Last Updated on January 30, 2026 by Eve Dawes
How Eighth Day Skin uses Growth Factors to support skin renewal and rejuvenation
Eighth Day Skin has quickly become one of the most talked about luxury skincare brands. Largely because of its focus on growth factors and skin renewal. Founded by board-certified dermatologist, dermatologic surgeon, clinical researcher and innovator, Dr. Antony Nakhla , the brand centers its formulas around bioengineered growth factors designed to support the skin’s natural repair and renewal processes. An approach that’s especially appealing for mature or aging skin like mine. In this Eighth Day Skin review, I’m taking a closer look at how the brand’s regenerative philosophy translates in real-world use, what the science behind growth factors actually means for skin renewal, and whether my before and after results using Eighth Day Regenerative Serum, Day and Night Cream justify the investment.
This article contains both gifted items and affiliate links which allow me to earn a commission if you choose to shop through them but don’t affect the price.
How Eighth Day Skin uses growth factors and bioidentical ingredients to support skin renewal
What makes Eighth Day Skin formulas so special is that they’re bioidentical. You’ve probably heard that term if you’re into luxury skincare. What that means is the ingredients are biologically identical to the molecules already found in your skin and can speak directly to your skin cells to utilize the science of renewal to deliver real results over time. It literally sounds too good to be true but their clinical trials had me intrigued.
If you’re interested in skincare with growth factors, if you’re not you should be, these are power houses that help support collagen production and cellular turnover. It’s the signature Peptide-Rich Plasma® featured in products like The Regenerative Serum and The Night Cream Treatment that contain 24 bioidentical synthetic peptides, growth factors and amino acids. Including ingredients such as sh-Oligopeptide-1 (Epidermal Growth Factor) and sh-Polypeptide-11 (Acidic Fibroblast Growth Factor). Thanks to the bioindentical ingredient science, these get delivered deep within your skin’s surface. Spoiler alert, my before and after results speak for themselves.
More than just growth factors, they use clean science that’s safe for sensitive skin, cruelty free, and unisex. Don’t tell my hubby that, I’m not sharing this!
Eighth Day Skin review
Is this luxury routine actually worth the price tag? I tested the complete Eighth Day Skincare routine including the viral Regenerative Serum, The Ultra-Rich Intensive Moisturizer, and The Night Cream Treatment to see if the high price tag is justified by the results. What is Peptide-rich Plasma? How do the bioidentical ingredients, peptide-rich plasma and growth factors interact with skin? How do the products perform under makeup? Do the clinical claims hold up in real life with my before and after and results.
Eighth Day The Regenerative Serum
Eighth Day Skin The Regenerative serum is really focused on helping your skin do what it’s already designed to do: repair, renew, and regenerate. The concentrated, science-driven formula is designed to target multiple visible signs of aging over time. Namely, soften the look of fine lines, improve firmness and elasticity, improve the appearance of volume and overall skin density, and give the skin a healthier, more resilient look overall.
Because of Dr. Antony Nakhla’s background in micrographic reconstructive surgery, Eighth Day is rooted in wound-healing and regenerative skin science. This is one of the serum’s I’ve been most excited to try because of their clinical testing results.
After only 4 weeks, 97% of users saw significant improvement in skin firmness and elasticity measured using a Cutometer®. Eighth Day
One of the first things I noticed about Eighth Day The Regenerative serum was the texture. It’s lightweight, not greasy or sticky, and absorbs quickly into the skin without leaving residue, which makes it easy to layer both morning and night.
A little goes a long way, so don’t make my mistake of using too much, especially at this price point. You only need to put 3-5 drops!
Active Ingredients:
- Savage Ginger Root Extract and Knotgrass Flavonoids to protect against UV, infrared and blue light damage.
- GABA active neuropeptides to help improve skin elasticity.
- Nonapeptide-1 which blocks melanin synthesis to target discoloration.
- Hyaluronic Acid to help improve moisture and skin plumpness.
- Niacinamide which is great for reducing redness and inflammation.
- Glycolic Acid to improve skin texture and reduce the appearance of pores. This was one of the biggest improvements I noticed.
- Alpha Lipoic Acid which is a potent antioxidant.
- Manuka Honey to promote healing and skin immunity.
Eighth Day The Ultra-Rich Intensive Moisturizer $290
I think I’ve only ever loved one other moisturizer as much as this one! Eighth Day Skincare has 2 day-creams, The Intensive Moisturizer and the Ultra-Rich Intensive Moisturizer. The regular Intensive is better for normal to combination skin, and the Ultra-Rich is designed for dry or more mature skin and it’s also meant to help with facial volume loss from aging or things like GLP-1 use. I was nervous about how much the night cream would dry my skin out, but with the Ultra-Rich, it didn’t.
What really blew my mind is the clinical data. In their trials, 100% of users had measurable results, which is something I honestly don’t think I’ve ever seen before. With an average improvement of around 29% in fine lines and wrinkles.
Ingredient-wise, it’s all about deep hydration and volume support. It uses VolumatrixSubQ™biotechnology, 3 different forms of hyaluronic acid for both instant plumping and long-term hydration, plus Peptide-rich Plasma® that supports firmness and elasticity over time. It’s fragrance-free, rich but not greasy or heavy, and my skin feels immediately softer, plumper and hydrated when I use this.
I find less is more, so it doesn’t pill under makeup. I also follow with SPF because of using the Night Cream treatment with RetinalXR and because I always do anyway. You can also follow with Eighth Day Eye Renewal Cream but I haven’t splurged on that …yet!
