Supporting cellular energy through topical NAD+ application may erase signs of aging, says skin care brand Naderma

According to a report recently published by market research firm Statista, the Statista Consumer Market Outlook estimates that the revenue of the worldwide luxury cosmetics and personal beauty care product markets will rise to $31.56 billion by 2027. To maintain a competitive advantage within this growing market segment, industry brands are increasingly turning to science-backed research to develop more effective product options for consumers.

Beauty brand Naderma has chosen to focus on one bioactive ingredient, naturally-occurring coenzyme Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide (NAD+), which offers consumers a different approach to skin care by focusing on skin health at the cellular level. As explained on the Naderma website, NAD+ plays a crucial role in mitochondrial health by delivering energy to the body’s cells – without it, “cells lacking energy show more visible signs of aging such as wrinkles, fine lines, and sagging skin​.”

To learn more about NAD+, the coenzyme’s potential impact on the cosmetics and personal care industries, and how topical Naderma products can offer consumers an innovative option for personal beauty care, CosmeticsDesign spoke with Kelly Rudolph, Director of Business Development at Naderma to learn more.

The natural aging process

In understanding how topical NAD+ application can help fight signs of aging, it is first important to understand what the ingredient is and how it works. “NAD+ is a vital source of energy production within the cell and supports healthy aging by encouraging biological reactions​,” explained Rudolph. Therefore, as a person’s natural levels of NAD+ decline with age, “these essential reactions occur less frequently leading to less cellular energy and, therefore, less productivity of the cell and cellular process​.”

The coenzyme is concentrated in the cell’s nucleus, mitochondria, and cytoplasm, and as the basis of all cells, when levels decline with age, it is important to find different ways to restore cellular health by boosting NAD+ levels. “By the age of sixty, our bodies have lost 50% of their NAD+​,” Rudolph noted, and “with regard to skin specifically, many visible signs of aging may be erased by providing high concentrations of NAD+ to the skin, from repairing UV damage to diminishing fine lines and wrinkles​.”

Further, Rudolph added, regular use of topical NAD+ “boosts the production of collagen, elastin, hyaluronic acid and keratin, all of which are important in ensuring that skin stays strong, elastic, hydrated and healthy​.” When skin lacks these functional components, “skin appears dull and fine lines and wrinkles become more apparent​.”

Beauty from within the skin

NAD+ can take the concept of beauty from within the skin to the next level as it impacts the skin’s health and appearance all the way down at the cellular level. While NAD+ may be administered several ways such as sublingually, intramuscular injection, infusion, the Naderma collection offers the consumers a topical alternative to positively impact skin health.  

“Naderma is a pioneer in the NAD+ skincare industry​,” Rudolph stated, and both men and women between the ages of thirty-five and sixty-five can potentially benefit from consistent topical use of NAD+ containing products like the NADERMA line.

NAD+ skin care options like Naderma are becoming more popular as “we understand NAD+’s scientific significance and the ways it may support our cellular health​,” Rudolph added. Further, she illustrated, “our birthdays may tell us our age in years, but our biological age is determined by our cellular health​.”

Standing out from the rest

One way Naderma stands out from other skin care collections that incorporate NAD+ into their topical formulations is through their inclusion of other effective ingredients to increase potency and efficacy. For example, in addition to NAD+, the Naderma Daily Moisturizer adds snail mucin to its formulation.

“Snail mucin is known for its wound healing properties​,” Rudolph explained, and “when applied to human skin, it stimulates the formation of collagen, elastin and dermal components​.” The potential skin benefits of this bioactive ingredient have been understood since the 1980s, she added, when a “Spanish oncologist discovered snail mucin’s healing properties after he applied radiation therapy to common snails. Later, when the snails were bred and farmed for escargot, the workers noticed their skin became softer and their wounds healed more quickly​.”

Today, snail mucin is an attractive ingredient for formulation with personal beauty care product manufacturers because it can boost “hyaluronic acid, glycolic acid, enzymes and peptides providing hydration, anti-oxidation, and recovery properties to the skin​,” she noted, and help increase a product’s potential beneficial effects over time.

Additionally, Naderma products also utilize a pH neutral vitamin C. Unlike other skin care lines, this ensures these skin care options are non-irritating and experience no oxidation over time, further supporting a positive consumer experience and outcome.

With so many available product options addressing common skin care concerns available to consumers today, it is important to take note of beauty brands like Naderma which are working to fight signs of aging through a different approach. Instead of sitting on top of the skin, these products use NAD+ and a combination of other effective ingredients to support skin health at the cellular level. As this approach grows more popular for consumers, it will be interesting to see if other brands shift their focus to developing products that also target skin care at the cellular source.