If you dream of having a youthful facial appearance, Coenzyme Q10 is the cosmetic ingredient for you!
Surely most of you have heard and seen ads in which the famous coenzyme Q10 is mentioned as a rejuvenating factor and a major player in the fight against wrinkles, and you have no idea what it is! You may have waved your hand thinking it was some heavy chemistry that isn’t for your skin. But did you know that it is actually a natural substance that is normally found in our body? Who else wants wrinkles on their face, especially if coenzyme Q10 is something we already have inside.
Well, if it already helps your skin look so perfect and wrinkles disappear, it would be good to know a little more about it, right? Finally, find out what coenzyme Q10 is, what its action is and how it can help you get rid of wrinkles and return your face to a youthful appearance.
Let's see how to get the most out of coenzyme Q10 and always shine!
What is Coenzyme Q10?
Hunting for firm skin is a fierce struggle and it is precisely one of the most sought after features when looking for a good skin care product. Many ingredients claim to increase the rate of cell renewal and improve skin elasticity, but we have recently noticed that a certain name is appearing more and more when it comes to the firmness of our skin - coenzyme Q10. But coenzyme Q10 is nothing new. In fact, it has been a major ingredient in care and beauty products for years. So what exactly is coenzyme Q10?
Coenzyme Q10 is a compound that you will also encounter under names like ubiquinone, CoQ10 or q enzyme 10. Coenzyme Q10 is not a foreign substance that you put on to make your face beautiful and toned and to slow down the aging process of the skin. Coenzyme Q10, just like hyaluronic acid which is also used to reduce wrinkles, is already found in our body. Coenzyme Q10 is found everywhere in our body, especially in the skin. Specifically, it is located in the farthest layer of skin called the stratum corneum. This part of the skin is most susceptible to sun damage and suffers first. Exposure to sunlight in excessive amounts affects the reduction of coenzyme Q10, but also the work of cells that are responsible for the elasticity of the skin and thus changes in the skin. The skin relaxes, wrinkles appear and dark spots on the face and various types of hyperpigmentation can appear. But fortunately, the skin is regenerating. In order for this process to function properly, coenzyme Q10 is important.
Have you heard of vitamin Q? There are many vitamins for the skin, but this one has been shown to be especially good. And what exactly is vitamin Q? Vitamin Q is just a fancy name, but technically coenzyme Q10 is not a vitamin because our body makes it even without taking it from food, which is not the case with vitamins. Like vitamin C, coenzyme Q10 is a powerful antioxidant. In other words, coenzyme Q10 serves to prevent cell breakdown (including skin cells) by providing protection against the effects that free radicals have on the skin.
We’re sure you’re wondering why then add it to cosmetic products if you already have it in your body. It is about the fact that the level of coenzyme Q10 in the skin rises from childhood and reaches its peak sometime when you reach 20-30 years of age, and after that period, that level begins to gradually decline. In fact, the twenties and thirties are the period when you have to start thinking about aging your skin and slowly starting to use anti-wrinkle cream. We usually remember this when the wrinkles are already in full swing, and then we look for creams for 40+. As we can see, if we don’t want wrinkles on our face, it is more than obvious that we should think about skin aging much earlier.
Coenzyme Q10 has been shown to maintain skin elasticity quite effectively and reduce wrinkles, which is why it has become such a popular ingredient in many cosmetic products. Research has mainly focused on surface application because it is most commonly used in various cosmetic preparations intended for the skin, but you may not have even known that coenzyme Q10 can also be obtained in tablet form and used as a supplement? Coenzyme Q10 can also contribute to a better skin appearance and reduce wrinkles, but we'll talk about that later. Let's go back to the basic way of fighting wrinkles, and that is cosmetic products!
How does coenzyme Q10 work?