Eighth Day The Night Cream Treatment $450
The Eighth Day Night Cream Treatment is what I’m really crediting for a lot of the heavy lifting result-wise. As this is the really active treatment step in the routine. It’s designed for people who already use retinoids and want something stronger, but without the usual irritation. I haven’t used retinols this Winter but I built up to using this nightly over 3 weeks. Doing that, I didn’t experience irritation at all, and definitely felt like it hydrated rather than caused any dryness.
What sets Eighth Day night cream apart and why I love it for more mature skin is that it uses a next-generation form of retinal that’s released slowly overnight. Meaning you get all of the the benefits: smoother texture, brighter skin, firmer feel but without waking up red, dry, or flaky.
The clinical data for this one is impressive too! In third-party testing after four weeks, 97% of users had significant and measurable improvement in skin firmness. Almost all users saw measurable improvements in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and a large majority also saw improvements in pore appearance. That’s pretty rare for a retinoid-based night treatment and I personally noticed improvements in all of those areas too.
Ingredient-wise besides the RetinalXR it also has Peptide-rich Plasma® to stimulate the innate ability of skin cells to repair, renew, and regenerate. According to Eighth Day, these active ingredients do a few key things: encourage collagen production, improve texture and tone, reduce fine lines, wrinkles, the appearance of large pores, and support the skin’s natural repair process while you sleep.
It’s definitely one of those formulas that feels more like a long-term skin investment than a quick fix but I’ve made mine last 3 months.
Eighth Day Eye Renewal Cream
I’ve yet to splurge on this but I really want to try the eye renewal cream as that’s my main area of concern. This is peptide-rich plasma supposed to help with hydration, dark circles, puffiness, fine lines and wrinkles. All the things I struggle with! So if I invest, I’ll update this with my thoughts.
Who is Eighth Day Skin best for?
Eighth Day Skin is a great luxury skincare choice for mature, aging skin. Especially the Ultra-Rich Intensive Moisturizer which helps with so many signs of aging, supports collagen production, and volume restoration.
However, I also think it’s a great luxury skincare collection for anyone who wants to get started with growth factors and work on prevention than trying to reverse damage. I’d just say maybe try the The Intensive Moisturizer if you’re younger, less concerned about volume, but want to deeply hydrate skin at the cellular level, help to improve firmness, smooth fine lines and wrinkles, and increase radiance.
How to use Eighth Day Skincare collection
Morning skincare routine:
- Start by cleansing with Eighth Day The Restorative Cleanser (and toning with The Resurfacing Tonic optional) on your face and neck.
- Apply 3-5 drops of The Regenerative Serum onto your fingertips and then gently sweep over your entire face, neck, and décolleté.
- Wait about 2 minutes for it to dry before gently massaging the (Ultra-Rich) Intensive Moisturizer onto your face, neck, décolleté, and around your eye area.
- Apply The Eye Renewal Cream if you’re using it.
- Finish with The Rejuvenating Moisturizing Primer Broad Spectrum SPF 30.
Evening skincare routine:
- Start by cleansing (and toning optional) your face and neck.
- Apply 3-5 drops of The Regenerative Serum onto your fingertips and then gently sweep over your entire face, neck, and décolleté.
- Wait about 2 minutes for it to dry.
- Apply eye cream if using one.
- Gently massage the Eighth Day The Night Cream Treatment onto your face, neck, décolleté and around your eye area as the last step in your evening routine.
My before and After results after using Eighth Day Skin
I’ve talked about the science and clinical trials but does it work? Day to day I noticed by skin feeling softer, plumper, being more radiant, hydrated, and my pores looked smaller, especially under makeup. It wasn’t until I looked at my before and after photos that I was blown away with the difference it had made to my fine lines and wrinkles. It was my crows feet and smile lines that looked noticeably less deep to me, my forehead looked smoother, and it just looked more healthy.
Is Eighth Day Skincare worth it?
I can see why Eighth Day has been getting so much attention. This is definitely luxury skincare, both in formulation and price, but it’s also one of the more science-driven, results-focused lines I’ve tried in a long time. So it’s really going to depend on how much you want to splurge. Bearing in mind, these results aren’t permanent. Like any skincare routine, you have to be consistent to see improvements.
What I like most is that everything feels intentional. The serum supports skin repair, the moisturizer focuses on hydration and volume, and the night cream is really doing the heavy lifting when it comes to texture, firmness, and visible aging concerns. Nothing feels gimmicky, it’s very much about long-term skin health rather than quick fixes and I love how instantly smooth and hydrated my skin feels afterwards.
If you’re someone who’s already invested in skincare, uses actives, and is looking for a more clinical, regenerative approach, I think this line is worth considering.
FAQ’s
Do growth factors work in skincare?
Growth factors in skincare are designed to support the skin’s natural renewal process by encouraging healthy cell communication. When used consistently, growth factor serums can help improve the look of skin texture, resilience, and overall skin quality, which is why they’re often recommended for mature or aging skin. I definitely noticed improvements.
Is Eighth Day Skin good for mature skin?
Yes, in my opinion, Eighth Day Skin is particularly well-suited for mature skin thanks to its focus on growth factors and skin renewal. The formulas are designed to support repair and hydration rather than relying solely on exfoliation or surface-level actives, and I loved them.
Can you use growth factor serums daily?
Eighth Day Skin serum is designed for twice daily use. As with any active-focused skincare, consistency matters more than frequency.
Shop Eighth Day skincare
If you want to save, it’s cheaper to subscribe and to buy the larger sizes or sets than to buy each product individually: e.g the Day to Night Due is $640 vs $740 if bought separately.
