A Crash Course in Stem Cell Cosmetics

Dior Capture. Klein-Becker Amatokin. XTemCell. Renew Plant Stem Cell.

Stem Cells are popping up everywhere. Online, on the news, in magazines, and now–on your face? From QVC to Neiman Marcus, everyone is getting a piece of this exciting new technology. The question is, what makes them so special? And are all stem cell products the same?

First, let’s get one thing out of the way. There are no stem cell products on the market that use any form of human or animal stem cells. Most companies opt for plant-derived stem cells, or special extracts shown to help stimulate our skin’s own stem cells.

Wait. Why would we want to stimulate our skin’s stem cells? Put simply, as we age, our healing and repair processes slow down. Epidermal growth factor (EGF), another hot word in cosmetics today, is depleted and regeneration slows down. Apoptosis (cell death) occurs. Collagen and elastin breaks down, as in skin of all ages, only now there are no fresh cells (ESC) to step forward and take their place. Gaps are formed in our tissue, and on the surface they manifest as wrinkles. In many ways, wrinkles are like wounds.

That’s where stem cells come in. We all have them in our skin. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) are completely unspecialized, and lie beneath the epidermis. Some products claim to activate these stem cells, though generally it is not desirable because these cells can become any type of cell: bone, tissue, blood etc. MSC can lead to unregulated cell division, or cancer. But let’s be serious. Can a cream that claims to stimulate MSC really activate cells that deep down? It’s doubtful. If it could, it would be making headlines.

What you want to activate are Epidermal Stem Cells. These cells have already been specialized to form tissue that you actually WANT in your skin, like collagen. There are few ingredients on the market that do this. Many of them are marine-derived. Almost all of them are plant-derived. The key to building a product is to learn as much as you can about the technology that’s out there. Study ingredients. Do your homework.

For more information on new, cutting edge ingredients, give us a call. We can help you find the perfect ingredients for your product. We can make your dream a reality.

Email Cat Harshman at cat@conceplabs.org or call 773-395-4371 for more information on how to improve your cosmetic or OTC product or get your new brand started.

Plant Stem Cells