Skin Care Spotlight: Plated Skin Science

Exosome skin care has gone from a buzzword to a serious category in professional-grade skin care, and one brand in particular remains at the forefront of the latest exosome technology: Plated Skin Science. Surprisingly, the brand got its start in the cardiology research program at the Mayo Clinic.

The concept of using platelets to support tissue repair is not new. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has been used in aesthetic medicine for years, with solid evidence behind it. Plated took the most bioactive part of that process — the exosomes that platelets release — and stabilized them into a topical serum. 

So is Plated’s exosome technology really worth the hype? Here, we take a deep dive into the history of the brand and the robust research behind its innovative products.

Plated Skin Science is a professional skin care brand built around a single core technology: platelet-derived exosomes delivered in topical serum form. Its product line is focused on a handful of serums, each targeting a specific application: daily anti-aging, intensive correction, eye rejuvenation, post-procedure recovery, and scalp and hair health.

Plated describes itself as the first and only company producing topical skin care powered by platelet-derived exosomes. While a handful of other brands use the word “exosomes” on their packaging, most of those products are based on plant-derived or lab-synthesized exosomes, which have a different structural makeup and mechanism of action than the platelet-derived exosomes that Plated has formulated.

Plated was founded by researchers from the Mayo Clinic’s Van Cleve Cardiac Regenerative Medicine Program. The lead researcher behind the brand is Dr. Atta Behfar, Director of Cardiac Regeneration at Mayo Clinic, who spent over two decades studying how platelets and the exosomes they release aid in tissue repair. The dermatology side of the research is headed by Dr. Saranya Wyles, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Dermatology at Mayo Clinic, who served as principal investigator on several of the brand’s key clinical studies.

Plated's founding philosophy is simple: instead of synthesizing new molecules or identifying novel plant extracts, look inside the body itself for the signals that drive repair and renewal. Platelets have evolved over millions of years to rush to sites of damage and release biochemical instructions that initiate healing. The exosomes they carry are the vehicles for those instructions. Plated found a way to extract, stabilize, and preserve those exosomes in a form that could survive on a shelf and penetrate skin when applied topically.

• Renewosome® technology – a proprietary process for extracting and stabilizing platelet-derived exosomes from FDA-regulated blood banks, delivering over one trillion exosomes per bottle while preserving their potency and biological activity.

• Mayo Clinic origins – Plated is the only professional skin care line developed directly out of Mayo Clinic’s regenerative medicine program, with the science published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at major dermatology conferences.

• Post-procedure application – Plated's CALM serum is specifically formulated for use after laser procedures and other cosmetic interventions, with a published pilot study evaluating its use following fractional CO2 resurfacing.

• Recognition in dermatology – the INTENSE Serum was named to TIME Magazine’s Best Inventions of 2024 list and the brand has accumulated over 30 industry award wins and more than 10 peer-reviewed publications.

The foundation of every Plated product is Renewosome® technology, which is the brand’s method of isolating, purifying, and stabilizing exosomes derived from human platelets. Exosomes are nanoscale vesicles — essentially tiny membrane-enclosed packets — that cells use to communicate with one another. Platelets release exosomes as part of their natural wound-healing and tissue-repair function.

The process begins with platelets collected from US blood banks under FDA-regulated conditions. The platelets undergo a process known as leukocyte reduction to remove immune cells that could cause inflammatory reactions, and are then processed through a proprietary centrifugation method that isolates the exosome. The resulting exosome concentrate is then formulated into serums that maintain stability and shelf life without degrading the active ingredients.

The benefit of platelet-derived exosomes comes from what’s inside them. Each exosome contained in Plated products carries a complex mixture of:

• Phosphoproteins – signaling molecules that tell skin cells to kick into repair mode.

• Peptides – amino acid sequences that skin cells recognize and respond to more readily than synthetic alternatives. They support barrier function and collagen production.

• Antioxidant enzymes – the body's own defense against oxidative damage from UV exposure, pollution, and stress, all of which contribute to visible aging over time.

Plated Skin Science has more published peer-reviewed research than most skin care companies, and the studies were conducted by investigators at Mayo Clinic and other academic centers rather than solely by in-house researchers. 

The foundational study for Plated's skin serums is the 2022 POSH trial (Platelets On Skin Health), published in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal. Conducted at Mayo Clinic with 55 participants, this study evaluated topical platelet exosomes against multiple skin quality markers. Results showed statistically significant improvements in redness, brown spots, wrinkles, color evenness, and overall luminosity [3]. Improvements were detectable at six weeks, which is meaningful given the short duration of the trial.

A separate 2023 study published in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology specifically evaluated the DAILY Serum’s effect on facial redness, using Mexameter spectrometry to measure changes across nine facial regions. Results showed statistically significant improvement in redness at week 9, supporting the brand’s claims around sensitivity and rosacea-prone skin [4].

A 2023 paper in Regenerative Medicine examined how exosomes work in aesthetic dermatology and where platelet-derived exosomes fit within the broader field of regenerative medicine, providing context for why Plated’s approach is scientifically grounded [5].

