What Are Growth Factors and What Do They Do for Your Skin?

Among the latest advances in skin care ingredients, growth factors bring an exciting new dimension to ageless formulations. You are probably already familiar with ingredients like retinoids, vitamin C, peptides, and antioxidants for maintaining healthy skin. Growth factors don’t replace those essential players. They work alongside them to open a powerful new avenue for regenerating youthful skin faster and without irritation or harsh side effects.

Growth factors are critical molecules for tissue repair and regeneration that occur naturally in humans, animals, and plants. They act as chemical messengers between cells to activate essential cellular functions, including stimulation of amino acid transport, production and organization of collagen and elastin, DNA synthesis, and cell growth.

Because of their ability to stimulate epithelial cell growth in the skin, growth factors were initially developed to speed healing for burn victims. The scientists who discovered the science received the Nobel Prize in Physiology.

In recent years, growth factors have emerged as potent agents for decelerating aging with a particular affinity for countering photodamage, increasing elasticity and dermal thickness, and promoting even tone.

Young skin has a rich supply of growth factors that signal fibroblast cells to regenerate and maintain healthy skin. As we age, the skin produces fewer growth factors to urge fibroblasts to do their important work, resulting in less cell growth and slower regeneration.

Additionally, with less influence from growth factors, the activity of enzymes that cause collagen degradation (collagenase) and encourage melanocyte production (tyrosinase) begin to outpace the skin’s ability to repair. That’s when we start to see more fine lines, wrinkles, thinning skin, and pigment irregularity.

Growth factors essentially teach cells how to live again, reigniting cellular function, catalyzing repair, and outpacing damaging enzyme activity.

Growth factors can be derived from human or animal cells grown in a laboratory or bioengineered through recombinant technology. The epidermal growth factor (EGF) used in Vivant products is sh-Oligopeptide-1, a recombinant human epidermal growth factor (rh-EGF). The “sh” designation stands for synthetic human, meaning it is bioengineered to be structurally identical to the EGF naturally produced in human skin.

Rather than being extracted from plant, animal, or human tissue, sh-Oligopeptide-1 is produced using controlled recombinant DNA technology—typically through microbial fermentation—allowing for exceptional purity, stability, and consistency.

Human EGF is a 53–amino acid signaling protein that binds to epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR) located on the surface of keratinocytes and fibroblasts, initiating the body’s natural skin renewal process. When sh-Oligopeptide-1 binds to these same receptors, it closely mimics this physiological mechanism. By interacting with the same skin receptors as the body’s natural EGF, activates intracellular signaling pathways that stimulate cell proliferation, support collagen and elastin synthesis, and promote tissue repair and regeneration. This receptor-mediated mechanism is what allows EGF to enhance renewal, improve dermal thickness, and support smoother, more resilient skin.

Growth factors are suitable for all skin types and tones. Despite their rapid effects, they have a very gentle activity and won’t cause irritation.

We have harnessed the power of growth factors in our proprietary GFP Complex. The innovative ingredient is a novel joining of two apex cell-signaling agents—EGF with Ret RP™ — Vivant patented retinoid and AHA formulation—for maximum benefit.

Find GFP Complex in our FF3 Biointensive GF and FF3 Triple Repair Complex correctors for advanced repair and renewal. These breakthrough formulas reawaken youthful cellular function to help restore volume, increase moisture, plump thinning skin, smooth fine lines and rough texture, and support rebuilding of the skin’s structural matrix.

FF3 Biointensive GF is specifically formulated for dry, thinning, estrogen-depleted skin and functions as both a corrective toner and treatment serum due to its unique multi-active formulation. In addition to recombinant human EGF, it contains Clinical Mandelic Acid and Lactic Acid for gentle exfoliation and enhanced absorption, Manuka Honey to support hydration and skin comfort, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment to help improve skin resilience and smoothness, and a strategic peptide combination to reinforce collagen support and overall structural integrity.

FF3 Triple Repair Complex targets photodamage—including sun damage and intrinsic aging—and features Oligopeptide-68 to help improve the appearance of uneven tone and discoloration while supporting overall skin renewal and resilience. It also contains Lactic Acid, an alpha hydroxy acid that promotes surface exfoliation, improves texture, enhances radiance, and supports better penetration of corrective actives.

For optimal results:

• For menopausal or estrogen-depleted skin, use FF3 Biointensive GF at night and Hydra Intensive HA in the morning.
• For photodamaged skin, use FF3 Triple Repair Complex at night and Biopeptide AHA in the morning.