Ubiquinone

AKA: Coenzyme Q10
Also known as Coenzyme Q10, this bright orange antioxidant supports the skin's energy metabolism. It also offers some anti-pigment action. Dietary supplementation of Ubiquinone improves the appearance of wrinkles.
Also-Known-As:
Coenzyme Q10
Antioxidant
Other functions
Origin
Ubiquinone

Overview

Ubiquinone is more commonly known as Coenzyme Q10. It is praised as a wonderful antioxidant for skincare and rightly so. Its many benefits have been supported by tests and scientific trials.

Ubiquinone is a dark orange, oil-soluble substance that is present in all cells of the body, where it plays an important role in energy metabolism. As we age, the levels of Ubiquinone diminish everywhere in the body, especially in the skin.

Clinical trials on humans skin showed that the application of Coenzyme Q10 in the form of cream or serum was able to restore the levels of coenzyme in the skin and support the antioxidant protection of the entire epidermis, and not only the top layers. A surprisingly tiny concentration of 0.03-0.08% was enough to achieve this effect.

Ubiquinone is therefore a good ingredient to include in any skincare routine, especially those aimed at mature and aging skin.

Ubiquinone was also found to inhibit tyrosinase, an enzyme necessary for the production of skin pigment. It may therefore also offer some anti-pigment action, although this has only been confirmed in test tubes so far.

It is a good idea to consider taking Coenzyme Q10 supplements or eating more of it in your diet.

A randomized, double-blinded clinical trial showed that 12 weeks of dietary supplementation of Ubiquinone improved the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, as well as skin elasticity and general skin smoothness.

Science

1
Knott A, Achterberg V, Smuda C, et al. Topical treatment with coenzyme Q10-containing formulas improves skin's Q10 level and provides antioxidative effects. Biofactors. 2015;41(6):383-390.
2
Hseu, Y. C., Ho, Y. G., Mathew, D. C., Yen, H. R., Chen, X. Z., & Yang, H. L. (2019). The in vitro and in vivo depigmenting activity of Coenzyme Q10 through the down-regulation of α-MSH signaling pathways and induction of Nrf2/ARE-mediated antioxidant genes in UVA-irradiated skin keratinocytes. Biochemical pharmacology, 164, 299–310.
3
Žmitek, K., Pogačnik, T., Mervic, L., Žmitek, J., & Pravst, I. (2017). The effect of dietary intake of coenzyme Q10 on skin parameters and condition: Results of a randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind study. BioFactors (Oxford, England), 43(1), 132–140.