There are several important roles that coenzyme Q10 plays in our body. First of all, it is extremely important for the development of many chemical processes and reactions in the cells of our body. It is believed that production aid is as much as 95% of our energy. Without these reactions in which coenzyme Q10 is present, cell growth and renewal in our body would not be possible. Nourishing the skin surface with this compound is effective in increasing the level of coenzyme Q10 in sebum. Sebum is a fatty substance produced by the sebaceous glands and is extremely important in maintaining skin moisture. In excessive amounts, sebum is not desirable and creates the conditions for the formation of acne. However, if there is too little of it, the skin becomes dry and prone to sagging and wrinkles.
The aging process of the skin is associated with cellular oxidation. In part, this may be the result of a decrease in coenzyme Q10 levels in the skin. It has antioxidant properties and protects cells, which is why surface application of coenzyme Q10 makes a lot of sense, especially if we keep in mind that it is mainly found in the outer part of the skin, which is most exposed to pollutants and free radicals. Lack of coenzyme Q10 in the skin results in a reduced ability of the skin to produce collagen and elastin.
As you know, the skin is an organ that regenerates. The whole mechanism of recovery is a complex system, but collagen and elastin are the main drivers of the whole process. Collagen results in skin that is strong and firm, and elastin results in skin that is flexible and stretchy. Without them, the skin begins to sag and relax, so unfortunately the first wrinkles appear. The thinnest parts of the skin, such as the eye area, are affected first, which is why a good eye cream should immediately enter your facial care routine. After the area around the eyes, the parts of the facial skin that move most often are damaged, e.g., wrinkles around the lips appear.
What destroys the skin?
The biggest enemies of collagen and elastin are free radicals. These are molecules that lack one electron to be complete and then attract proteins (collagen and elastin) in search of it. By doing so, they change their shape and disrupt the structure and lose their function, ie they decay. This is where we come to coenzyme Q10 which is an antioxidant. Neutralization of free radicals and their harmful effects is a job that is very well done by coenzyme Q10. Many studies have shown that cosmetics containing coenzyme Q10 not only provide skin protection, but also reduce wrinkles over time.
Benefits of Coenzyme Q10 For Your Skin
Although naturally occurring coenzyme Q10 can be used for energy, it can also do a number of things in skin care products. When it comes to skin care, moisturizer, tonic, eye cream often contain coenzyme Q10, which helps to even out skin tone and reduce the appearance of wrinkles and lines on the skin.
Here are the benefits that Coenzyme Q10 offers to your skin:
- Protecting the skin from premature aging: This condition is mainly caused by excessive exposure of the skin to the sun. Moderate exposure to sunlight is desirable and normal, and the last thing you need is to lock in 4 walls all day, but careless sun exposure without protection for a long period of time without thinking about sun protection and shade at a time when UV rays are most dangerous will definitely leave consequences. Not only will you burn in the sun, but as a result, your skin will age faster. Premature aging can be caused by other external factors such as toxins, stress, pollution and the like. Coenzyme Q10 has a strong antioxidant effect and mitigates the effect of external factors (toxins, stress, pollution) that affect premature skin aging.
- Restoring energy to your skin cells: Coenzyme Q10 can be found in almost all cells in the body and is essential for their work. The application of coenzyme Q10 through cosmetic products helps for a fresh look of the face, for which cell renewal plays a big role. Energetic skin cells mean healthier skin cells. Adding coenzyme Q10 to your skin care can allow cells to make better use of other nutrients, the end result of which is healthy skin as a whole.
- Stimulating the activity of your skin: Inactive skin cells are activated more slowly and get rid of toxins more slowly. As a result, the skin becomes dry, dull, relaxes and wrinkles form. Coenzyme Q10 activates skin cells to do their job better. The result of using coenzyme Q10 is rapid removal of toxins and rapid cell renewal.
- Stimulates collagen production: The protein that is an integral part of the skin must be present in appropriate amounts in order for the skin to be taut but above all firm. By stimulating collagen production, coenzyme Q10 directly has a positive effect on skin aging and relaxation.
- Evening out skin tone: Coenzyme Q10 works by blocking tyrosinase, which helps create melanin, which means that Coenzyme Q10 helps fade and prevent dark spots on your skin.
