Exosome Serums, Creams and Ampoules: What the Label Tells You

Exosome skincare is cosmetics. The label may list exosomes, but we cannot verify the amount, the source or what the particles do on your skin.

This guide shows how to read a label and what three makers' own pages say as of October 15, 2026. It is not a ranking, and we have no links to shops.

Last reviewed October 15, 2026

Exosome skincare is not exosome therapy

A serum, cream or ampoule bought over the counter is skincare, and the FDA does not approve cosmetics before they go on sale. The FDA status guide explains how it decides what a product is.

The procedure in a clinic is a different thing, covered in exosome therapy for the face. There is no FDA-approved exosome product for either. (FDA notice, December 6, 2019)

This guide covers over-the-counter skincare only. It does not cover vials or professional kits, which are not for consumer use.

How to read an exosome skincare label

What we found on the makers' own pages on October 15, 2026. A label is a claim by the maker, and we cannot verify the amount or the source.
What to check	Why it matters	What the three pages show
An exosome entry in the ingredient list	The product name is marketing. The ingredient list is the label.	Medicube lists "Lactobacillus Extracellular Vesicles", and "Milk Exosomes" on some versions. The INKEY List's printed list has no entry containing "exosome" or "vesicle", although its text names plant-derived exosomes.
The source	Bacteria, milk, plants and cultured cells are different materials.	Bacteria and milk at Medicube. Plant (Centella asiatica) at The INKEY List.
An amount	Without a number you cannot compare two products.	The INKEY List states 1%. Medicube's 25000 version lists 154 ppm and 10 ppm for its two exosome entries. Its 2000 and 7500 lists give none.
What else is in it	Acids, retinol and sponge spicules drive how a product feels and how it irritates.	Medicube lists hydrolyzed sponge, citric acid, betaine salicylate and gluconolactone. Its PDRN version also lists retinol and alcohol. The INKEY List lists a peptide, hyaluronic acid and ectoin.
Who tested the claim	A maker's own survey is not an independent study.	Medicube cites a 20-person consumer survey and a self test report. The INKEY List cites a 4-week study of 26 people and laboratory tests. We have not seen the reports.

Reviews note that "exosome" is used loosely in aesthetic products, and that an exosome origin is not always shown. (PMID 42353255) The international guidelines for this field point to naming as an open problem. (PMID 38326288)

Serums

The INKEY List Exosome Hydro-Glow Complex is described on the maker's page as a plant-derived exosome serum with 1% Cica exosomes sourced from Centella asiatica. The page also names a tripeptide, hyaluronic acid, ectoin, coenzyme Q10 and prickly pear extract. It suggests use after cleansing, morning and evening, and says to avoid the eyes.

The maker cites a 4-week study of 26 people and laboratory tests. We have not seen either. The page says the exosomes are sourced from cica (Centella asiatica) extract. The ingredient list printed on the page has no entry with the word exosome or vesicle, so we cannot tell which line stands for the 1%. If you want to know, ask the maker. (The INKEY List product page)

Ampoules

Medicube sells two ampoule-style "exosome shots": the Zero Exosome Shot, and the PDRN Pink Collagen Exosome Shot. The maker describes both as "tingling" products built on the principle of microneedling, and the ingredient lists include hydrolyzed sponge, which the maker calls a spicule. The maker says the spicules are designed to shed with dead skin over several days.

The maker's instructions say to avoid the eyes and lips, to patch test, and that tingling, redness, itching and heat are a normal reaction. We would stop and ask a clinician if a reaction is strong or does not fade. The maker also warns against using the product with its own devices if you are new to spicules. The PDRN version also lists retinol and alcohol. Details are in our Medicube guide. (Zero Exosome Shot page; PDRN Pink Collagen Exosome Shot page)

Creams

A cream is a leave-on product like a serum, so the same label questions apply: which entry is the exosome, where it comes from and how much there is. We have not named a cream in this guide. This guide only names products we could check on the maker's own page, and we did not verify a cream on a maker's page on October 15, 2026. Shop listings are not a substitute, so we left creams out until we can check one.

Skincare and professional microneedling

Ask the clinic before you put any consumer product on skin that has just been needled. A review of microneedling safety advises caution when the device is used with products not intended to be applied with microneedles. (PMID 34448760) Do not combine a consumer product with needling at home.

What to look for before you buy

The full ingredient list is available before you buy
An exosome entry appears in that list, and a source is named
An amount is stated, and you know what the number measures
The maker's usage rules are clear, including where not to use it
You have done a patch test, and you ask a doctor first if you have a health condition or are pregnant
You are not relying on the word "clinical" without seeing the study

We have no affiliate relationship with any maker or shop, and this page has no purchase links. See our affiliate disclosure.

Quick answers

Are exosome creams the same as exosome therapy?

No. Creams are cosmetics sold over the counter. Therapy is a procedure in a clinic. There is no FDA-approved exosome product for either.

Can I put an exosome serum on after microneedling at home?

We advise against it. Ask a clinic first, and do not combine consumer products with needling at home.

Does a higher number on the bottle mean more exosomes?

Not necessarily. On Medicube's 25000 version, the ingredient list gives the exosome entries as 154 ppm and 10 ppm, so the number in the name is not an exosome amount that we could confirm.

Sources

This page has not yet been reviewed by a licensed clinician. Sources are listed below. Last editorial check: October 15, 2026.