If you pick up any skin care product, chances are you will find Coenzyme Q10 listed as an ingredient on the product label. So – what is this odd sounding ingredient? It is known as a vitamin that works on the production of energy in the skin. You can actually get some Coenzyme Q10 from some foods that you eat such as salmon or soybeans or spinach. It is another vitamin that is already made naturally in the body but production reduces as you age thus it is put in skin care products to replenish what is no longer being produced.
What Does Coenzyme Q10 Do? Coenzyme Q10 is actually an antioxidant that works in the skin to combat free radicals that are so harmful to the skin. Free radicals are unstable molecules of oxygen that are responsible for causing damage to the skin which results in visible signs of aging such as wrinkles or fine lines. The Coenzyme Q10 limits the amount of damage that can be done by the free radicals making it an important ingredient and an effective on for an anti aging product.
Free radicals can play havoc with many different areas of the skin that include the production of collagen. Collagen is the structure of fiber of the skin that keeps it firm so when it is broken down the skin begins to break down resulting in sagging skin along with those wrinkles and other signs of aging. Natural collagen production slows with aging as well making it all the more important to have Coenzyme Q10 available to fight these free radicals.
Free radicals also like to attack the elastin in the skin that helps it to keep its elasticity or to stretch without sagging and becoming loose. Another reason that Coenzyme Q10 is important is that it works hard to ensure that the elastin can continue to hold the skin to its normal shape and tightness without becoming loose and causing wrinkles.
Coenzyme Q10 also ensures that the skin retains vital moisture because if its ability to combat the free radicals and prevent the damage to the collagen and elastin production. When there is a loss of elastin and collagen in the skin, it becomes thinner so that it cannot retain the moisture as easily. Coenzyme Q10 allows the skin to stay thicker thus the skin’s cells are moister and healthier.
When to Start Using Coenzyme Q10 Unbelievably our bodies start losing their optimum levels of Coenzyme Q10 in their skin around the age of 30 so it is important to start taking measures to replenish this important antioxidant early in life. It is especially essential because the older we get the more susceptible we are to damage from free radicals and environmental stressors that cause visible signs of aging.
We are unable to stop our bodies from reducing their production of collagen and elastin and to start the aging process, but we are able to do something about it that will hopefully arrest the amount of damage that is caused to our skin when those visible signs of aging start appearing.
That doesn’t mean that you will automatically see a difference when you start using a skin care product with Coenzyme Q10 but it does mean that it will help but it will take a at least six weeks to see some visible results. The important thing to know that you are adding defensive measures against free radicals plus you are helping to reduce wrinkles and other visible signs of aging proactively by using skin care products that have Coenzyme Q10 listed as an ingredient.
You will find Coenzyme Q10 in face and eye creams or other anti aging treatments or serums plus body products and even cleansers. But be sure to look for the amount of Coenzyme Q10 that is used so that you are taking at least 100 to 200 milligrams per day particularly for people who are already in their 50’s. If you are proactive about using this anti aging antioxidant then you will be sure to see your skin become flawless – or at least much more radiant and more youthful looking and healthier than it was before you started using Coenzyme Q10.