The Plated CALM serum is backed by a 2023 randomized, controlled, evaluator-blinded pilot study published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. The study examined topical human platelet extract following fractional CO2 laser resurfacing and found improvements in skin recovery time and cosmetic outcomes compared to standard post-procedure care [6]. 

Several things are worth keeping in mind when reading Plated’s clinical data. Most of the trials are relatively small, with participant counts in the range of 20 to 55. Open-label designs, where participants and researchers know what is being applied, are subject to placebo effect and observer bias, and several of the studies use this format. 

Plated’s serums are generally best for those with wrinkle-prone, thin, or mature skin, or those dealing with visible redness alongside aging concerns. The platelet-derived exosome formula is non-irritating and does not contain common sensitizers like fragrance, alcohol, or other harsh ingredients, which makes it an option for people with sensitive skin who have struggled to tolerate other serums.

In terms of Baumann Skin Types, the INTENSE and DAILY serums are most appropriate for skin types dealing with visible aging (wrinkled, pigmented) and for those with the sensitive subtype who also have aging concerns. The CALM serum can be a great option for anyone getting in-office procedures, regardless of skin type. 

Not sure which Baumann Skin Type you are? Take the quiz at Skin Type Solutions to find out which Plated products are matched to your specific skin profile.

The most significant barrier for most people is cost. The Plated INTENSE Serum in particular sits at a premium price point that reflects the complexity of the manufacturing process, which includes platelet collection, leukocyte reduction, proprietary centrifugation, and stability testing. 

The product line is also narrow. Plated does not offer cleansers, moisturizers, or SPF products, which means it functions as a treatment step that needs to be built into an existing routine rather than serving as a complete system. 

Additionally, while the evidence base is real and growing, it is still relatively early-stage compared to ingredients like retinoids or vitamin C, which have decades of independent research behind them. 

Plated's platelet-derived exosome technology is grounded in real biology, developed by credentialed researchers, and backed by a growing body of published clinical evidence. Whether it is right for you comes down to your skin type, your goals, and your budget. 

For people dealing with visible aging, redness, or skin sensitivity who have the budget to invest in a premium serum, Plated is one of the better-supported options in the exosome category. 

1. Baumann L. Antiaging Ingredients in Ch. 37 of Baumann's Cosmetic Dermatology Ed 3. (McGraw Hill 2022)
2. Baumann, L. Ch. Cosmeceuticals and cosmetic Ingredients (McGraw Hill 2015)
3. Proffer SL, Paradise CR, DeGrazia E, Halaas Y, Durairaj KK, Somenek M, Wyles SP. Efficacy and tolerability of topical platelet exosomes for skin rejuvenation: six-week results. Aesthetic Surgery Journal. 2022;42(10):1185–1193. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35689936/
4. Kaufman-Janette J, Cazzaniga A, Jacobson A, Jankov LLE, Copeland K, Behfar A, Wyles S. Effect of topical platelet extract daily serum as a cosmetic product to reduce facial redness. Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology. 2023;16(10):48. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10617900/
5. Vyas KS, Kaufman J, Munavalli GS, Robertson K, Behfar A, Wyles SP. Exosomes: the latest in regenerative aesthetics. Regenerative Medicine. 2023;18(2):181–194.
6. Dayan S, Gandhi N, Wilson J, Kola E, Jankov LE, Copeland K, Behfar A. Safety and efficacy of human platelet extract in skin recovery after fractional CO2 laser resurfacing of the face: a randomized, controlled, evaluator-blinded pilot study. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. 2023;22(9):2464–2470.
7. Wyles, S. P., Grace, T. Y., Gold, M., & Behfar, A. (2024). Topical platelet exosomes reduce senescence signaling in human skin: an exploratory prospective trial. Dermatologic Surgery, 50(11S), S160-S165.
8. Vyas, K. S., Kaufman, J., Munavalli, G. S., Robertson, K., Behfar, A., & Wyles, S. P. (2023). Exosomes: the latest in regenerative aesthetics. Regenerative medicine, 18(2), 181-194.
9. Gupta, A. K., Wang, T., Rapaport, J. A., & Talukder, M. (2025). Therapeutic potential of extracellular vesicles (exosomes) derived from platelet‐rich plasma: a literature review. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 24(2), e16709.
10. Wang, J., Zinn, C. J., Learmonth, M., Andrews, T. D., Snow, Z. K., Becher, L. R. E., ... & Hickson, L. J. (2026). Platelet-derived purified exosome product (PEP): A clinical-grade lyophilized extracellular vesicle product with broad therapeutic potential, including kidney repair. Nano Research, 19(6), 94908496.
11. McGraw, I. T., Wilson, E. E., Behfar, A., Paradise, C. R., Rohrich, R. J., & Wyles, S. P. (2024). Evolving role of exosomes in plastic and reconstructive surgery and dermatology. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery–Global Open, 12(8), e6061.