Hyaluronic Acid, Coenzyme Q10 & Ceramides
Beautiful skin and personal well-being are important to all of us – no matter how old we are. Good skincare with effective anti-aging ingredients can prevent the first signs of skin aging. At lavera Natural Beauty, we rely on the power of natural ingredients for anti-age care that nurture your skin and protect it as well as possible from natural skin aging. In this article, we highlight the active ingredients Coenzyme Q10, Hyaluronic Acid, and Ceramides and explain their special benefits for your skin.
Hyaluronic Acid: The Moisture Magnet
What is hyaluronic acid?
Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance found in every living organism. The human body contains around 15 g of hyaluronic acid, 5 g of which is in our skin. However, from the age of 25, the body's own hyaluronic acid levels begin to decrease. The age-related reduction of the body's hyaluronic acid causes the skin to lose elasticity and form wrinkles.
Hyaluronic acid plays a key role in moisture retention, as 1 g of hyaluronic acid can hold 6 liters of water, contributing to the hydration (the attachment of water molecules) and elasticity of the skin. In addition, hyaluronic acid stimulates the formation of elastic and collagen fibers in our skin. Hyaluronic acid has a clear and gel-like consistency.
Effect of hyaluronic acid on the skin
If you’re wondering, “what is hyaluronic acid good for?”, you’re in the right place. Imagine this: 1 g of hyaluronic acid can hold up to 6 liters of water! Because hyaluronic acid can bind and store such large amounts of water in our connective tissue, it helps give the skin a plump and smooth appearance. Hyaluronic acid also strengthens the skin barrier. It improves skin elasticity and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Hyaluronic Acid: Size Matters
Hyaluronic acid comes in different sizes, consisting of chains of disaccharides of varying lengths. These chains can range from 250 to 50,000 disaccharide units. The weight, measured in kilodaltons (kDA), varies accordingly. The length of the chains influences the properties of hyaluronic acid. The smaller the hyaluronic acid chains, the deeper the hyaluronic acid can penetrate the skin. In the INCI (International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients), they are referred to as Sodium Hyaluronate regardless of their size.
Part of the lavera product range contains up to three different types of hyaluronic acid with different sizes: for example, our Hydro Refresh Creme-Gel, the Hydro Refresh Eye Roll-On, or our Firming Day Care. Thanks to these different sizes (low, medium, and high molecular), various layers of the skin can be supplied with moisture:
High molecular weight hyaluronic acid (1500 kDa and above)
...forms a protective film on the epidermis (outer skin) and prevents water loss on the skin surface – the skin's moisture is retained.
Medium molecular weight hyaluronic acid
....penetrates the epidermis. It can improve skin moisture and reduce wrinkle depth.
Low molecular weight hyaluronic acid (50 kDa and smaller)
...can penetrate into the dermis (the middle layer of the skin). There, it helps to retain water in the connective tissue of the skin and plump it up from the inside.
What are the benefits of cream with hyaluronic acid?
In cosmetics, hyaluronic acid is primarily used in facial creams and other facial care products to treat wrinkles. Hyaluronic acid is especially effective for fine and superficial wrinkles, such as so-called crow’s feet. When applied to the skin, a cream with hyaluronic acid can reduce the depth and number of wrinkles and improve the skin’s elasticity.
Additionally, a cream with hyaluronic acid can significantly enhance the skin’s moisture supply. It is also worth noting that hyaluronic acid is considered very well tolerated and can therefore be used on all skin types.
Hyaluronic Acid in lavera Products
Due to its excellent hygroscopic (i.e., water-attracting and binding) property, hyaluronic acid is already used in many cosmetic formulations. At lavera Natural Beauty, we use natural 3-fold hyaluronic acid, for example, in our Firming Face Care, our Hydro Refresh Creme-Gel, or the Hydro Refresh Eye Roll-On. 3-fold means that it contains hyaluronic acid variants of three different sizes, which can provide moisture to both the upper and the middle skin layers.
Together with Bakuchiol, the gentler and plant-based alternative to retinol, the special formulation ensures a firmer, fresher, and more even complexion.
Q10: The energy booster for your skin
What is coenzyme Q10 and how does it work?
Coenzyme Q10 (also CoQ10 or Ubiquinone) is a fat-soluble molecule found in all living cells that plays a central role in energy production in the mitochondria. Mitochondria are small "power plants" located in every cell that supply it with energy. As an antioxidant, Coenzyme Q10 protects against free radicals – for example, aggressive oxygen compounds that cause the skin to age faster. Free radicals are aggressive molecules or atoms with an unpaired electron, which makes them very reactive. An antioxidant binds these free radicals and neutralizes them.
