We delve deep into the benefits of Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) for maintaining radiant, youthful skin. Often overlooked in skincare and wellness, CoQ10 is a powerhouse nutrient that plays a critical dual role - both as a potent antioxidant and a key player in cellular energy production. We explore how integrating CoQ10 into your skincare routine and diet can transform the health and appearance of your skin, supported by EQUI's Beauty Formula, which harnesses the power of CoQ10 to enhance skin vitality. CoQ10 is naturally found in every cell of the body, where it helps convert food into energy. Known for its vital role in promoting cellular health, CoQ10's levels naturally decline with age and due to environmental stressors. This reduction can lead to decreased skin elasticity, more wrinkles, and other signs of ageing. Here, we introduce CoQ10, explaining its importance and how maintaining adequate levels can protect and rejuvenate your skin. One of the most significant roles of CoQ10 is its function as an antioxidant, protecting the skin from harmful free radicals that accelerate aging. We discuss how CoQ10 combats oxidative stress, which can lead to premature skin ageing. By neutralising free radicals, CoQ10 helps prevent damage to collagen and elastin, promoting a smoother, more youthful complexion.
Beyond its antioxidant capabilities, CoQ10 is essential for the production of collagen and elastin, the proteins responsible for skin strength and elasticity. We explore how CoQ10 enhances the body's ability to produce these vital skin proteins. Enhanced collagen and elastin not only improve skin texture and firmness but also help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. While topical application of CoQ10 can provide direct benefits to the skin, oral supplementation with Beauty Formula, ensures that CoQ10's benefits are delivered systemically for overall health and skin vitality. We compare the benefits of topical applications versus dietary supplementation, providing insights into how each method supports skin health. We'll also discuss how Beauty Formula can be a game-changer in your skincare and wellness regimen by providing CoQ10 along with other synergistic nutrients.
Beauty Formula is designed not just to support skin health but to enhance overall vitality. This Formula contains CoQ10 alongside a blend of other essential antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that work together to rejuvenate and protect the skin. By including CoQ10, it addresses the comprehensive needs of ageing skin, supporting cellular energy, reducing oxidative damage, and promoting the production of collagen and elastin. Purchase Beauty Formula here.
CoQ10 - An Introduction to Your Skin’s New Best Friend
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), also known as ubiquinone, is a vital nutrient that plays several crucial roles in the body, particularly in maintaining skin health. As both a powerful antioxidant and a key player in cellular energy production, CoQ10 is essential for the skin’s vitality and overall health. CoQ10 is naturally synthesised in the body and is found in every cell, where it is involved in the process of energy production within mitochondria. It helps convert the energy from carbohydrates and fats into usable cellular energy (ATP), which is crucial for the functioning of all body systems, including the skin. As an antioxidant, CoQ10 protects cells from oxidative damage caused by free radicals, which are unstable molecules that can cause extensive cellular harm. However, the levels of CoQ10 in the body naturally decline with age. This decline is significant because CoQ10 is not only important for energy production but also for protecting the skin against the ageing process. The reduction in CoQ10 impairs the skin’s ability to produce collagen and elastin, which are essential for maintaining skin’s elasticity and firmness.
When it comes to supporting skin health, CoQ10's antioxidant properties play a pivotal role. It helps combat oxidative stress in the skin which, if unchecked, accelerates the ageing process, leading to wrinkles, fine lines, and other signs of ageing – something we can all agree we would rather avoid! CoQ10 directly helps to neutralise free radicals and protects the skin from the damage caused by UV radiation and environmental pollutants. Not only this, CoQ10 is involved in energy production which is crucial for the skin’s regenerative processes. For example, healthy energy levels in skin cells are essential for repairing damage and regenerating new cells, keeping the skin youthful and vibrant. Environmental factors such as UV exposure, pollution, and toxins, coupled with the natural ageing process, significantly reduce the body’s CoQ10 levels. These factors not only diminish CoQ10's synthesis but also increase the oxidative load, depleting its reserves faster. Given the decline in natural CoQ10 production with age and the increased need due to environmental stressors, supplementation becomes an essential ally to maintain adequate levels for supporting skin health. In fact, studies have shown that CoQ10 supplementation can effectively replenish skin CoQ10 levels, enhance skin antioxidant protection, reduce signs of ageing, and improve skin condition (1).
The Antioxidant Power of CoQ10 to Guard Against Skin Ageing
As an antioxidant, CoQ10 plays a vital role in neutralising free radicals and mitigating oxidative stress, both of which are primary contributors to the skin ageing process. It’s naturally present in the lipid layers of cell membranes, where it functions to stabilise and protect the integrity of cellular structures from oxidative damage. Free radicals, which are unstable molecules generated by UV radiation, pollution, and other environmental stressors, can cause significant damage to skin cells by stealing electrons through a process called oxidation. This leads to the degradation of collagen and elastin, the proteins responsible for the skin's structural integrity and elasticity. CoQ10's antioxidant action involves neutralising these free radicals before they can cause damage. This process not only prevents the breakdown of collagen and elastin but also helps maintain the overall health of the skin cells, allowing them to repair and regenerate more effectively!
And it’s all backed up by science too of course! Several studies have demonstrated the efficacy of CoQ10 in combating skin ageing. One found that topical application of CoQ10 penetrated the skin and reduced the level of oxidative stress, significantly enhancing the antioxidant capacity of the skin. This treatment led to a decrease in the depth of wrinkles and an improvement in the microrelief and smoothness of the skin (2). What’s more, another study demonstrated that dietary supplementation with CoQ10 increased CoQ10 levels not only systemically but also within the skin, which was associated with a reduction in wrinkles and improved skin smoothness (3). The antioxidant properties of CoQ10 were found to play a crucial role in these anti-ageing effects.
