INGREDIENT · ANTIOXIDANT
Coenzyme Q10 in skincare: antioxidant claims and the data
Coenzyme Q10 is in anti-ageing creams because the skin has less of it as it ages. Whether putting it back works is a delivery problem, and the human evidence is thin.
You may see it written as
- Ubiquinone
- Coenzyme Q10
The case for putting it on skin
Ageing and photoageing are associated with more oxidation in cells, which may be partly due to a decline in the endogenous antioxidant coenzyme Q10 (ubiquinone, CoQ10). A 1999 paper reviewed whether applying it could prevent photoageing. It reported that CoQ10 penetrated into the living layers of the epidermis and reduced oxidation, and that wrinkle depth fell after application. In cells, it protected keratinocytes against UVA-driven oxidative stress and DNA damage, and suppressed collagenase in dermal fibroblasts after UVA.1
That paper was by researchers at a large cosmetics company, and the abstract gives no sample sizes, so treat it as a company's case for its own ingredient.
The delivery problem
CoQ10 is insoluble and poorly permeable, as a 2018 formulation study puts it. That paper designed a nanoemulsion to get it through the skin barrier, and tested its anti-wrinkle effect in an animal model.2
In other words, a cream with CoQ10 in it is only as good as how the formula delivers it, which is the point of the 2018 paper.2 We did not find a recent human trial comparing a cream with CoQ10 as its only active against the same cream without it, which would be the test that matters.
A side job: stabilising sunscreen
In a lab study of the unstable sunscreen filter avobenzone, ubiquinone was the most effective of the antioxidants tested at keeping it from breaking down in sunscreen formulations, and it raised the SPF.3 That is lab chemistry in a bottle, and shows nothing about your skin. See avobenzone for that filter.
Coenzyme Q10 in pregnancy and breastfeeding
We found no pregnancy- or lactation-specific evidence for this ingredient.
Evidence on cosmetic products in pregnancy is limited overall, so ask your doctor or midwife about the specific product you use.4
What you will see on the label
On a label, look for Ubiquinone and Coenzyme Q10. Snifff shows it as Risk-free. For the rest of the formula, see what the score means and how to read the list.
As Snifff shows itUbiquinone
Pregnancy and nursing
We found no pregnancy- or lactation-specific evidence for this ingredient.
Wording as it appears in the extension, which can change between releases.
A FEW MORE ANSWERS
Common questions about coenzyme q10
Does coenzyme Q10 reduce wrinkles?
A 1999 study reported reduced wrinkle depth after application, along with UVA protection in cells,1 but it is old, company-linked and gives no sample size in its abstract.
Is coenzyme Q10 the same as ubiquinone?
Yes. The research calls it coenzyme Q10 (ubiquinone, CoQ10),1 and labels often say Ubiquinone.
Why is coenzyme Q10 hard to deliver?
It is insoluble and poorly permeable, which is why formulation studies design nanoemulsions to carry it through the skin barrier.2
Is Coenzyme Q10 safe in pregnancy?
Snifff found no pregnancy-specific evidence for Coenzyme Q10. Ask your doctor or midwife about the product you use.
WHERE THIS COMES FROM
Sources
- Coenzyme Q10, a cutaneous antioxidant and energizerHoppe U, et al. · BioFactors · 1999
- Optimization of nutraceutical coenzyme Q10 nanoemulsion with improved skin permeability and anti-wrinkle efficiencyEl-Leithy ES, et al. · Drug Development and Industrial Pharmacy · 2018
- Photodegradation of avobenzone: stabilization effect of antioxidantsAfonso S, et al. · Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B · 2014
- Cosmetic dermatology in pregnancy and lactation: a risk-benefit framework for clinical practiceKovacs T, et al. · International Journal of Dermatology · 2026
This page explains an ingredient. It is not medical advice, and it is not an assessment of any product. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have a skin condition, ask your doctor or pharmacist.