Ubiquinone

Ubiquinone, also known as coenzyme Q10, is a fat-soluble antioxidant that occurs naturally in human cells, where it functions in mitochondrial energy production.

How it works

Ubiquinone sits within cell membranes rather than the water phase, which is where it does its antioxidant work. It intercepts free radicals in the lipid layers of the membrane, interrupting the chain reaction of lipid peroxidation once it has started.

It also participates in regenerating tocopherol (vitamin E) after tocopherol has been oxidised, returning it to its active form. This is why the two are frequently formulated together.

Why it appears in skincare

Levels of ubiquinone in skin decline with age and with UV exposure. Topical formulation aims to supplement what is present, though ubiquinone is a relatively large, highly lipophilic molecule, so penetration depends heavily on how the formula is built.

In formulation

Ubiquinone is bright orange-yellow, which is often visible in the colour of products containing it at meaningful levels. It is unstable in light and heat, so it is typically paired with other antioxidants and packaged to limit exposure.

Alongside other antioxidants

Because ubiquinone works in the lipid phase, it is complementary rather than duplicative to water-phase antioxidants such as vitamin C derivatives. Formulas frequently combine antioxidants operating in different compartments for that reason.