Vitamins for Beauty: Mechanisms That May Help to Look & Feel Younger‡

Vitamins for Beauty: Mechanisms That May Help to Look & Feel Younger‡

What You’ll Learn: In this blog, we will deep dive into which supplements may help you look younger and feel more youthful. Learn more about NAD+ and its unique ability to help you meet your energy demands as you age naturally. Help support a refreshed and youthful appearance holistically. Beauty starts from within! ‡

In a world where we are constantly bombarded with the latest anti-aging trends, it’s so tempting to buy into the latest anti-aging technology without knowing whether it’ll deliver the desired results. It’s very frustrating to waste time, money and energy on what amounts to a lot of broken promises not backed by much verifiable science. If you’ve been disappointed by empty promises before you may be surprised to learn that there actually are reliable and scientifically supported methods to help maintain youthfulness even as we age.‡

Let’s delve deeper into the science of cellular metabolism and discuss supplements to support healthy aging. We will discuss the importance of NAD+, or nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, which has a vital role in energy production, cellular function and overall healthy aging. As we age, our bodies have increased metabolic demands during different life stages. With this increased metabolic demand comes the increase in cellular damage from oxidative stress.

Nutrients like NAD+ are crucial for maintaining our health and supporting energy as we age. They help in two ways, by adapting to increased energy demands and by neutralizing cellular oxidation in the body. Let’s take our first step towards unlocking the secrets of the fountain of youth! ‡

Beauty Supplements: Which Ones Are Best

Aging is a natural part of life and while we can’t avoid it, we can support it with healthy lifestyle and dietary practices. The more we focus on proven ways to support healthy aging, the more likely we will be fueling our bodies for adaptability, energy and longevity.

Now, you might be wondering, what causes aging? Well, the main reason aging occurs is because of oxidative stress, or cellular damage from free radicals. This in combination with the shortening of our genetic chromosomes during cellular division are known reasons why aging occurs.1

Diet and lifestyle practices such as including nourishing foods, embracing physical activity, and avoiding known oxidative activities, like excessive smoking or alcohol intake, are great ways to help minimize the effects of aging. However, there are other great ways we can nutritionally support our bodies to help support healthy aging and embrace our youthfulness for as long as we can. In this blog, we are going to focus on two main categories of nutrients to help with cellular aging: Antioxidants and NAD+, like those found in our NR Longevity™ This combination has been shown to help decrease the effects of cellular aging, from the inside out.‡

Antioxidant Supplements

You’ve likely heard about the wonders of antioxidants for supporting a youthful appearance and encouraging healthy aging. After all, what skin cream doesn’t contain retinol? What even is retinol, you might be wondering? It’s an antioxidant, and a powerful one at that.

There’s a reason why antioxidants are commonly used ingredients in most beauty products. Antioxidants are particularly important because they benefit us by slowing the onset of free radical damage, or oxidation, in the cell. This in turn helps us achieve a more balanced, age-appropriate beauty.2

Let’s talk about some Pure Encapsulations® products packed with powerful antioxidants:

