Can I erase my wrinkles?
Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.
NAD+ has been one of the more buzzy “biohacks” for some time. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, to give it its full name, is a coenzyme taken as a supplement to maintain DNA and skin-barrier repair, increase cellular function and reduce inflammation. Longevity gurus including Dr Mark Hyman and Dr David Sinclair are fans. Now NAD+ is making waves in beauty circles. It’s all part of a broader industry shift towards extending “skinspan”, the skin’s ability to function optimally for as long as possible, to keep up with lifespan.
I particularly like Intuisse, which has a patent-pending high-absorption NAD+ formulation in all its products to promote production of type-1 collagen and elastin. I’ve been using the lightweight, quick-to-absorb Intuisse Active NAD+ Face Serum (£115 for 10ml) on my face and neck to preventatively target sagging skin and collagen loss. Another is Invity, whose Youth Activating Overnight Mask (£59 for 50ml) combines NAD+ with soothing Centella asiatica extract and ectoin, which protects against moisture loss. After a few weeks, I could see a visible difference; my skin was plumper, and my crow’s feet and smile lines seemed less pronounced.
Dr Sam’s Flawless Moisturiser Intense, £32 for 50ml
Dr Sam Bunting creates NAD+ beauty at a more accessible price. Dr Sam’s Flawless Moisturiser Intense (£32 for 50ml) sees NAD+ supported with hydrating ceramides, moisturising squalane and ectoin.
Elsewhere, Estée Lauder (for which I consult) and the Stanford Center on Longevity have been investigating the role and importance of sirtuins in the skin; findings showed they are vital for DNA repair, controlling inflammation and as an antioxidative defence, and thus brilliant at slowing cellular senescence. The brand’s new Sirtivity-LP technology promises to reactivate skin renewal and recovery, and features in its Re-Nutriv Ultimate Diamond Transformative Brilliance Soft Crème (£160 for 30ml).
Swiss dermatologist Tiina Meder’s line Meder, meanwhile, is turning to teprenone, which has been shown to extend a cell’s lifespan by up to a third by stabilising the telomeres (these are the DNA sequences that protect chromosomes). My pick is Vita-Long Oil (£30 for 7ml).
And lastly, there’s a new antioxidant hero in town. Xanthohumol (found in hops) has been shown to reduce oxidative stress, inflammation and eczema, and shown promise in inhibiting the production of melanin, which causes age spots. Polish cosmeceutical brand proXN’s Xanthohumol Complex is a punchy concoction that the brand says is 30 times more effective than Vitamin C. Try the Antioxidant Therapy (£126 for 30ml) at home, or for the full potency, an in-clinic treatment at places including Harley Street’s Revere Clinic.
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