Skincare buzzwords are difficult to navigate. Between antioxidants, enzymes, humectants and more, knowing what’s best for you can require some trial and error. If you’ve tried countless ingredients over the years, you may be familiar with coenzyme Q10 — with good reason.
CoQ10 falls into the antioxidant category, Mindbodygreen reports, but it has a few specific properties that make it bioactive and particularly potent. You can either ingest CoQ10 or apply it topically — the results can be noticeable either way. According to the outlet, every cell in your body contains this antioxidant and it comes in two main forms. Your body naturally creates CoQ10 but, similar to collagen, your levels may drop as you age. In addition to providing beauty benefits, adding the antioxidant to your routine helps reduce headaches, protect your heart, increase fertility and more (via Healthline).
In terms of your skin health, CoQ10 has a few specific roles to play — from protection to regeneration. Like other antioxidants, it protects against oxidative stress and subsequent damage to your cells. Protecting your cell membranes, having an ample supply of CoQ10 can be the difference between fine lines and smooth skin. The antioxidant serves as a line of defense against daily environmental stressors such as UV rays, pollution and other irritants. Consequently, it fights wrinkles and signs of aging.
CoQ10 also evens your skin tone
Byrdie reports that this antioxidant has served as a key ingredient in Japanese skincare routines for years — for good reason. “Antioxidants are basically shields you can apply to your skin to combat all the things that contribute to aging skin such as UV radiation, Infrared radiation and ozone pollution. Remember that the majority of the aging of our skin is from environmental sources so if we can block those from occurring, our skin will age less,” board-certified dermatologist Dr. Lisa Pruet told the outlet.
Keeping your cells healthy is the underlying benefit of CoQ10. By energizing cell activity, it helps spur biological processes that can slow as you age. “This energy is needed to repair damage and make sure the skin cells are healthy,” Kayo Body Care co-founder, Christine Bullock explained. “Active skin cells get rid of toxins easily and can make better use of nutrients. When your skin ages, all these processes slow down, causing dull and sallow, wrinkled skin.”
Furthermore, if you suffer from dark spots, this ingredient can slow the production of melanin, which is often responsible for discoloration. “One study showed that topical application of this ingredient diminished crows feet and another showed that oral ingestion did not actually reach the stratum corneum of the skin,” Dr. Pruitt added.
By finding a serum or lotion with CoQ10, you can reap these benefits for yourself and watch as your skin looks brighter, softer and more youthful.
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