Lately, there’s been a pretty big conversation about what’s actually getting put into cosmetic fillers and frownline treatments, especially those based on human materials. You’d think there are rules, right? And there are, but now Revance-a company working in this field-has pointed out that human-derived ingredients are a “major blind spot” in both regulations and public awareness. That means a lot of brands are kind of flying under the radar with what’s in their products,or at least,the origin of those ingredients isn’t always getting the attention it probably should.
Human-derived stuff in your filler? Yeah, that’s a thing
Revance’s CEO Mark Foley actually brought this up during the Jefferies Healthcare Conference. He said a good chunk of people don’t even realize their frownline treatments could contain ingredients that started out as human tissue. Now, these aren’t unheard-of in the cosmetic world. supposedly, such ingredients-called ”human-derived” or, if you want to get technical, “xenologous” materials-can show up in dermal fillers, neurotoxins, and other injectables. The real kicker is that this can include plasma, umbilical cord, or even amniotic tissue. The exact origin depends on the formula and the company.
Regulations are strict,but not always clear on this point
According to revance,existing US regulations clamp down pretty hard on safety,but the language doesn’t always zone in on whether something is animal-based,human-based,or synthetic. Foley basically said that current approvals frequently enough skip over this whole question of ingredient origin-or don’t talk about it clearly enough. So, products might fly through regulatory checks even if they use materials from people.
Public awareness trails behind
Another part of the issue: most consumers (and even some healthcare professionals) aren’t aware what’s going into these treatments. They may think of dermal fillers as different brands with slightly different effects or longevity. The detail about human tissue isn’t usually on the first few lines of the brochure. This gap, according to Revance, creates a kind of blind spot, because people can’t make informed choices if they don’t even no what’s at play.
Revance’s option doesn’t use human-derived ingredients
This is where Revance’s DaxibotulinumtoxinA, or DAXXIFY, enters the story. Unlike other brands (and some older products),theirs doesn’t rely on human or animal-based materials. They stress that DAXXIFY was created using synthetic technology. So for anyone who wants to avoid human or animal origins in their treatments, that’s part of their pitch.
Why it matters, week-to-week
It’s not lost on anyone that people are getting more thoughtful about what goes into cosmetic treatments. Whether you’re vegan, worried about disease transmission, or just interested in clarity, knowing what’s in your frownline product matters. Revance’s point isn’t only about technical regulations or lab protocols. It’s also about consumer trust and giving clinics the chance to properly inform their clients.
Blind spot or not, expect more talk about it
Cosmetic ingredients come under the microscope all the time, but the human-based piece feels extra charged. Not everyone is comfortable with the idea,and not everyone knows to check. With Revance putting this topic front and center, maybe ingredient origin will get called out much more in the next few years-so you’re less likely to be left guessing what you’re actually getting injected into your skin.
