Frequently asked questions

Stem cell cosmetics apply knowledge gained from stem cell research, a major topic in biomedical science. At first the term meant products that contained stem cells. Research has since shown that adding stem cells directly to cosmetics carries real risks, so few products now do so. In the broader sense used today, any cosmetic built on stem cell-related technology is called a stem cell cosmetic.

No. StemCello products contain no stem cells, stem cell extracts or stem cell culture media. Avoiding these materials is an important safety choice.

Published reports show why caution is warranted. The Lancet (2005;365:1219-20) reported cancer in a person who had received a stem cell treatment on the face, and Nature Genetics (2005) reported that cultured embryonic stem cells accumulate genetic changes over repeated passaging.

Cells are stressed as soon as they are cultured outside the body, and spontaneous mutations occur at roughly one in a million divisions. As cells are passaged (detached and split into new dishes to increase their number), changes accumulate. Cells that die during culture burst and release their contents into the medium, so a culture medium can never be entirely free of cell by-products. Because the safety of components released by changed cells is unknown, we chose not to use these materials at all.

StemCello products are built on EMortal, a peptide ingredient from peas, a food people have eaten for a very long time. In laboratory culture, EMortal helped stem cells maintain proliferation under stressful conditions. The research has been published in Korean and international journals. See EMortal

No. The biggest difference between plants and animals is regeneration. A cut branch pushed into soil can grow roots and become a whole plant, but animals cannot regrow damaged organs. In animals, stem cells are special precisely because they can become other cell types. In plants, almost any cell can do this under the right conditions, so by the animal definition every plant cell could be called a stem cell, and every plant extract a “plant stem cell extract.” Applying the animal term to plants leads to confusion.

We took a different approach. We hypothesized that certain plant components could support the functions of animal stem cells in culture, spent years searching, and found several. Finding such substances is a rare field of research worldwide, and we are proud to be among its pioneers.

We use stem cells as a laboratory tool to discover and select ingredients. The products themselves are cosmetics. Their benefits concern how your skin looks and feels, such as the appearance of fine lines, firmness, radiance, tone and hydration, and these benefits are evaluated in human use tests at independent research institutions.

Our actives are plant-derived or produced by fermentation or synthesis, and no animal stem cell materials are used. Safety tests such as skin irritation tests are completed on ingredients and finished products.

StemCello Revitalizing™ is available in Asian markets including Hong Kong and Taiwan. Products are also available online at the SkinCure Official Mall. Visit the SkinCure Official Mall