My 53-Year-Old Mom Can't Stop Texting Me About This Firming Serum: "My Skin Looks Good Without Makeup Now"

They say mothers know best. So when mine, 53, texts me about a beauty product she loves (a rarity), I know it’s time to listen up. She’s always been more of a skincare fan than a makeup girl (quite the opposite of me)—her drawers are neatly stocked with different jars of moisturizers, eye creams, and face masks. But despite her varied collection, the one name you’ll see peppering her entire assortment is Drmtlgy: a dermatologist-engineered skincare brand that offers office-level results at a fraction of the cost.

From friends to grandparents, she’s put all our loved ones onto this brand that she organically fell for. But her latest obsession? The brand-new Needle-less Growth Factor Serum, which she says made all the difference in her mature skin. “My skin looks good now without makeup,” one raving text in a slew reads.

It’s not uncommon that I take hordes of new skincare to my mother when I visit home, especially when they fall within the anti-aging category. (I, being 25, can’t quite make use of these products yet.) That said, they never usually warrant a text that reads “I'm actually going to order more of that one,” especially when she’s gotten used to freebies. Curious to try this miracle potion on my own skin (which was conveniently experiencing an eczema and perioral dermatitis flare-up at the time), I put this new concoction to the test to see if the results stacked up to my mom’s rave reviews.

What Is the Drmtlgy Needle-Less Growth Factor Serum, and What Does It Do?

To understand this new elixir from Drmtlgy, we have to first learn about growth factor serums. Board-certified dermatologist, stem cell scientist, and cosmetic surgeon Nathan Newman, MD, previously told Who What Wear that growth factor serums mimic the proteins naturally created by the human body that promote cell regeneration and repair. While growth factors are often administered at their most potent levels via injectables, peptides are common skincare ingredients that penetrate the skin deeper than most, making this combination a pain-free way to reap the benefits without being poked and prodded. Together, there are five bio-engineered growth factor peptides infused into this ceramide-boosted formula that promote smoother, firmer, more hydrated skin.

“Peptides function as signaling molecules at the cellular level to promote collagen synthesis, improve elasticity, reduce inflammatory pathways, and promote wound healing—all with the goal of optimizing skin health and thereby the reduction of the appearance of wrinkles,” explains board-certified dermatologist and cosmetic and laser surgeon, Nicole Lee, MD. “[The] Growth Factor Serum by Drmtlgy is an innovative formula featuring a blend of clinically recognized peptides designed to stimulate collagen renewal, calm inflammation, and support skin barrier function,” she adds.

And now, after months of clinical research, the brand has the metrics to prove that it can outdo the pricey, more popular picks dominating the market today with 90% effectiveness (ahem, the SkinMedica TNS Advanced+ Serum, which retails for $295, opposed to Drmtlgy’s $69).

However, this new serum isn’t to be confused with Drmtlgy’s best-selling Needle-less Serum: an anti-aging formula that includes a similar ingredients list, including peptides, ceramides, and sodium hyaluronate, just without the extra potency of growth factors. An ultra-thin, watery serum compared to the new version’s thicker formula, this lightweight liquid is infused with a cocktail of wrinkle-reducing and pore-minimizing ingredients like niacinamide and panthenol (provitamin B5) to deliver a less potent iteration of the Growth Factor Serum’s potion.

The Testing Process

Frequency: Daily | Testing period: 1 month (mom), 1 week (me) | Used with: Night cream

I delivered a bottle of the then-unreleased Needle-less Growth Factor Serum to my mom about a month before its online debut, and she wasted no time before incorporating this product into her routine. Used daily in conjunction with the Drmtlgy Peptide Night Cream Face Moisturizer, my mom watched in awe as her skin transformed in as little as one week—her complexion smoother, more hydrated, and visibly firm, all without the help of extra spa treatments or injectables.

Mom’s Pairing:

“That [Drmtlgy] serum that you gave me is amazing,” she writes to me. “I'm actually going to order more of that one. It definitely makes a difference.” By one month, her skin looked and felt as firm as it did when she routinely went in for Botox—a practice she abandoned years ago after wanting to age more naturally. Not to mention her hydration levels, which skyrocketed after combining it with the complementary night cream.

My Pairing:

I’ll admit that I was a bit late to the game, slathering on two pumps of this serum before moisturizer (the new Dr. Diamond Hydr/o Bioactive Hydrolipid Barrier Moisturizer, thank you very much) only after my mom notified me of her near-immediate success. Though I haven’t been using it for a month, I did notice brighter, happier skin after one week. But what surprised me the most was the dramatic increase in hydration that I noticed after one day, despite my dry, eczema-prone skin. (No, really, I forgot to use moisturizer before doing my makeup the next morning because of how hydrated my skin remained hours after my evening application.)

Final Thoughts

It’s fair to say that my mom and I experienced different pros when we tested this serum, but we both arrived at the same conclusion: the stuff really works.

• Lori, 53: My mom's mature skin drank up every bit of this regenerative serum, observing a visible decrease in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles in just one month of use. Her skin appeared (and felt) far firmer than before, and the radiance of her complexion was noticeably boosted thanks to the serum’s deeply hydrating properties.
• Alyssa, 25: While I didn’t notice a huge difference in the firmness of my skin (blame it on the mid-twenties), the immediate rush of hydration was enough to quell my dry, patchy complexion in the middle of an eczema outbreak. A major win for those with sensitive skin who want to treat their mature complexions or use it as a preventative measure, like me.

Can the Needle-less serum replace injections?

You might be wondering: if I regularly get injectable treatments, can I get the same results from this serum? "While the Growth Factor Serum does not replace injectable treatments, it serves as an excellent adjunct to a comprehensive anti-aging regimen," says Lee. However, it's a great option for those who don't want to spend their hard-earned cash (or expend their pain tolerance) on these in-office treatments. "By optimizing overall skin health by enhanced collagen renewal, barrier repair, and reduced inflammation, it can improve the skin’s resilience and, in turn, support more effective and sustained results from injectables," she adds.