  • NAC + Glycine - N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine (NAC) is a free radical scavenger and a precursor to the powerful antioxidant glutathione in the body. Supplementing with NAC has been found to also improve glutathione levels.3 A link has been found between glutathione levels and the reduction of oxidative stress, which supports cellular change.4 Cysteine and glycine are necessary precursors for glutathione (GSH) synthesis, but the required amounts may not be met by dietary intake alone, particularly as we age.3 That’s one of the reasons why our NAC + Glycine Powder promotes antioxidant defenses and supports your body’s natural detoxification process while reducing oxidative stress associated with aging.‡
  • Curcumin – This is the main type of active ingredient found in turmeric and another antioxidant commonly used in beauty products and for healthy aging support. Supplementing with Curcumin has been found to help improve overall antioxidant defenses in the body. Due to its unique antioxidant capabilities, research has shown that curcumin helps maintain healthy cell cycle function.5‡
  • CoEnzyme Q10 – CoEnzyme Q10 (CoQ10) acts as an antioxidant that is produced naturally by the body and helps protect us from free radicals. As we age, natural levels of CoQ10 decline making it an important supplement amongst older individuals.6 Being an antioxidant isn’t all that CoQ10 is known for. It’s also responsible for helping support mitochondrial function and cellular energy. We all know how great it is to feel energized!‡
  • Alpha Lipoic Acid – This is an antioxidant that provides support for mitochondrial ener ALA, or Alpha Lipoic Acid, produces energy in muscles and directs calories into energy production.7 This becomes especially useful since our energy needs are likely to fluctuate as we get older.‡
  • Vitamin C – We’ve seen vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, for years now. It’s in most readily available beauty products. Why? It’s simple. Vitamin C is one of the most well-known sources of dietary antioxidants. It is an antioxidant and free radical scavenger. It’s also essential for the maintenance of another important beauty supporting product: collagen.8 It’s unique ability to provide antioxidant benefits to help slow cellular damage while also improving collagen production in the body is part of the reason why it’s a popular beauty supplement and support healthy aging.‡

Cellular Health for Youthful Beauty

If you’ve been following the trends, then you’ve likely heard of NAD+. NAD+ seems to be everywhere as of late, from social media videos to skin care products. Our bodies have been way ahead of this trend, because this molecule is already present in every single cell in our bodies. In fact, NAD+ is an essential nutrient that helps with over 300 enzymatic reactions in the body including: 9,10‡

  • Cellular aging
  • Energy metabolism
  • DNA repair
  • Formation of new mitochondria
  • Calcium homeostasis
  • Immune regulation
  • Circadian rhythm
  • Vascular activity
  • Gene expression

Its benefits go beyond that! NAD+ has a sister form called NADH that is just NAD+ in a reduced state and known to act as an antioxidant in the body. This version of NAD+ plays a critical role in protecting the body from free radicals and promoting healthy cellular structures.11‡

Because NAD+ is involved in so many enzymatic reactions and is in high demand, it must be continuously created, used and then recycled by the cell in order to meet the body’s demand. Luckily, nutrients like nicotinamide mononucleotide can convert to NAD+ as needed.12

Let’s delve deeper and discuss just exactly how nutrients like NAD+ can help with healthy cellular aging so you can support beauty from the inside out! ‡

NAD+ for Supporting Beautiful Aging‡

Some evidence suggests that as we age, levels of NAD+ start to decline naturally. This poses a challenge for the enzymes responsible for creating, recycling and turning over new NAD+. Meaning, there’s a potential scenario where there just isn’t enough NAD+ created to maintain optimal levels necessary for sustaining tissue and metabolic function throughout life. Enter… the visible signs of aging.12

The natural decline in NAD+ has been linked to various age-related characteristics, including mild cognitive decline, mild age-related memory problems and unwanted health issues potentially affecting the cardiovascular, hormonal and immune system.12,13,14

But, not to worry! There are holistic steps we can take to restore NAD+ levels and support our vitality and youthfulness even as we age.‡

Nutrients to Support NAD+

The best way we can support our NAD+ levels for healthy aging and promote youthfulness is by surrounding ourselves with the types of ingredients that naturally enhance the creation of NAD+.‡

Let’s talk about some key players that help improve NAD+ levels in the body:

  • Resveratrol is another antioxidant that helps support mitochondrial function. By supporting the mitochondria, resveratrol may help NAD+ levels in mitochondria and ultimately help create ATP (the energy currency in the body).12,13,15‡
  • Nicotinamide riboside chloride (NR) is a precursor of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), a key contributor of cellular energy production. You can think of NR as the building blocks for NAD+ which gives the body the support it needs to improve NAD+ levels in as little as two weeks! 6-19‡
  • Acetyl l-carnitine is a type of amino acid that supports healthy mitochondrial function and cell membrane stability.20‡
  • Urolithins are a byproduct of microbiome bacteria. Unfortunately, urolithins decline with age. Urolithins, like urolithin A, enhances the natural process of cellular renewal in which the body degrades and recycles cellular components like older and dysfunctional mitochondria.21‡

