What Are Stem Cell Beauty Products and Do They Work?

As a skincare editor, it’s my job to read beyond the marketing articles recommending new beauty products and understanding the not-so-fun articles about technology advancements. One subject that always flares my inner-geek is stem cells. Trying to explain this to my friends, I quickly realized that everyone believes I have no clue what I’m talking about, mostly because when it comes to stem cell beauty products, things can get a bit science-fictiony.

So, for this piece, I promise to keep my inner-geek intact but explain to the best of my abilities, some studies, and dermatologists opinions, what the GR8NESS stem cell beauty products are.

What Are Stem Cells? What Do They Do?

Let’s start at the beginning. Stem cells are a broad category of cells in our bodies that can assist in tissue generation, regeneration, and renewal. Unlike other cells in your body, these can self-renew at a somewhat rapid pace, which is why some people believe they can help with organ regeneration.

When it comes to your skin, stem cells share similar benefits as antioxidants. The idea is for stem cells to repair and regenerate the skin, which leaves you with a younger-looking complexion shielded against environmental factors.

Plant Stem Cells vs. Human Stem Cells

Before we get into the craziness of human stem cells, let’s go for the less scary ones. Plant stem cells are easier to understand. Plant stem cells have skin-regenerating abilities that help flowers flourish. While they cannot mimic our human stem cells, people believe they can stimulate some cell production. However, there’s little evidence that points to scientific research to back up these claims.

On the other side, human stem cells are critical to healing wounds and repairing tissue. Human stem cells release growth factors, peptides, and proteins that rejuvenate body cells and promote skin regeneration. Unlike plant stem cells, human stem cells have more research to back up their claims.

Choosing a Stem-Infused Beauty Product

Because stem cells are rich in amino acids and peptides, skincare products love to use stem cells to promote skin rejuvenation. Their antioxidant properties also help nourish skin cells and promote cell turnover, which increases collagen production.

When choosing a stem-cell-infused beauty product, keep in mind that plant-based cells have very little research to back up these claims. Ideally, you should talk to a dermatologist before incorporating one of these beauty products into your skincare regimen.

The Verdict

In the end, there’s so little research to say these products work that adding them to your skincare regiment might not do much to help your skin’s health. It’s still an interesting and exciting development for the beauty industry that I believe we should all look closely at and wait for those promising studies.