What is CoQ10 in skincare?
Coenzyme Q10, also called ubiquinone, is a fat-soluble compound found in the mitochondria of every cell. It has two jobs: it carries electrons in the process that generates cellular energy, and it acts as an antioxidant protecting cell membranes from oxidation.
Skin levels of CoQ10 fall steadily with age and are further depleted by UV exposure, which is the rationale for replacing it topically.
What skin concerns does CoQ10 treat?
It targets the energy side of skin ageing – tired, dull, thinning skin with reduced cell activity – alongside fine lines and loss of firmness.
Topical application has been shown to raise CoQ10 levels in the skin and increase its antioxidant capacity, and laboratory work links it to reduced UVB-induced wrinkle formation. It is well tolerated, including on sensitive skin.
What ingredients are best paired with CoQ10?
Stack it with other antioxidants for a wider defence: vitamin C, vitamin E, ferulic acid, resveratrol and green tea all cover different free-radical species.
It pairs safely with retinoids, peptides, niacinamide and hyaluronic acid, making it easy to slot into an existing anti-ageing routine. As with all antioxidants, it supports sunscreen rather than substituting for it. Take our Skin Quiz.
What is crepey skin?
Crepey skin is skin that has become thin, loose and finely wrinkled, with the papery texture of crepe paper. It differs from ordinary wrinkles in that it affects a broad area rather than forming distinct lines, and it appears most on the under-eyes, neck, décolletage, upper arms and inner thighs.
The hallmark is loss of elasticity: pinched skin takes longer to snap back, and the surface looks crinkled even at rest.
What causes crepey skin?
The main driver is degradation of the elastin network in the dermis. Cumulative ultraviolet exposure breaks down elastic fibres and replaces them with disorganised material – the process called solar elastosis – while collagen production falls at the same time.
Age, chronic dehydration, significant weight loss, smoking, and the natural drop in oestrogen around menopause all accelerate it. Body areas get less skincare attention than the face, which is why crepiness often shows there first.
What ingredients are best for crepey skin?
Retinoids remain the best-evidenced option for rebuilding collagen and thickening the dermis over months of use. Peptides support elastin and collagen signalling, and vitamin C protects existing fibres while aiding synthesis.
Layer those over rich hydration – hyaluronic acid, glycerin, ceramides, squalane and shea butter – which visibly improves the crinkled look even before structural change happens. Daily SPF on neck, chest and hands prevents further breakdown. Take our Skin Quiz.
