Our Beauty Editor Put the Most Viral SkinMedica Products to the Test—Here’s Her Unfiltered Review
Skincare that delivers and truly transforms the skin isn’t as easy to come by as one would think. But when you combine medical skincare products with skincare, the results are almost always dramatic and transformative. One of the most trusted skincare brands, SkinMedica, has a long-standing track record of preventing skin damage, reversing the signs of aging, and eliminating hyperpigmentation and breakouts with a simple yet science-backed approach designed for results. Despite the wide array of formulas available, these derm- and aesthetician-loved products continue to reign supreme as the most studied, awarded, and respected name in skin care, specifically growth factor skincare products.
Ahead, our resident beauty editor test drives four of the brand’s most popular skincare products that hydrate, brighten, and erase the signs of aging, and shares her SkinMedica reviews.
Editor Beauty Profile
- Skin Type: Combination
- Skin Tone: Light
- Skin Concern(s): Redness, Discoloration, Fine Lines, Wrinkles
Meet the Experts
Dr. Ashley Magovern - Board-certified dermatologist and member of Dermstore's Medical Advisory Board
About SkinMedica
SkinMedica (an Allergan Aesthetics brand) is the long-standing leader in professional-grade skincare products. Rooted in innovation and steeped in the highest standards of scientific rigor, the brand, which pioneered the use of growth factors in topical skincare, continually innovates and delivers cutting-edge skincare formulas and products to revolutionize the world of skincare. The 25-year-old brand is trusted by skincare professionals worldwide to protect, correct, and prevent the skin at every stage.
Quick Facts :
- Founder: Dr. Richard Fitzpatrick
- Beauty Realm: Facial Cleansers, Moisturizers, Skin Brighteners, Sunscreens, Targeted Treatments, Post-Procedure Skincare
- Known for: Regenerative professional-grade skincare and highly concentrated growth factor-rich topical skincare products
- Derm-Recommended: Yes
Benefits of Growth Factors in Skincare
Growth factors are proteins naturally found in the body that help to support skin firmness and elasticity while maintaining healthy skin. Growth factors naturally decrease with age, and a deficiency of them can impact the skin’s tone, texture, and the skin's repair and recovery process. Adding growth factor-rich products, such as those from SkinMedica, to your daily skincare routine can help achieve healthier, younger-looking skin while maintaining a healthy glow.
$230.00
Best SkinMedica Products, Reviewed
SkinMedica TNS Advanced+ Serum
Perfect for all skin types, this award-winning skin-rejuvenating serum improves the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, uneven skin tone, and a rough, dull texture. Packed with growth factors, it’s the only medical-grade growth factor topical product that addresses sagging skin with results surfacing as soon as two weeks of use.
$295.00
Key Ingredients: TNS®-MR, growth factor blend, peptide complex, botanicals, marine extracts, green microalgae
The Texture: Serum
How to Use: Apply the serum in the morning and evening after cleansing and toning to the face, neck, and chest. Dispense the serum onto the back of the hand and blend the product from the two chambers together before applying to the skin.
Transformation: Skin looks up to six years younger after 12 weeks of continued use, with fewer signs of sagging
Editor Review: “I’ve used this skin rejuvenating serum in my anti-aging routine for years, and it has definitely helped to keep my skin firm and tight while minimizing the look of fine lines. I also believe that the growth factors in the formula have prevented my lower face from significant sagging while keeping my skin soft and glowing.”
Our Expert Says: "This dual-chamber serum combines growth factors and peptides to improve firmness, elasticity, and overall tone."
SkinMedica Retinol Complex 0.5
Retinol is a skin care essential, and this formula, which is both effective and gentle, helps to soften the appearance of fine lines while rejuvenating the skin. Unlike most other types of retinols, this one is fortified with a special antioxidant complex to minimize irritation and dryness, two common side effects of the vitamin A-derived ingredient.
$80.00
Key Ingredients: Retinol, niacinamide, glycerin, peptides
The Texture: Light cream
How to Use: Apply the formula to clean skin in the evening before applying moisturizer. Start by using the retinol twice a week, two to three days apart, and gradually increase to every other night as tolerated.
Transformation: Skin tone, texture, and resiliency improve over time, helping to also diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
Editor Review: “This retinol is always on rotation in my routine. I love how it helps turn back the hands of time without the irritation, dryness, and redness that many other retinols cause. Come morning, my skin always looks a little plumper, healthier, and almost like I just had a professional facial.”
