I've already talked about SkinMedica TNS Advanced before in this blog post HERE. It has since been revamped and changed and I will tell you this is one revamp that was total perfection. This went from a product I wanted to like but couldn't, to a stellar one I would easily come back to time and time again. So some of the main changes are they made it fragrance free and fixed the pump issue which was my main two problems with the previous one. They also went and made it more powerful, who doesn't love that. Think of TNS Advanced+ Serum as ultimately an anti-aging serum. I may hate that term anti-aging but it best describes what this serum does which is help with lines, wrinkles, firming and help with an overall tone and texture. This serum supports your skins repair and renewal process leading to healthier feeling and younger looking skin. It is true as we age many things take a toll on our skin which causing aging. It part of life. However, why not have a serum that helps tackle those concerns. This combines human derived growth factors and peptides in one chamber with supportive botanical extracts and peptides in the other. Simply pump the product out, mix both sides in your palms and apply.
Details per SkinMedica:
This next-generation, skin rejuvenating formula improves the appearance of coarse wrinkles, fine lines, skin tone, and texture. It’s the only growth factor product proven to address sagging skin. Visible results in just 2 weeks. Results continue to improve through 24 weeks of use.1
Key Benefits
- Smooths visible coarse wrinkles and fine lines
- Clinically proven to address sagging skin
- Results starting in just 2 weeks
- Progressive results measured over 24 weeks
Chamber 1: TNS®-MR
- This advanced formula acts on multiple levels to help get you to age-defying results.
- Next-generation growth factor blend —supports healthy skin functions
- Innovative peptide complex —nourishes your skin
Chamber 2: RENESSENSCE (RSC) ADVANCED
- Specifically designed to support the results of the growth factor blend, this highly active blend of botanicals, marine extracts, and peptides includes:
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- French flax seed —Supports repair functions
- Marine extract —Supports skin's renewal processes
- Green microalgae —Supports collagen and elastin levels
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Ingredients
Water/Aqua/Eau, Pentylene Glycol, Human Fibroblast Conditioned Media, Glycereth-7 Triacetate, Shea Butter Ethyl Esters, Glycerin, Ethoxydiglycol, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Whey Protein, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Saccharide Isomerate, Trifluoroacetyl Tripeptide-2, Dimer Tripeptide-43, Hydrolyzed Linseed Extract, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Flower Cell Extract, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract, Hydroxyacetophenone, Tocopheryl Acetate, Propanediol, Xanthan Gum, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Polyacrylate-13, Polyisobutene, Sclerotium Gum, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Lecithin, Pullulan, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Citrate, Polysorbate 20, Aminomethyl Propanol, Dextran, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
This is their clinical study data summary:
- 6 Years Younger A third-party, validated psychometric scale revealed that patients felt they looked up to 6 years younger after 12 weeks.
- Appearance of Sagging Skin Significant improvements in the appearance of sagging skin after 8 weeks.
- Progressive Improvement Subjects felt increasingly more satisfied with continued use measured over 24 weeks.
1. Data on file at SkinMedica®
The pump used to be two separate working pumps and I found they just didn't work well together, sometimes you got a half pump out of one or a large pump, it was very unpredictable. Now there's still two chambers but they are connected as one and move more fluidly, I had no issues with one coming out more than the other. It was a simple and good improvement that has a more even disbursement of product. One side is a clear thin gel, the other a light gel cream serum. They mix together for a light gel textured serum, and zero fragrance this time so suitable for sensitive skin and anyone who hated the old strong floral scent it had before. Great improvements with those two aspects. Now let's move onto what it does for you.
By now most everyone has heard of stem cell or growth factor serums. There was a time they were less known, but now they are more mainstream and becoming better understood. Growth factor serums come from donor cells that are then are cultured in a lab. The original donor stem cells are sometimes from decades ago. You don’t need new donor cells every bottle/batch. These serums do not actually have stem cells or living cells in them. The cultured cells release proteins which is what you get in these formulations. They can be derived from a variety of original host cell types. Looks like SkinMedica uses fibroblasts for their conditioned media (what you call the final product after cultivation/extraction).
