Ingredient

UBIQUINONE

Name / description

Ubiquinone; Coenzyme Q10

Function(s) of this ingredient in cosmetic products

ANTIOXIDANT

Inhibits reactions promoted by oxygen, thus avoiding oxidation and deterioration of ingredients

SKIN CONDITIONING

Maintains the skin in good condition

Origin

biotechnology/synthetic

Occurrence in cosmetics

Various care creams, eg eye cream, regenerative cream, body lotion, face masks and other cosmetics

Occurrence in other products

Food supplements

Background information on use in cosmetics

Coenzyme Q10 is a quinone derivative with lipophilic (from old Greek: “lipid liking”) isoprenoid side chain, structurally related to Vitamin K and Vitamin E. In foodstuffs coenzyme Q10 is mainly occurring in fish, meat, chicken, olive oil, soy beans, walnuts, almonds, oleaginous fruits and vegetables. In the skin the coenzyme Q10 occurs as a lipophilic molecule within the lipid double layer of the cell membranes. It stabilises their structure and ensures the mobility of the membrane. Coenzyme Q10, also declared as ubiquinone (INCI) in cosmetic products, is one of the most important ingredients against wrinkles in cosmetics. Q10 is essential for the human body since the substance acts as a central component of the energy metabolism in the cells. In this process the energy from the diet is transformed into the body’s own energy which the cells need for their life processes. Moreover, the coenzyme Q10 acts as an anti-oxidant. It helps capture free radicals and prevent possible cell damage in this way. If there is a lack of Q10, the skin ages more quickly and wrinkles occur. This becomes visible at an increasing age if the coenzyme Q10 content in the skin cells decreases. In products such as eye creams, skin and face creams as well as care masks, the ingredient is frequently used as an anti-ageing active agent.

Belongs to the following substance groups

Antioxidants

Ingredients for skincare

Regulating cosmetics

Cosmetics Ingredients are subject to regulation. Please note, different regulations may apply to cosmetic ingredients outside the EU.

Understanding your cosmetics

How are cosmetics kept safe in Europe?

Strict laws make sure that cosmetics and personal care products sold in the European Union are safe for people to use. Companies, national and European regulatory authorities share the responsibility of keeping cosmetic products safe.

What should I know about endocrine disruptors?

Some ingredients used in cosmetic products have been claimed to be ‘endocrine disruptors’ because they have the potential to mimic some of the properties of our hormones. Just because something has the potential to mimic a hormone does not mean it will disrupt our endocrine system. Many substances, including natural ones, mimic hormones but very few, and these are mostly potent medicines, have ever been shown to cause disruption of the endocrine system. The rigorous product safety assessments by qualified, scientific experts that companies are legally obliged to carry out cover all potential risks, including potential endocrine disruption.

Are cosmetics tested on animals? No!

In the European Union, testing cosmetics on animals has been fully banned since 2013. Over the last 30 years, long before a ban was in place, the cosmetics and personal care industry has invested in research and development to pioneer alternatives to animal testing tools to assess the safety of cosmetics ingredients and products.

What about allergens in cosmetics?

Many substances, natural or man-made, have the potential to cause an allergic reaction. An allergic reaction occurs when a person’s immune system reacts to substances that are harmless to most people. A substance that causes an allergic reaction is called an allergen. Cosmetics and personal care products may contain ingredients that can be allergenic for some people. This does not mean that the product is not safe for others to use.

Database

Cosmetics matter to people and play an important role in our everyday life. On average European consumers use over seven different cosmetics daily. You too? It’s only natural that you want to know more about the ingredients in those products.

In the digital world we live in, there’s a deluge of information on cosmetics. However, it can be difficult to know which sources are reliable. COSMILE Europe is a European cosmetic ingredient database that offers reliable, verified and scientifically supported information on almost 30,000 ingredients used in cosmetics.

This database will help you understand why certain ingredients are in your cosmetic products; which properties they have and much more. The database is currently available in fourteen languages with more to come.

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