Our Expert Says: “A mid-strength retinol that enhances cell turnover and smooths fine lines with minimal irritation.”
SkinMedica HA5 Hydra-Collagen Replenish and Restore Hydrator
The ultimate skin hydrator, this next-generation hyaluronic acid moisturizer provides an instant dose of much-needed moisture to help smooth the skin. Offering long-lasting moisture, the skin emerges plump, dewy, and healthier-looking, while fine lines and wrinkles are camouflaged for a more youthful complexion.
$192.00
Key Ingredients: Avocado oil esters, vitamin F, passion fruit seed oil, vitis flower stem extract, lotus sprout extract, hydration collagen, hyaluronic acid
The Texture: Lightweight cream
How to Use: Apply the cream morning and night to the face, neck, chest, and any other area that needs hydration after cleansing and treating your skin.
Transformation: The skin attracts and retains water for an added boost of instant hydration that helps to visibly plump and smooth the skin while improving the skin barrier and water-holding capacity
Editor Review: “At 46, my skin craves more moisture than ever. With each application, my skin feels more hydrated and looks plumper and cushiony without a greasy or heavy feeling—and it never breaks me out, which is a major plus!”
Our Expert Says: "A deeply hydrating serum with five forms of hyaluronic acid to plump and smooth instantly.”
SkinMedica Even & Correct Brightening Treatment Pads
Free of hydroquinone and retinol, these skin-brightening pads help to reduce the appearance of dark spots, stubborn discoloration, and fine lines. Use them morning and night or as needed for more evenly toned skin while also supporting the skin’s natural renewal process.
$60.00
Key Ingredients: Lotus sprout extract, tranexamic acid, niacinamide, glycolic acid, witch hazel
The Texture: Pads
How to Use: Wipe one pad over the face daily or as tolerated after cleansing the skin and before applying treatment products. Always allow the skin to first fry and use sunscreen during the day to prevent sunburn.
Transformation: With regular use, the skin is better equipped to absorb other treatment products, reducing the appearance of dullness, uneven tone, and texture for noticeably brighter skin.
Editor Review: “Within a few weeks of using these brightening pads, I noticed fewer dark spots and a more even complexion. My skin also felt more even and just looked better all around.”
Our Expert Says: “Convenient brightening pads with tranexamic acid and niacinamide to help fade dark spots and improve skin tone.”
SkinMedica FAQs
Do dermatologists recommend SkinCeuticals?
According to Dr. Magovern, the entire SkinMedica line is dermatologist-approved. “The brand is best known for its evidence-based, clinically tested formulas and its innovative use of growth factors, retinoids, and advanced delivery systems.”
Is SkinCeuticals medical-grade skincare?
SkinMedica is a line of medical-grade skincare products beloved for their ability to improve the health of the skin. In fact, SkinMedica has remained a leader in the professional-grade skincare space and continues to surpass other brands due to its high standards of scientific rigor and new findings that continue to revolutionize skincare.
Is SkinMedica good for mature skin?
SkinMedica is often recommended for mature skin as part of a complete skincare routine. Packed with growth factors to help initiate a healthy skin renewal cycle, the portfolio of products and treatments works well for mature skin to restore moisture levels, decrease darkness, and leave the skin looking more radiant and youthful.
The Bottom Line
When it comes to medical-grade skincare products that provide effective results, SkinMedica continues to pave the way in advanced anti-aging formulas and technologies. Their unique approach to growth factors and their innovative solutions surrounding the agreement make the SkinMedica brand a must-have for achieving healthy, evenly toned skin. If you want a regimen that promises visible skin changes while imparting overall skin health improvement and also gets our editor’s stamp of approval (just read the SkinMedica reviews for proof!), this brand is one to consider.
Elise Minton Tabin is an award-winning beauty journalist, editor, and beauty expert with more than 16 years of experience. She previously held the title of Executive Beauty Editor at NewBeauty magazine, where she reported on beauty, plastic surgery, anti-aging, health and wellness. She was also instrumental in the launch of the beauty supplement brand Hush & Hush. A self-professed beauty junkie and retinol and sunscreen pusher, Elise knows what’s new, what works and who’s the best to go for every procedure under the sun. Follow Elise on Facebook, Instagram, and on her beauty blog, elisetabin.com
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