Exosomes are a hot topic of conversation in what feels like a skinnovation renaissance. The industry's methods for developing better products and ingredients have never been more advanced, meaning it can be difficult to predict what else is on the horizon.
Here are five things we know about exosomes in skin care right now, and what we think it means for the future.
1. Consumers Are Catching On
While, of course, there's the ongoing issue of consumers not necessarily trusting credible sources, it's no secret that they're able to access more information on skin care faster than ever before. With this level of ingredient-savvy, consumers are starting to familiarize themselves with the latest ingredient innovation, especially those promising visible results.
This hunger for more information isn't going anywhere, nor is client demand for science-backed results. This doesn't only affect the types of products you might keep at your backbar or those you retail, but also means that client education is evolving beyond the function of necessity. Clients will continue to want explanations for the treatments they're getting and the products you're using on them. JuveXO, for example, is one of the latest exosome products on the market for pros, applied with a fine mist after popular well-aging treatments like microneedling and Morpheus8.
The aware neo-client of the future will also want to know what they should keep an eye out for with respect to home-care. Anything that gives them that coveted key to unlocking gorgeous skin.
2. Exploring the Scientific Advantage
Exosomes are lauded for their perceived regenerative benefits without the risks associated with live stem cell treatments, like immune rejection.
While they're a promising new technology, scientists are still exploring the capabilities of exosomes and their applications in skin care—both of which will be instrumental in shaping manufacturing standards and the regulatory landscape.
Exosomes probably aren't going anywhere, and as they refine their role in skin care and aesthetics, it's not a bad idea to keep your ear to the ground for additional education so you can be prepared to evolve as needed. Stay connected with your trusted industry contacts, and track how trends like this move across the industry, according to practice type, clientele and in response to other trends. Seeing this advancement develop while knowing the full lay of the land will better empower you to make decisions for your business.
3. Explorations in How We Exosome
While the benefits of exosomes are still being explored, it's not just the ingredient itself, but the delivery to the skin. Combining exosomes with microneedling or laser therapy is growing increasingly popular to improve skin penetration and better observe the impact.
How these results shake out en masse will affect where exosome use becomes most popular, where they'll be used and most importantly, who can use them. If exosome use becomes predominantly paired with microneedling and laser therapy, then not everyone will be able to harness these benefits for their clients and business, at least not as they're most popularly demanded.
This comes at a time when who-can-do-what is already a bit tricky to navigate, and as medspa popularity is already trending upwards with the rise of noninvasive solutions and more subtle, natural-looking results, we can see this popularity continue to trend upwards.
4. Home Care—Beware
Just because we're still getting the hang of exosomes, doesn't mean that there aren't already products boasting the benefits already. Exosomes are new enough that there's a lack of substantial clinical evidence supporting their long-term safety and efficacy, as well as a lack of standardized regulations and manufacturing guidelines.
There's a wide range of topical home care products that use exosomes, and even "liquid microneedles" for enhanced absorption. This can't come as too much of a shock: for every innovative aesthetic ingredient or treatment we see in the treatment room, we always get a made-for-consumer version that gets pushed into the market, and should one get popular on a platform like TikTok or Instagram...well, right.
This again makes client education paramount. Knowing what your clients use and what might be catching their eye will be crucial in advising them on a proper home care regimen. So that they can avoid, at best, throwing their money into a pit where trends go to die, and at worst, potentially damaging their skin.
5. There is No "Standard" Yet
Since exosomes haven't yet undergone extensive clinical testing, the guarantee of quality across exosome products isn't yet assured. Without standardized sources and manufacturing materials, and with the inherent instability of exosomes, ensuring consistency and efficacy across batches is a major obstacle.
Professionals should be cautious when choosing brands and products that make these claims, and remember that while product and brand education can be incredibly valuable, to be cognizant of the ultimate goal—whether that be to inform or to sell—of whatever source you're receiving an education from.
