What affect does CoQ10 have on the skin. Can it help reduce fine lines and wrinkles? Will it also help my skin look younger? These questions answered and more.
The search for effective skincare ingredients is never ending, the most searched for effect being younger looking skin.
Most ingredients tend to focus on improving the skins elasticity and cellular renewal, with firmness being further down the list.
Recently we have been hearing more about another ingredient that is hugely popular in Japan.
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) has been cited with being simply astounding at improving the firmness of our skin. This article looks at CoQ10 and its potential effects.
Table of Contents
CoQ10 At A Glance Facts
- Ingredients Type : Antioxidant
- What Benefits Can It Provide : Boosts and evens skin tone and firmness.
- It can help reduce the damage caused by the sun and can improve hydration.
- Who Can Use It? : CoQ10 is pretty safe for everybody.
- The only group who should seek medical advice before using is it are anybody suffering with vitiligo as it can make the problem worse.
- Can You Use It Regularly? : You can use CoQ10 twice a day, its best used during your morning and evening skincare routine.
- Apply before any heavy day/night creams or moisturisers.
- What Does It Work Well With? : CoQ10 works very well alongside products containing VitaminC, Hyaluronic acid and Aloe vera.
- Is There Anything I Should Use It With? : There are no known interactions linked to CoQ10
What Is CoQ10
CoQ10 ( full name Coenzyme Q10) is an enzyme that is produced naturally in the body.
It is one of the most important natural antioxidants.
Found in virtually every single cell in the body.
It is a type of fat soluble quinone compound. Coenzyme is a substance that either enhances, or is essential for the action of other enzymes.
It’s particularly effective in helping our cells to produce energy.
During our younger years, we generally make enough CoQ10 for all our cellular energy needs.
As we start to age ( when we get into our 30’s and above) our age, and increased exposure to stress start to slow the creation of CoQ10.
Its proven antioxidant properties are common knowledge, with many studies backing up its abilities as an effective antioxidant.
Antioxidant are in essence, the shield that protects our skin and our body from everyday toxins and other external sources that can cause harm to our cells.
These can include UV rays, ozone and other environmental pollution along with Infrared radiation.
Its fact that most of our skin ageing, in particular on the face and around the eyes is caused by external environmental sources – If we can block or reduce the effects of these, our skin will most certainly age to a lesser degree
Mina Mansell
CoQ10 Development
The Japanese skincare market was the first to use CoQ10 widely.
The Japanese are in particular are very conscious and far more demanding than the west when it comes to new developments.
They are also usually far more educated about a particular products effects and efficacy
Eastern and Asian skin care markets are often more cutting edge.
Their consumers are more demanding when it comes to new ingredients and are hungry for information on research, development and the clinical trials that go into any products formulation.
Asian manufacturers invest more heavily when developing new products. This is why they are considered world leaders when it comes down to skincare.
CoQ10 is now starting to make a name for itself in the US, this is largely down to the reports coming out of Japan about just how effective it is.
Using CoQ10 On Your Skin
Although it is a natural occurring compound, CoQ10 is now becoming more common place in skincare products.
It can now be found in toners, under eye creams and patches for eye bags along with moisturisers and general body creams.
Its Effects
CoQ10 has a number of benefits that it provides:
Boosts cellular activity
CoQ10 helps to keep skin cells active and energised.
This help to repair cellular damage and maintain the health of the skin cells.
Active healthy skin tends to use nutrients more effectively and helps to reduce the effects of toxins with ease.
With age these natural processes tend to slow down, which leads to sallow, dull and less firm skin
Helps To Reduce and Heal Sun Damage
Exposure to the sun can cause damage to our skin cells.
The UV rays being a source of free radicals (natural toxins) that can cause cellular damage.
CoQ10 has a powerful antioxidant properties which help to heal this cellular damage and protect the skin.
It works by reducing the degrading effect of the sun which lowers collagen levels and helps to reduce and repair the damage caused by exposure to the sun.
Evens Skin Tone
CoQ10 blocks the action of tyrosinase.
This is the production process of melanin which can lead to dark marks and blemishes that cause skin discolouration.
Increases Elastin and Collagen
Studies have shown that CoQ10 helps to boost the production of Elastin and Collagen.
Aids Skin Cell Renewal
The more energised your skin cells, the more readily they repair and reproduce.
Using products containing CoQ10 in your skincare regime can help your skin cells to function more efficiently.
They utilise nutrients more efficiently which ultimately leads to improved skin condition, firmness and overall, improved skin health.
Reduces Free Radicals
Found in the environment around us, they target and can reduce the effective opera of all body cells.
For the skin this means that can become less supple, sallow, dehydrated and ultimately, lined and old looking.
CoQ10 helps to flush the free radicals, healing the damage and triggering the natural skin renewal processes.
This soothes the skin and helps to keep it looking younger and firmer for longer.
Firms Skin And Reduces Fine Lines
CoQ10 has been shown to help aid the natural production of collagen and elastin.
As these increase, the skin becomes firmer looking, and the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles becomes reduced
CoQ10 has been likened to another proven skin boosting ingredient – Vitamin C.
This is another highly effective, natural antioxidant that is known for its anti ageing benefits.
Vitamin C has (in the US) been the most commonly used antioxidant in skin care products, but gradually it’s being overtaken by CoQ10.
CoQ10 has been shown in studies to reduce the appearance of crows feet around the eyes. But it only really works when applied topically.
Oral consumption of CoQ10 on the other hand, does not really offer any benefit to the outer skins layers as it fails to reach the stratum corneum.
Does CoQ10 Have Any Side Effects?
Used topically, CoQ10 does not cause any real side effects.
There is one exception however.
Anybody suffering with Vitiligo ( a skin condition that causes white patches on the skin) should avoid using it.
This is because it has an anti tyrosinase effect which means that it can reduce the production of melanin which creates pigment, giving our skins its colour.
In some cases, the use of CoQ10 has made the problem worse.
Aside from that and a few isolated resorts of heartburn there are no other issues to report.
NOTE – AS with any supplement, if you are taking any long term medication, its always advisable to double check with your doctor before using CoQ10 or in fact any supplement.
Using CoQ10
The ingredient is considered safe to use with virtually any other skincare ingredient.
CoQ10 can be applied after prescription retinoids, it is also good to use before and after exposure to the sun.
It can also be found in many toners, moisturisers as well as good quality eye creams, under eye patches and serums.
Another ingredient that it works well with is vitamin C.
It can be used daily with no real adverse reactions or side effects
Experts recommend that for best results you use CoQ10 alongside other fat soluble ingredients, in particular glycolic and and retinol (Vitamin A).
CoQ10 is most effective when used on the face and in particular around the eyes, as it is very good at reducing under eye puffiness, dark circles and fine lines.
