Understanding NAD+ and Skin

Today’s generation are living longer due to major advances in aging research, and the desire to not just help slow down the aging process but also boost our “Health-span”. No doubt all of us want to stay healthy and vibrant as we age and enjoy life. While we know having a healthy diet, regular exercise and taking care of our mental health are important factors to longevity, we also know that ‘Skincare Is Healthcare’ and nourishing our skin with the right ingredients is also an important part of our overall wellbeing.   

One of the ingredients that has been linked to longevity is NAD+ already included in supplements, patches and infusions to support healthy aging but what exactly is NAD+  and how can it help rejuvenate skin? Here’s everything what you need to know about NAD+ and how it contributes to cell rejuvenation. 

What is NAD+? 

Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide (NAD+) is a co-enzyme and a vital molecule found in all living cells and plays a crucial role in cellular metabolism, energy production, and various other biological processes. It supports almost every cellular function in our body and has an important part to play in skin’s natural repair and essential for over 500 enzymatic reactions that are especially related to energy metabolism. NAD+ helps transfer energy between different chemical reactions in your body, it helps cells generate ATP (energy), protects against oxidative stress, assists in DNA repair, and promotes collagen and elastin. It is also involved in metabolism and cell signalling. Without NAD+, your cells wouldn't be able to efficiently produce energy or carry out essential functions. NAD+ also activates sirtuins, which are proteins that regulate inflammation and repair, both of which are essential for longevity. 

Unfortunately, NAD+ levels in our bodies naturally decline with age, which contributes to age-related changes in our cells that affect skin regeneration and mitochondrial health. Other external factors such as pollution, UV radiation, and poor diet can also contribute to the depletion of NAD+ levels.

Did you know? Studies have shown that NAD+ levels decline rapidly after our 40s to around 50% and continue to decline by around 87% when we reach 50.  

No surprise then that with compromised levels of NAD+, the skin enters a state of cellular fatigue known as cellular senescence, which makes it harder to repair damage, produce collagen, or maintain tone. Skin becomes less able to tolerate inflammation, oxidative stress, and toxin release, and over time, a build-up of these impaired cells can contribute to loss of firmness, deeper lines and wrinkles, inflammation, and ultimately a weakened skin barrier. 

NAD+ and Circadian Rhythm 

Getting enough quality sleep is one of the most underrated skincare steps. Our body runs on a 24-hour internal clock called the circadian rhythm that protects our skin in the daytime and repairs skin at night. During deep sleep, our repair goes into action to increase blood flow, repair damage from UV rays and pollution, and produce collagen. If this rhythm is disrupted, the skin's repair cycle is affected. Unfortunately, as we get older, mature skin loses its ability to switch into repair mode effectively, and our circadian rhythms become less organized, with some cell repair happening and some being less effective. The good news is that NAD+ can help get skin into repair mode at night, and this is the key to really optimising our natural repair mechanisms. 

NAD+ and Skincare 

While it may seem logical to simply add NAD+ to skincare, the reality is that the molecule itself is very difficult to get into the skin due to its size, but studies have shown that there are ingredients that can support the synthesis of NAD+ known as precursors, one of these is niacinamide that our skin uses to make NAD+ that can help improve skin elasticity, enhance barrier function, reduce pigmentation and inflammation and accelerate wound healing and there are other ingredients that also assist NAD+ production. 

Introducing Murad Retinal  ReSculpt Overnight Cream  

New Retinal ReSculpt Overnight Cream supports skin’s natural circadian rhythm with advanced ingredients inspired by longevity and cellular energy research, and a combination of ingredients that work together to rejuvenate skin and energise cells.  

Clinically proven to lift + firm sagging skin + re-volumize facial contours in 4 weeks* 

NAD+ Lift Complex provides the ingredients skin needs to produce NAD+ and energises tired cells for overnight rejuvenation, which ignites skin’s natural overnight repair for a youthful, more lifted look.  

• Pharmaceutical-inspired encapsulated retinal: This new nanovesicle technology stabilises and protects Retinal without degradation, releasing the maximum potency at the point of delivery where enzymes are waiting to convert it to Retinoic Acid, the ingredient your skin uses to support collagen synthesis. The most advanced retinal for correction of wrinkles and sagging skin without irritation.  

• Lipid-Rich Complex floods skin with hydrators that cushion against the potential for dryness, while fuelling its nighttime recovery mode.  

So now, when you switch off, Retinal ReSculpt Overnight Cream switches on to fuel skin's natural overnight repair with a dream team of ingredients that are clinically proven to visibly lift, firm, smooth deep-set wrinkles, re-volumise, and plump with hydration.