As a Natural Beauty, you recognize the power of plant-based ingredients to boost your heath. By now, you also recognize that many of the same nutraceuticals you consume for health benefits are also great for your skin. One of those is CoenzymeQ10, or CoQ10 for short.

What is it?
Your body naturally produces the antioxidant CoQ10 and uses it for cell growth and maintenance. As you grow older, production slows down. CoQ10 is an important nutrient for your skin. You’ll find concentrations of it in the stratum corneum, or outer layer, of your skin. Its job there is to protect the deeper layers from UV damage, which can manifest in the form of wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, and—worse. .
The good news is that you can find small amounts of CoQ10 in spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, and legumes (think peanuts, lentils, and soy beans). For topical applications to benefit your skin, use products like EB’s VitaminCells Skin Care.

Smooth out those wrinkles
As we get older our skin gets thinner and drier, and it loses its elasticity. The result? Wrinkles. These lines and creases are a natural part of the aging process, but does that mean you can’t slow down their appearance? In one clinical study, researchers found that the topical application of CoQ10 across a five-month period reduced the appearance of wrinkles, as observed by a dermatologist.¹ A team of German researchers noted a reduction in crow’s feet (wrinkles at the corner of the eye) with long-term application of CoQ10.²
Another study examined the effect of CoQ10 oral supplementation on the skin. Their 12-week, double blind study tracked 33 subjects in a placebo-controlled experiment. At the end of the study, the research team noted “significantly reduced wrinkles and microrelief lines, and improved skin smoothness.”³

Correct discoloration
Skin discoloration can be another sign of aging. The same environmental effects that cause wrinkles to appear can also lead to hyperpigmentation and blotchiness. A research team in Hamburg, Germany was able to demonstrate that topical application of CoQ10 penetrated the skin and reduced the level of oxidation, which in turn reduced the signs of photoaging.⁴ Another study compared the effects of this nutraceutical on human dermal fibroblasts from three individuals and reached the same conclusion: CoQ10 was able to reduce melanin content in B16 cells and therefore may have depigmentation effects for skin.⁵

Return to youthful skin
We’ve covered wrinkles and discoloration, both indications of aging skin. Additional signs include dryness, dullness, and roughness. CoQ10 can address these signs, too. In fact, another clinical study looked at the impact this nutraceutical had on the skin of 37 woman aged 35-60. Participants applied a moisturizer containing CoQ10, among other ingredients, twice a day (morning and evening) and were evaluated after the 4th, 8th, and 12th week of the study. By the end of the study there was a statistically significant improvement across the study’s parameters, which included fine lines and wrinkles, clarity and brightness, visual roughness, tactile roughness, evenness of skin tone, and overall appearance.⁶    

Ready to tap into the benefits of this superstar ingredient? We want to make it even easier for you to get started. If you sign up for our EB Newsletter today, we'll give you $10 off. Don't stop there! Sign-up for our EB Rewards program to continue earning rewards.

So, go ahead: register, save, and help your skin with CoQ10! Just make sure you snap a picture of your order when it comes in and share it with us on Instagram. We want to see what you got! Remember to tag @eccobellabeauty and use the hashtag #EBVitaminCells

¹ Mechanisms of inhibitory effects of CoQ10 on UVB-induced wrinkle formation in vitro and in vivo. Inui M1, Ooe M, Fujii K, Matsunaka H, Yoshida M, Ichihashi M.
² Modulation of oxidative stresses in human aging skin. Blatt T, Mundt C, Mummert C, Maksiuk T, Wolber R, Keyhani R, Schreiner V, Hoppe U, Schachtschabel DO,  Stäb F. Paul Gerson Unna Forschungszentrum Beiersdorf AG, Hamburg.
³ The effect of dietary intake of coenzyme Q10 on skin parameters and condition: Results of a randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind study. Žmitek K, Pogačnik T, Mervic L, Žmitek J, Pravst I.
⁴ Coenzyme Q10, a cutaneous antioxidant and energizer. Hoppe U, Bergemann J, Diembeck W, Ennen J, Gohla S, Harris I, Jacob J, Kielholz J, Mei W, Pollet D, Schachtschabel D, Sauermann G, Schreiner V, Stäb F, Steckel F.
⁵ Coenzyme Q(10) enhances dermal elastin expression, inhibits IL-1α production and melanin synthesis in vitro. Zhang M, Dang L, Guo F, Wang X, Zhao W, Zhao R.
⁶ An Open Label Clinical Trial of a Multi-Ingredient Anti-Aging Moisturizer Designed to Improve the Appearance of Facial Skin. Herndon JH Jr, Jiang L, Kononov T, Fox T.