Coenzyme Q10 naturally occurs in the skin, especially in the dermis and epidermis. These layers benefit from the antioxidant effect of Q10, which protects the skin from oxidative stress and damage caused by free radicals. Because of this location, our body's own Q10 molecules are constantly exposed to external influences such as UV radiation.
Our body produces most of its Q10 needs itself. However, with stress, UV radiation, or aging, the natural Q10 concentration decreases. A declining Q10 level leads to signs of skin aging, such as the formation of wrinkles. The good news: cosmetics with Q10 as an ingredient can replenish our cellular Q10 levels in the skin.
Coenzyme Q10: Effect on the skin
Studies show that the active ingredient Q10 in cosmetics can be absorbed directly through the outermost layer of the skin. Q10 helps improve the efficiency of cellular processes by increasing cell energy and protects the skin from free radicals, which can lead to premature skin aging. Due to its antioxidant effect, it supports the repair of skin damage such as signs of aging. When applied to the skin, it helps reduce wrinkles and their depth, improves skin texture and elasticity. Additionally, Q10 can also stimulate collagen production in the skin. A low collagen level is also associated with the formation of wrinkles.
When do you need coenzyme Q10?
The majority of the body's Q10 needs are produced internally. However, under the influence of external stress factors such as UV radiation and with increasing age—specifically between 20 and 66 years—the Q10 content in our skin decreases. This also reduces the function of our mitochondria, slowing down cellular metabolism. This causes our skin to age. A routine with cosmetic products containing Q10 can help compensate for these losses or replenish the skin’s reserves, thereby slowing down skin aging.
People with stressed skin can benefit from a cream with Q10 because the ingredient neutralizes free radicals and increases the skin’s antioxidant capacity. For mature skin, which has a lower level of natural Q10 due to advanced age, Q10 in cosmetics can help balance this deficit. This can reduce wrinkles and their depth, and improve skin texture and elasticity.
What is Q10 cream good for?
Skincare products with the active ingredient Coenzyme Q10 can replenish the Coenzyme Q10 levels in the skin. Creams with Q10 are especially suitable for revitalizing the skin, promoting cell regeneration, and reducing the appearance and depth of wrinkles. This way, a facial care product with Q10 can reduce the signs of skin aging. Additionally, Q10 can reduce free radicals through its antioxidant effect, which are known to damage skin cells.
Q10 in lavera products
Our vegan basis sensitive care series with Q10 uses the antioxidant and energizing properties of Q10 to protect and revitalize the skin. The well-tolerated series is ideal for daily care. Thanks to its unique active ingredient composition with natural coenzyme Q10, which is obtained through natural fermentation from corn starch, it visibly reduces wrinkles – all in 100% certified natural cosmetic quality, without mineral oils and without artificial fragrances, colors, and preservatives.¹
¹according to EU Cosmetics Regulation
Ceramide: Building blocks of the natural skin barrier
What are ceramides?
Ceramides are lipids that naturally occur in our skin – mainly in its outermost layer – and play an important role in forming the skin barrier. They act like a kind of "cement" that connects the corneocytes. In this way, ceramides help protect the skin from moisture loss, strengthen the skin barrier, and can prevent irritants and harmful substances from penetrating our skin. Additionally, ceramides can strengthen the cell structure.
What are plant-based ceramides?
Plant-based ceramides come – as the name suggests – from plant sources and have exactly the same properties as the naturally occurring ceramides in our skin. At lavera Natural Beauty, we rely on plant-based ceramides that we produce biotechnologically using yeasts.
Ceramide: Effect on the skin
Ceramides work in the outermost layer of the skin. If you’re wondering: Are ceramides important for the skin? Then we can only say yes! Because together with cholesterol and free fatty acids, ceramides form multilayered lamellar structures between the cells of our top skin layer. This invisible “shield” protects our skin from moisture loss and external influences. Ceramides help strengthen the skin barrier, protect the skin from moisture loss, support its regeneration, and improve its hydration.
When should you use ceramides?
In dry and mature skin, as well as in women going through menopause, a deficiency or decline in ceramides can be observed. This deficiency is also associated with increased permeability of our skin barrier. A damaged skin barrier is primarily due to a reduced ceramide level in the skin.
As you can see, people with these skin types or in this life phase can particularly benefit from a cream with ceramides. Such a cream can strengthen or improve the damaged skin barrier and thus reduce moisture loss. In general, a ceramide-containing cream is recommended for anyone who wants to maintain or restore the function of the skin barrier.
By the way: Maintaining skin moisture through an intact skin barrier can also help protect against moisture wrinkles.
How long do ceramides take to work?
For ceramide-containing cosmetics to visibly unfold their positive effects, they should be used daily for at least 28 days.
How can I recognize ceramides in cream?
On the ingredient list – the so-called INCI – of skincare products, you can recognize ceramides by names like "Ceramide NP," "Ceramide AP," or "Ceramide EOP."