The best exosome skin care products are quickly becoming the buzziest addition to anti-aging routines—and for good reason. If you’ve spent any time on skin care TikTok lately, you’ve likely heard exosomes described as “cellular messengers” that help support skin repair and overall rejuvenation, says Dendy Engelman, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City. “Exosome therapy is important for awakening the skin’s natural repair mechanisms and encourages collagen renewal,” she says. Traditionally, exosomes have been used in clinical settings—often paired with microneedling or injections—but they’re now making their way into at-home skin care in topical form. While topical exosomes don’t penetrate as deeply as in-office treatments, they can still help support hydration, radiance, and short-term skin smoothing when formulated correctly.
To get to the bottom of whether exosomes in skin care really works, we put eight formulas to the test and narrowed them down to our five favorites. Our top pick overall is The INKEY List Exosome Hydro-Glow Complex, because we noticed a near-immediate plumping effect after using it. Our skin also appeared stronger and more taut, with less noticeable wrinkles. We also found standout options for dry skin, mature skin, and fine lines.
The best exosome skincare, at a glance
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How we tested
We evaluated exosome skin care products based on ingredient quality, texture, absorption, and visible effects on skin tone, texture, and firmness. The best formulas paired exosomes with supportive antiaging ingredients like peptides, hydrating hyaluronic acid, antioxidants like vitamin C and more. The best ones also came in serum or lightweight textures that absorbed quickly and didn’t leave grease or residue behind. Finally, they lived up to the hype in evening out our skin tone and texture, eliminating redness, dark spots, and areas of sagging and wrinkled skin.
Best Overall: The Inkey List Exosome Hydro-Glow Complex
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This lightweight serum delivered a near-immediate glow and visible plumping around fine lines. Its blend of exosomes boosts collagen production, while prickly pear extract gently resurfaces skin, collagen firms and lifts, and ectoin hydrates. The finish is dewy but not greasy, making it easy to layer under moisturizer or makeup.
Specs
- Key Ingredients: Plant-derived exosomes, prickly pear extract, ectoin
- Size: 1 fl oz.
- Format: Serum
- Pros: Affordable; boosts glow instantly; layers well with other skincare products
- Cons: Slightly sticky feel
Testing notes
“I was immediately impressed with this glowy serum from the minute I tried it. The consistency is really fluffy and light to the touch, but it dries down quickly when applied. After using it for a couple of days, I noticed a difference in my skin’s brightness—it looked much more radiant and glowy than usual, and it seemed to help soften fine lines around my eyes and forehead. I’m already impressed with just using this for a week, and I can’t wait to see more results to come,” says Glamour commerce writer, Alanna Martine Kilkeary.
Best Moisturizer: Skinfix Exo + Ectoin Retinol-Alternative Intensive Skin Barrier Repair Baume
This rich, retinol-alternative formula is ideal for dry or reactive skin. This serum and moisturizer hybrid does what one might expect from a retinol: plumps, firms, softens lines, and eliminates dark spots, without the sometimes-harsh ingredient. Ectoin helps reduce redness and water loss, while exosomes and peptides support smoother-looking skin without irritation.
Specs
- Key Ingredients: Exosomes, peptides, ectoin
- Size: 1 fl. oz.
- Format: Serum
- Pros: Plumping; eliminates redness
- Cons: Pricey
Testing notes
“I'm on my second bottle and I know I will probably be getting a third,” says Glamour senior commerce editor Jenifer Calle of this rich antiaging cream. “Even though it's on the thicker side it absorbs quickly and hydrates so effectively. After wearing it overnight as a night cream, my skin still feels so plump in the morning. I have combination skin but time of year my skin needs all the moisture to protect me from dry air and indoor heating. I've noticed that it's helped my overall skin barrier and the texture of my skin is smooth to the touch when I use this consistently,” she says.
Best K-Beauty: Medicube One Day Exosome Shot 7500
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Medicube is one of our favorite Korean skin care brands, so we were stoked to give their exosome shot a go. This serum blends pore-tightening lacto exosomes plus AHA, BHA, and PHA to exfoliate away dead skin cells in a spicule format. Spicules are teeny tiny needle-shaped ingredients that penetrate deeply into the skin to help more accurately deliver active ingredients. The result is smoother, glassier-looking skin, though the formula isn’t ideal for sensitive types.
Specs
- Key Ingredients: Exosomes, AHAs, BHAs, PHAs
- Size: 1 fl oz.