For me I’ve noticed growth factors are glow giving, firming plus they really help with healthy skin and rejuvenation. Think healthy skin that repairs itself well. Pregnancy glow is also how I think of growth factors. That healthy glow you get while pregnant is what growth factors give me. My skin tends to bounce back quicker and remain more elastic when I use growth factors. Not all growth factor serums are created equal. Some are better than others. Some work for me but not for you. Some work for you but not for me, it can be very personal and specific. Growth factor serums using human conditioned media are also expensive to make. It is what it is. Some growth factor serums are more concentrated than others. You just have to try them to know if they work for you.
Ultimately I would say don’t expect miracles from growth factor serums, keep it realistic. They also take a while to see results, like three months. So you have to stick with it. I’ve also noticed that more mature skin seems to benefit the most from these types of serums. Doesn’t mean you can’t use them when you’re young if you can afford it, you just might not notice as much now as more mature skin. Though the benefits of using them young could potentially mean healthier skin when you get older. You also have to look at the compliance of someone using a product twice a day that's this expensive. These products are not always going to be the most sustainable. I tended to use mine at night only due to cost but yes if I bumped it up to twice a day I saw better results. Though for most people they're not really a sustainable cost friendly product to use. And I think that's where some of the skepticism comes from. If these serums were like $80 I think more would use them. It's hard to get on board with a product this expensive which has to be taken into consideration for a review.
Now I went through three bottles of this, yes three. I did one full bottle then went off, then went back to this and used two full bottles. The reason I did that is I saw some differences after a bottle but I wanted to see, as it's when I quit a product that I notice the subtle difference of what it was doing. It's hard to really notice what products that give subtle results might do. So then I went back on it for two bottles. Overall it was about four months that the two bottles lasted me. I then waited until I had been not using it for a few weeks before I really started something else. This down period lets me see did I have a loss of elasticity or did my lines and wrinkles seem to come back a little after quitting it did I become more sensitive again. Some of the main things I notice with growth factors is that whole plumping, line reduction and almost more tolerant skin. I keep the rest of my routine the same and sub a growth factor serum when I'm done with it for another just general antioxidant or hydrating serum. This keeps it similar.
So do I think this one worked for me? Yes I had visible results. Did I like it more than other ones I've tried? Yes, I would put it in my top 3. Would I buy it again? Yeah one day perhaps. I have a few I need to work through already in my stash as well as a few new brands that have caught my eye. I think if you're really into human derived growth factors it's worth trying. If you're young and under 40 it's maybe not something I think you need to invest in. I just don't think you may see results as a level that makes it work the cost, if that makes sense. Something I've noticed about growth factors is that they seem to give better results to more mature skin. I notice the effects more now than I did even five years ago. So they’re not a product I think everyone needs to go out and use, but if you’re close to 40 or so you might look into a beginning level one. I started to really notice better results from them around 40+ than before as far as lifting, tightening and firming plus yes the pregnancy glow as I call it.
They’re expensive in general because they’re expensive to make so it’s not one you’re going to find a budget version of. With these I’ve noticed they are not all equal and some are most definitely better than others. In all honesty in my 20s and even most of my 30s I would’ve never spent the kind of money on these that they cost. But if you’re 40ish and above they’re well worth looking into. Not saying you can’t use them when you’re younger if you want to invest, they’re just a pricey investment I didn’t have back then plus the rewards weren’t as great as they are now for me. I started using growth factors at 37 and now at almost 44 I notice more than I did even back then. That's what makes me more likely to continue on this journey trying new ones. Overall, yes this is expensive, I think it has a certain demographic of people who might find it more beneficial than others. Remember the results are light, don't expect miracles cause it's expensive. You'll just set yourself up for disappointment. You need to really commit to trying a growth factor serum if you're going to jump in the game, that means two bottles for investment and at least 3 months. This isn't one you try just because it seems like a miracle. You try it because you plan on really investing and going that route. I think the upgrade to this product was really well done it made this go from a product I wouldn't buy again to one I would. Pairing this with a retinoid and sunscreen is perfect. Don't need any acids or vitamin C.