NAD+ is making waves in the skincare world, popping up in anti-aging creams and serums with promises of youthful, glowing skin. But what exactly is it, and does it live up to the hype? If you’re curious about whether this powerhouse ingredient can truly transform your skincare routine or if it’s just another trend, you’re in the right place. Let’s take a closer look at what NAD+ is, how it works, and whether it’s worth the hype.
NAD+: What Is It
NAD+ is something your body naturally makes, and every living cell has it. It plays a big role in energy production by helping move electrons from one reaction to another. Think of it as a molecular delivery service that helps keep everything running smoothly.
NAD+ is made up of two components, nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) and adenosine diphosphate (ADP), linked together by a special bond. If that sounds a little complicated, don’t worry. The important thing to know is that NAD+ is essential for keeping your cells energized, supporting communication between them, and even helping with DNA repair.
What Is NAD+ in Skincare?
While scientists are still piecing together all the ways NAD+ works in the body, we do know it’s important for skin health. It plays a role in skin maintenance and repair through various metabolic processes.
For example, if someone has a niacin (vitamin B3) deficiency, which leads to low NAD+ levels, they tend to be more sensitive to sunlight. This suggests that NAD+ helps the skin deal with UV damage.
Because of its role in cell energy and repair, NAD+ has made its way into some skincare products, with claims that it can slow signs of aging. The idea is that by giving skin cells more energy, they can heal and recover more effectively from damage. In theory, that makes NAD+ a potential powerhouse ingredient for anti-aging. However, there’s still a lot to learn about how well it works in skincare.
Research shows that NAD+ is crucial for cellular energy and helping cells adapt to stress. When NAD+ levels drop, it can contribute to various age-related conditions, including those affecting the skin. Since some cells require more energy to function properly, NAD+ depletion may also play a role in issues like cardiovascular disease and neurodegenerative disorders. That raises the question, could boosting NAD+ levels help slow visible aging? Scientists are working to find out.
NAD+ and Sirtuins
One of the key reasons NAD+ is getting attention in skincare is its relationship with sirtuins, proteins that help regulate cell health. Sirtuins act like little sensors, responding to stress and helping keep cells balanced by managing nutrient availability and oxidative stress (which speeds up aging).
Sirtuins need NAD+ to function, and when NAD+ levels drop, they don’t work as well. This can lead to faster cell breakdown and aging. Since sirtuins also play a role in DNA repair and inflammation control, keeping them active is important for healthy, youthful-looking skin.
NAD+ in Skincare Products: Is It Safe?
Because NAD+ is something your body naturally produces, it’s an essential part of overall health. But when it’s added to skincare, does it actually work? And more importantly, is it safe?
As you age, NAD+ levels decline, which is why there’s interest in supplementation. NAD+ can be taken in different forms, IV infusions, oral supplements, and now, skincare. In topical products, NAD+ is designed to penetrate the skin barrier, much like an ointment would on a cut or scrape. Once inside, your body converts it into niacinamide, which is well-known for its skin-protective benefits.
However, the tricky part is that NAD+ isn’t easy to stabilize in skincare formulas. Just because a product says it contains NAD+ doesn’t mean it will actually deliver the benefits you’re hoping for. That’s why it’s important to look for products backed by research and formulated in a way that ensures the NAD+ remains effective.
The FDA doesn’t regulate skincare products as strictly as medications, but it has issued guidance to make sure ingredients like NAD+ are used safely and correctly in formulations.
Is NAD+ Safe for the Skin?
In its natural form, produced by your body, NAD+ is essential. But as a skincare ingredient, there’s still a lot we don’t know. While it’s popping up more often in clean beauty products, its effectiveness depends on how it’s formulated. If the product isn’t stabilized properly, it might not work as advertised.
Before jumping on the NAD+ skincare trend, take a closer look. Is there research supporting its effectiveness? Has the product been designed to actually deliver NAD+ into the skin? These details matter. More studies are needed to figure out the right dosing, long-term effects, and the best ways to support NAD+ levels naturally.
The Think Dirty App Can Help You
Trying to decode skincare ingredient lists can feel overwhelming, technical names, complex formulas, and a lot of marketing claims. That’s where the Think Dirty App comes in.
If you’re considering a skincare product, use the app’s premium feature, “Search by Ingredient,” to look up NAD+ and other ingredients. You’ll get real-time info so you can make informed choices about what you’re putting on your skin. With the right knowledge, you can shop confidently, knowing whether a product is safe and effective.
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Ingredient Breakdown: NAD+ was originally published in Think Dirty on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.