CoQ10’s Role in Collagen and Elastin Production
CoQ10 should be celebrated not only for its antioxidant properties but also for its role in supporting the synthesis of collagen and elastin, the critical proteins responsible for the skin's elasticity and firmness. Firstly, CoQ10 contributes to skin health by engaging in the energy production processes within the mitochondria, which are the powerhouses of the cell. By supporting the conversion of nutrients into energy (ATP), CoQ10 ensures that skin cells have the necessary energy to synthesise collagen and elastin. Collagen fibres provide skin with durability and strength, while elastin allows for flexibility and elasticity, enabling the skin to return to its original shape after stretching or contracting. CoQ10 also impacts collagen and elastin synthesis as it plays a role in the control of collagen and elastin genes, influencing how they are made and organised within the skin. What’s more, by reducing oxidative stress, CoQ10 prevents the breakdown of existing collagen and elastin, preserving the structural integrity and youthful appearance of the skin. In fact, several studies have linked CoQ10 supplementation with improvements in skin texture and resilience. For example, dietary supplementation with CoQ10 was found to significantly enhance the levels of CoQ10 in the skin and provide antioxidative effects that are beneficial for reducing signs of ageing (4). This supplementation was associated with increased production of collagen, which leads to a reduction in wrinkles and improvements in skin texture and firmness. Another study looked into the effects of CoQ10 on skin wrinkle formation and found that CoQ10 enhanced skin elasticity and reduced the formation of fine lines and wrinkles (5)!
These studies affirm the role of CoQ10 not only as an antioxidant but also as a vital enhancer of collagen and elastin synthesis, crucial for maintaining the skin’s elasticity, structure, and youthful appearance. Beauty Formula not only incorporates CoQ10, but it also works alongside proprietary GlowCutis® blend, which is our collagen-stimulating, antioxidant powerhouse to nourish skin, hair and nails. Containing Hyaluronic Acid, Type 1 Marine Collagen peptides, Zinc, Vit C, Pine Bark Extract, Resveratrol & Silica, which work together with CoQ10 to support every stage of the skin cell cycle, strengthening and helping to counteract premature skin ageing. Purchase Beauty Formula here.
Skincare vs. Supplementation to Maximise Skin Health
CoQ10 is a powerhouse nutrient with lots of benefits for skin health, whether applied topically or taken as a supplement. There are advantages of each method which can help you maximise its power and integrate it seamlessly into your daily health and beauty routine. For example, applying CoQ10 directly to our skin is highly effective for targeting specific concerns such as reducing visible signs of ageing. Topically, CoQ10 penetrates the skin layers to carry out its antioxidant action, neutralising free radicals that contribute to oxidative stress, a major culprit in skin ageing. This directly supports the skin's collagen and elastin network, essential for maintaining firmness and elasticity. Studies have shown us that topical CoQ10 can significantly decrease the depth of wrinkles and improve skin texture (6). Another benefit of CoQ10 in skincare is its ability to shield the skin from environmental pollutants and UV radiation, which accelerate the breakdown of collagen and elastin. While topical application addresses skin issues at the surface, at EQUI we know beauty is more than just skin deep and that supplementation of CoQ10 offers systemic benefits that extend beyond skin health! When supplemented, CoQ10 is distributed throughout the body, supporting cell function in various organs and tissues. It plays a critical role in cellular energy production and is crucial for the health of tissues that have high energy demands. In fact, CoQ10 supplementation has been shown to improve skin hydration and overall skin health from the inside out! Not one to pick and choose – we know that for optimal skin health, combining both skincare and supplemental forms of CoQ10 can be super helpful. To incorporate CoQ10 topically, look for serums or creams that list it as one of the top ingredients to ensure a concentration that is effective enough to penetrate the skin. Apply these products as part of your daily skincare regimen, ideally under your SPF in the morning to combat photo ageing, and at night to support skin repair during sleep. For supplementation, look no further than our Beauty, Lean, Wellness and Pregnancy Formulas. All you need to do is find your Formula – take our quiz here.
Disclaimer: All of the information on this website is provided for general information only, it should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or any other health care professional providing personalised nutrition or lifestyle advice. If you have any concerns about your general health, you should contact your local health care provider. No one diet or supplement regime works for everyone and you should always seek help from a GP and registered health expert before making changes to your diet, or before introducing any supplements. This is especially important when pregnant
References
- 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, 43(1), pp. 132-140.
- Prahl, S., Kueper, T., Biernoth, T., Wohrmann, Y., Münster, A., Fürstenau, M., Schmidt, M., Schulze, C., Wittern, K.P., Wenck, H., & Muhr, G.M. (2008). 'Coenzyme Q10, a cutaneous antioxidant and energizer.' Biofactors, 32(1-4), pp. 179-183.
- Inui, M., Ooe, M., Fujii, K., Matsunaka, H., Yoshida, M., & Ichihashi, M. (2008). 'Mechanisms of inhibitory effects of CoQ10 on UVB-induced wrinkle formation in vitro and in vivo.' Biofactors, 32(1-4), pp. 237-243.
- 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 randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study.' Biofactors, 43(1), pp. 132-140.
- Inui, M., Ooe, M., Fujii, K., Matsunaka, H., Yoshida, M., & Ichihashi, M. (2008). 'Mechanisms of inhibitory effects of CoQ10 on UVB-induced wrinkle formation in vitro and in vivo.' Biofactors, 32(1-4), pp. 237-243
- Zmitek, K., Pogačnik, T., Mervic, L., Zmitek, J., & Pravst, I. (2017). 'The effect of dietary intake of coenzyme Q10 on skin parameters and condition: Results of a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study.' Biofactors, 43(1), pp. 132-140.