What is it?
Ubiquinone, better known as coenzyme Q10 or CoQ10, is a substance the human body makes on its own, with the highest levels in the heart, liver, kidneys and pancreas. It is also found in foods such as oily fish, organ meats and whole grains, and it is commonly sold as a dietary supplement. In cosmetics it is used as an antioxidant and skin conditioning agent, mostly in leave-on skin care.
Key information
- Ubiquinone (coenzyme Q10) is made naturally by the body and is also found in foods such as oily fish and whole grains.
- The CIR Expert Panel concluded in 2022 that it is safe in cosmetics as currently used, at up to 0.05 percent in leave-on products.
- A small number of cases of lost skin pigment have been reported, so the CIR says products should be made so that they do not cause depigmentation.
More information
Ubiquinone for cosmetics is made either by chemical synthesis or by microbial fermentation, which the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) describes as the more efficient and environmentally benign method. In the body, it works together with its reduced form, ubiquinol.
The CIR Expert Panel assessed ubiquinone and three related ingredients in 2022 and concluded that they are safe in cosmetics in current practices of use and concentration. Industry data reviewed by the panel showed ubiquinone in 221 products, at no more than 0.05 percent in leave-on products. A formula with 1 percent ubiquinone caused no irritation in a 50-person patch test, and no irritation or allergic reactions in a 50-person repeat patch test that included people with eczema and sensitive skin. The EU places no restrictions on it in cosmetics.
There is one caution. The CIR report describes 15 people who developed vitiligo, a loss of skin pigment, after daily use of over-the-counter skin products containing ubiquinone. Because ubiquinone may have a skin-lightening effect, which the panel called a drug effect that should not occur with cosmetics, it said ubiquinone should only be used in products in a way that does not cause depigmentation.
As a supplement, CoQ10 has no reported serious side effects, according to the NIH’s National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, though it may interact with the blood thinner warfarin. On labels, look for “ubiquinone” or “coenzyme Q10.”
Sources: Cosmetic Ingredient Review: Safety assessment of ubiquinone ingredients as used in cosmetics (final report, 2022); NIH National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Coenzyme Q10; European Commission CosIng: Ubiquinone
