a good fit for anyone interested in supporting the skin's overall appearance of health and resilience, and they're especially popular as part of post-treatment care routines after in-office procedures, when skin benefits from extra support. Always patch test new products and check with your skincare provider if you have specific concerns or sensitivities.
Where to Start
New to growth factor serums? Our Regenerative Serum is a great entry point. If your skin is extra dry or needs support after a professional treatment, Nourishing Silk is formulated for exactly that moment.
Best-Seller
Regenerative Serum
Formulated with human stem cell-derived growth factors and copper peptides to target all FIVE visible signs of aging: wrinkles, sun spots, skin laxity, thickness, and uneven texture.
Shop Regenerative Serum →
Post-Treatment Pick
Nourishing Silk
A hydrating, fragrance- and silicone-free serum that combines growth factors with aloe vera and green tea extract to visibly soothe, plump, and soften skin, with results reported in as little as 4 weeks.
Shop Nourishing Silk →The Takeaway
A growth factor serum is a topical formula featuring proteins that support the skin's natural appearance of firmness, radiance, and smoothness. Whether you're building a routine from scratch or looking to round out an existing one, a growth factor serum can be a versatile addition worth understanding, and trying.
Individual results vary.
Ready to try it for yourself?
Start with our best-selling Regenerative Serum, formulated with human stem cell-derived growth factors and copper peptides.
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