Skinvive is a thin, hyaluronic-acid gel that’s injected into the superficial layers of skin to boost skin hydration, minimize fine lines, and leave skin looking refreshed and radiant.
Manufactured by Allergan Aesthetics (the makers of Botox and the Juvéderm Collection of fillers), Skinvive is FDA approved to add subtle definition, reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and “improve the smoothness of the cheeks.” It began rolling out in dermatologists’ and plastic surgeons’ offices in the U.S. in fall 2023.
SkinVive has a lower G prime (a measure of how thick and cohesive a filler is) than other dermal fillers, so it spreads more easily, according to a 2023 study in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal.
Once injected, the hyaluronic acid disperses evenly throughout the upper layers of your skin to improve overall skin quality, boost hydration, and create a lasting glow.
While traditional hyaluronic acid fillers are injected into the skin’s dermal layer to add volume and contour, the most noticeable benefits of Skinvive are in the overall skin quality and radiance. Because of this, it belongs to a new category of injectables called skin boosters. (Profhilo, widely used in Europe but still awaiting FDA approval, also falls into this category.)
Some providers characterize this innovative injectable as an especially long-lasting form of medical-grade skin care. “It’s almost like an injectable moisturizer,” says Dr. Anna Avaliani, a board-certified physician in New York City. “In the clinical study, patients treated with Skinvive reported higher satisfaction with how glowing, hydrated, refreshed, and healthy their skin looked,” she says. In fact, nearly 63% of patients in the trial reported that their facial skin still looked more radiant six months post-treatment.
A 2022 study found that three months after the initial treatment, skin treated with Skinvive had greater levels of a protein called aquaporin 3, a key marker of skin hydration. The same paper also reported significant improvements in skin texture and elasticity.
Although Skinvive is FDA approved specifically to treat the cheeks, some experienced providers are using it off-label on the neck, décolletage, and other body areas.
RealSelf Tip: Deciding between getting Skinvive versus Sculptra? They do two very different things. While Skinvive offers superficial hydration, Sculptra is a biostimulatory filler that kickstarts your skin’s collagen production, to firm and smooth it over time. Dr. Avaliani recommends considering the area of your concern, as well as how long you’re willing to wait for results. Sculptra is often used to smooth deep wrinkles and restore volume, but it can take four to six to see the the full effects.
