Key Takeaways
- Same INCI, same format: Active Pro Serum and TNS Advanced+ Serum share the exact same ingredient list and dual-chamber structure.
- Significantly lower price: At $49.99, the Skincare Generics version comes in at a fraction of the $295 original.
- Unknowns remain: The formula match is strong on paper, but differences in concentration and manufacturing could affect real-world results.
- A clear case of INCI-level duplication: For ingredient-focused users, this dupe is one of the most direct we've seen in this category.
Introduction
We’ve become known as the go-to source for ingredient-based dupe discoveries — the “juice channel” for skincare lookalikes. Brands often tip us off when they’re launching formulas that go head-to-head with far more expensive products. And few go bolder on that front than Skincare Generics — a brand known for putting “compare to” language right on the packaging.
Their latest launch? Active Pro Serum, a dual-chamber serum that appears to directly replicate the formula structure of SkinMedica® TNS Advanced+ Serum™, a well-known growth factor treatment with a $295 price tag. It immediately ranked first in the compare results that you can see here.
Dual-Chamber Delivery, Identical INCI
Like the original, Active Pro Serum uses a dual-chamber system — one side housing growth factors and peptides, the other delivering botanical and marine-based support. But what truly stands out is the INCI list: Active Pro Serum and TNS Advanced+ Serum share an identical ingredient list, in the same order.
Here's a breakdown of what both formulas contain:
- Human Fibroblast Conditioned Media – the core growth factor component
- Dimer Tripeptide-43 – a signal peptide aimed at skin firmness and elasticity
- Lactococcus Ferment Lysate and Whey Protein – fermentation and protein-based ingredients that may support barrier repair and renewal
- Botanical actives like Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Grape Flower Cell Extract, and Apple Fruit Extract
- Hydrators and texturizers such as Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Shea Butter Ethyl Esters, Pullulan, and Polyacrylate Crosspolymers
The order and structure of the ingredient list are identical — which is notable, especially for a category like growth factor serums, where even small formulation differences are often carefully guarded.
Of course, no one outside the brands knows the precise concentrations or manufacturing methods — and those factors can influence performance. But from an ingredient standpoint, this is a close structural match.
Price Comparison
To put the value into perspective:
- SkinMedica® TNS Advanced+ Serum (1 oz): $295
- Skincare Generics Active Pro Serum (1 oz): $49.99
→ That’s an 83% price difference
If that wasn't enough incentive to give it a try IRL, SKINSKOOL readers get an extra 15% off using the code SKINSKOOL.