- Reducing Free Radical Damage: Because coenzyme Q10 helps with cellular activity, it also means that your cells can be more effective at resolving toxins like free radicals and treating the damage they cause.
- Soothing the skin: As the toxins are expelled, your skin quietly thanks you. Coenzyme Q10 helps your cells to remove various skin irritants.
- Reducing the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines: Coenzyme Q10, as an ingredient in cosmetics, helps your body produce collagen and elastin, which directly affects the reduction of wrinkles and fine lines.
Coenzyme Q10 tablets
In addition to cream, we said, there are additives. Their role is to rejuvenate you from within, but do they have any impact on the appearance of your skin?
Studies have shown that oral intake of coenzyme Q10 is beneficial and gives excellent results in combination with topical Q10 treatments, either as a face serum or face cream. In addition to the skin, this use of this compound can benefit other organs as well. Coenzyme Q10 is thought to help with weight loss and is more than good for heart function and normal blood vessel function.
Internal application of this compound is also possible in a more natural way - from food!
Foods rich in coenzyme Q10
Dietary supplements like pills are not a substitute for a varied diet that is the best way for healthy skin. In addition to skin vitamins, proper nutrition can provide you with adequate amounts of coenzyme Q10. So, what is a food that contains large amounts of coenzyme Q10?
- Oily fish: Coenzyme Q is fat soluble and as such requires fat for storage and absorption in food. So, consume healthy oily fish which is a great source of healthy fats. The best varieties are salmon, tuna and herring, although this ingredient is also found in other types of fish.
- Meat: No matter which meat you prefer, you will definitely find coenzyme Q10 in it. Beef and chicken, when we talk about meat, have the highest concentrations of coenzyme Q10. Of course, this does not include meat products, but only pure meat.
- Nuts and seeds: For those who are not meat and fish lovers or are vegan, there is another type of food that is rich in coenzyme Q10. Nuts and seeds are the real thing in this case, especially peanuts, sesame, pistachios.
- Fruits and Vegetables: While it may seem to you for a moment that food needs to be fatty to have coenzyme Q10, here are foods that refute it. Fruits and vegetables have less natural fats, but can also contribute to the intake of this element. Oranges, avocados, strawberries, broccoli and cauliflower are at the top of the list that can help you get coenzyme Q10.
Does Coenzyme Q10 Have Side Effects?
As for external use, this ingredient has been shown to be relatively safe. Cosmetics containing coenzyme Q10 are not only good for people who have vitiligo, and in that case coenzyme Q10 can worsen the condition of the skin. Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease in which melanocytes, or cells that produce pigment on the skin, are destroyed. The areas affected by vitiligo remain colorless and depigmentations, i.e. whitish spots, appear on the skin.
When talking about the internal application of coenzyme Q10, possible side effects are nausea, diarrhea, stomach problems, vomiting, decreased appetite and low blood pressure. Therefore, taking coenzyme Q10 tablets is not recommended for people who have low blood pressure, and it should never be consumed by pregnant and breastfeeding women. It may also react with other medicines, so you should consult your doctor before using coenzyme Q10 tablets!
How to use coenzyme Q10?
The good news is that coenzyme Q10 is pretty safe to use with other ingredients. Coenzyme Q10 has been found to work great with many other ingredients and products, so there are countless people who use Coenzyme Q10 after retinol. In addition, as already mentioned, we believe that coenzyme Q10 has a great application before and after sun exposure. Coenzyme Q10 can be found in a variety of cosmetic products such as moisturizing face cream, face tonic, eye cream. Body cream and body lotion may also contain coenzyme Q10. Coenzyme Q10 can also be used with vitamin C and, in fact, in one study, the use of both ingredients together worked better than each ingredient separately. Coenzyme Q10 can be applied to the skin on a daily basis and has no major interactions with other ingredients and cosmetics, so it works well as an addition to your current skin care routine. It is also recommended to use coenzyme Q10 in combination with other active ingredients for best results. Because coenzyme Q10 is fat-soluble, it mixes best with similar ingredients and can be broken down more quickly in combination with retinol or glycolic acid.