- Format: Serum
- Pros: Gives glassy, texture-free skin finish
- Cons: Prickly upon application; might not be suitable for sensitive skin types
Testing notes
“This serum is not for the weak, but is a great pick if you’re looking for something like an in-office treatment at home. It's a bit prickly upon application and might sting for a few seconds, but it eventually calms the skin and leaves it glassy and poreless. I used this twice a week for a couple of weeks and definitely noticed an improvement in my skin’s elasticity and smoothness—my typically rough areas (due to acne scars) around my chin and T-zone were noticeably softer and more even-textured,” says Glamour’s Kilkeary.
Best for Mature Skin: SickScience ShapeShift Advanced Jaw & Neck Firming Serum
Designed specifically for the jawline and neck, this firming serum focuses on hydration and visible tightening. Ceramides help strengthen the skin barrier, while collagen and hyaluronic acid plump and smooth areas prone to sagging.
Specs
- Key Ingredients: Ceramides, exosomes, collagen, hyaluronic acid
- Size: 1.7 fl. oz
- Format: Serum
- Pros: Lifts sagging skin; works well on neck and chest
- Cons: Pricey for the size
Testing notes
"As a woman in my early thirties starting to see a touch of loose skin on my neck, I have been searching for tools and serums that will firm up that area—SkinScience is definitely going on the (very) short list of products that actually work for me. I'm not sure of the long-term results, but their ShapeShift serum has an instant effect of tightening up that area and making my skin look firmer, making it a great product to use while prepping for a night out or just during my morning routine," says Glamour contributor, Emily Tannenbaum.
Best for Fine Lines: Dr. Barbara Sturm Exoso-metic Face Serum
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This luxury serum is a serious investment, but it delivered noticeable smoothing and plumping in just over a week. The ultra-lightweight formula absorbs instantly and wears beautifully under makeup.
Specs
- Key Ingredients: Exosomes, peptides, lipids
- Size: 1.0 fl. oz
- Format: Serum
- Pros: Improves skin resilience; helps fade uneven texture and lines
- Cons: Very expensive
Testing notes
“This serum is definitely one of the most expensive I’ve ever used, but it lived up to the hype. It’s lightweight and non-sticky, and absorbed into my skin like lightning, for a fresh, hydrated, and glowy finish. I continued using it for a little over a week, and it made my skin look alive and plump, while smoothing out areas of unevenness. Applying makeup over my skin after incorporating this into my routine made a huge difference, too. I didn’t experience any pilling, creasing, or fading throughout the day,” says Glamour’s Kilkeary.
Frequently asked questions
What are exosomes?
Exosomes are vesicles (a.k.a. microscopic carriers) released by cells to transport signals like proteins and growth factors to other cells in the body, says Dr. Engelman. “Exosomes work by awakening the skin’s natural repair mechanisms and encouraging collagen renewal, so yes, it supports skin repair, boosts collagen production, targeting signs of aging like wrinkles and thinning of the skin,” she says.
Do exosome serums work?
They can—if the exosomes remain stable.“If they break down during formulation, they can’t deliver those signals, meaning performance hinges on stability,” says Dr. Engelman. Hadley King, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, echoes this sentiment and notes that more research is needed on topically applied exosomes. For best results, in-office exosome treatments with microneedling or lasers have much more measurable effects because the channels created by devices allow deeper penetration, she says.
What should you not mix with exosomes?
To protect exosome stability and minimize irritation, avoid immediately mixing exosomes with strong hydroxy acids, retinoids, benzoyl peroxide, or high concentrations of ascorbic acid, says Dr. King.
Are there disadvantages to using exosomes?
The derms we spoke with shared that the only disadvantage of topical exosomes is that there is no standardized manufacturing or regulation for the ingredient yet, since it’s new to the market. “Potency, purity, and true ‘exosome content,’ vary widely between brands,” says Dr. King. Most of the skincare products that contain exosomes are often expensive, too, when you might be able to get similar results from cheaper skincare products like hyaluronic acid serums or peptide serums.
Do exosomes boost collagen?
While exosomes in in-office procedures have been proven to increase collagen and elastin markers, the jury is still out based on topical exosome serums alone. The dermatologists we spoke with said they may provide temporary plumping, hydration, and radiant effects, but more evidence is needed to determine whether they can also promote skin regeneration.
How long do exosome results last?
“Post-procedure results typically last 3-6 months, similar to other regenerative skin treatments,” says Dr. King. Topical products will provide short-term results but can be elongated with consistent use.
Meet the experts
- Dendy Engelman, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
- Hadley King, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City
