Coenzyme Q 10, Liquid, 100 ml

Liquid coenzyme Q10 is a solution of ubiquinone in squalane, supplemented with tocopheryl acetate. Coenzyme Q10 is one of the antioxidant active ingredients added in cosmetics to creams, serums and facial oils for mature skin and to protect the skin against oxidative stress.

Pure coenzyme Q10 is supplied as a powder that dissolves slowly in oils and requires heating. The solution in squalane skips this step. You measure out the required amount and stir it into the oil phase or directly into the finished oil, and the ingredient is evenly dispersed in the formulation without lumps or undissolved particles.

What it brings to the formulation

• Coenzyme Q10 (ubiquinone) – an antioxidant naturally present in the skin. It helps protect skin lipids and the oil components of the product from oxidation and supports the appearance of elastic skin. The effect depends on the usage rate in the formulation and on how long the product stays on the skin.
• Squalane – a light carrier oil similar to skin lipids. It absorbs quickly, leaves no greasy film and itself resists oxidation well, so it is suitable as a base for a sensitive active ingredient.
• Tocopheryl acetate – a stable form of vitamin E. It complements the antioxidant action of coenzyme Q10 and helps protect the oil component of the formulation.
• Liquid form – there is no need to dissolve a powder with heat, dosing is accurate even in small batches, and the ingredient is added cold to anhydrous products.

Use in formulations

The ingredient is oil-soluble and does not dissolve in water. In emulsions it counts as part of the oil phase. Coenzyme Q10 is sensitive to higher temperatures, so add it only to the cooling emulsion under constant stirring, after emulsification is complete. In anhydrous products such as facial oils or oil serums, it is stirred in directly at room temperature.

Coenzyme Q10 is used in cosmetics at low usage rates. Test the specific amount on a small batch and monitor both the colour and the feel on the skin.

Ubiquinone itself is orange, so the solution is yellow to orange. At a higher usage rate it can colour the finished product, which is more visible in white emulsions. In water-based products without an oil phase, such as toners, the ingredient can be incorporated only with a solubiliser, and compatibility must be verified in the finished formulation.

Suitable for products such as

• Face creams and emulsions for mature skin – leave-on products in which the antioxidant has time to act on the skin.
• Oil serums – anhydrous formulations in which squalane adds a light texture and the ingredient is added without heating.
• Eye and décolleté creams – products with a low content of active ingredients and an emphasis on a light feel on the skin.
• Balms and massage oils – as an antioxidant component of an oil-based formulation.

Good to know

Coenzyme Q10 is sensitive to light. Fill finished products into dark or opaque packaging and do not expose the ingredient to higher temperatures for long periods. The solution is prepared in Slovakia.

Anhydrous oil formulations with this ingredient do not need a preservative, because they contain no water. The antioxidant protects the oils from yellowing, but it does not replace microbiological protection.

Frequently asked questions