Embracing Youthful Aging

Here at Pure Encapsulations®, we offer a variety of different products specifically designed to help support your health at any stage of life so you can focus on aging beautifully. In fact, our NR Longevity™ provides 300 mg of nicotinamide riboside chloride and 200 mg of broccoli sprout concentrate plus an additional 150 mg of trans-resveratrol to help decreases the effects of cellular aging, helps to replenish NAD+, enhances mitochondrial function and support your antioxidant defenses.‡

Now that you understand the important roles of antioxidants and NAD+ in supporting cellular changes and supporting youthful aging, you can age better by targeting the effects of aging from the inside, at the cellular level.‡ After all, beauty starts from within!

  1. McHugh, D., & Gil, J. (2017). Senescence and aging: Causes, consequences, and Therapeutic Avenues. The Journal of Cell Biology, 217(1), 65–77. https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.201708092
  2. Rusu, M. E., Fizeșan, I., Vlase, L., & Popa, D.-S. (2022). Antioxidants in Age-Related Diseases and Anti-Aging Strategies. Antioxidants, 11(10), 1868. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox11101868
  3. Dauletbaev N, et. al. Eur J Med Res. 2009 Aug 12;14(8):352-8
  4. Teskey G, et. al. Front Immunol. 2018 Sep 12;9:2069
  5. Lee, S.-H., et al. (2019). Sirtuin signaling in cellular senescence and aging. BMB Reports, 52(1), 24–34. https://doi.org/10.5483/bmbrep.2019.52.1.290
  6. Lee BJ, et al. Nutr J. 2013 Nov 6;12(1):142
  7. Kishi Y, et al. Diabetes. . 1999 Oct;48(10):2045-51.
  8. Carr AC, et al. Am J Clin Nutr. 2013 Apr;97(4):800-7.
  9. Ying W. NAD+/NADH and NADP+/NADPH in cellular functions and cell death: regulation and biological consequences. Antioxid Redox Signal. 2008;10(2):179-206. doi:10.1089/ars.2007.1672
  10. Xie N, et al. NAD+ metabolism: pathophysiologic mechanisms and therapeutic potential. Signal Transduct Target Ther. 2020;5(1):227. Published 2020 Oct 7. doi:10.1038/s41392-020-00311-7
  11. Covarrubias AJ, et al. NAD+ metabolism and its roles in cellular processes during ageing. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol. 2021;22(2):119-141. doi:10.1038/s41580-020-00313
  12. Timmers S, et al. Cell Metab. 2011 Nov 2;14(5):612- 228
  13. Ghanim H, et al. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2010 Sep;95(9):E1-8
  14. Conze D, Brenner C, Kruger CL. Sci Rep. 2019 Jul 5;9(1):9772)
  15. Zhang Y, et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1992 Mar 15;89(6):2399-403.
  16. Conze D, Brenner C, Kruger CL. Sci Rep. 2019 Jul 5;9(1):9772
  17. Trammell SA, Schmidt MS, Weidemann BJ, et al. Nat Commun. 2016 Oct 10;7:12948 and Janssens GE, Grevendonk L, Perez RZ, et al. Nat Aging. 2022 Mar;2(3):254-263 and
  18. Chu X, Raju RP. Metabolism. 2022 Jan;126:154923
  19. Clement J, et al. Rejuvenation Res. 2019 Apr;22(2):121-130)
  20. Kerner J, et al. Mech Ageing Dev. 2015 Jan;145:39-50
  21. Andreux PA, et al. Nature Metabolism. June 2019. 1: 595-603
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