Ubiquinone

Ubiquinone at a Glance

• Also known as coenzyme Q10 or CoQ10
• Occurs naturally in the body
• Has antioxidant, skin-soothing, and anti-aging properties
• Can impart a yellow color to skin care products

Ubiquinone Description

Ubiquinone is also (and perhaps more popularly) known as coenzyme Q10 or CoQ10. It is a vitamin-like, fat-soluble substance naturally present in the body. It is found primarily in the mitochondria and participates in cellular respiration which generates energy for the cell in the form of ATP (adenosine triphosphate). Applied to skin, it can have antioxidant benefits due to its energizing effect on factors in skin that tend to slow down with age and cumulative sun exposure.

Ubiquinone content within skin is known to peak in early childhood and decline with age. There are also studies showing that environmental factors deplete the presence of ubiquinone in the skin. Topical application has been shown to have skin-soothing effects and recent research suggests its inclusion in skin care products can have a noticeable impact on the visible signs of aging.

Since ubiquinone is a large molecule, it is not known to penetrate past the uppermost layers of skin; however, this is what’s believed to help make it so effective in its role of thwarting visible effects of environmental damage.

Its effective usage level in skin is typically between 0.02-0.05%. Amounts of 1% or more tend to impart a strong yellow color to skin care formulas, as its natural color ranges from orange to dark red. It is considered non-irritating as used in cosmetics.

Ubiquinone References