Consumer demand for nutricosmetics is both growing and glowing! While collagen still dominates the beauty-from-within market, other ingredients such as vitamin C and turmeric are rapidly gaining traction, supported by new research highlighting their roles in promoting skin health.
According to a recent study, vitamin C “flips your skin’s ‘youth genes,’ reversing age-related thinning.” The researchers found that Vitamin C promotes epidermal thickening by activating genes linked to skin cell growth through targeted DNA demethylation mechanisms.
As skin ages, the epidermis naturally becomes thinner, weakening its barrier function. About 90% of the cells in the epidermis are keratinocytes, which originate from the deeper layers of the skin. In youthful skin, it takes approximately 28 days for these keratinocytes to migrate upward through the layers, ultimately forming the skin’s protective barrier. Over time, this renewal process slows, compromising resilience and hydration.
There have been many studies demonstrating the benefits of Vitamin C in combating visible signs of skin aging. Well known for its antioxidant and skin health properties, Vitamin C influences both the structure and function of the epidermis by regulating the growth and differentiation of epidermal cells.
The new findings, published earlier this year, suggest that Vitamin C may restore youthful skin function by reactivating genes essential for epidermal renewal. In this study, the researchers examined whether vitamin C promotes cell proliferation and differentiation via epigenetic mechanisms. Using human epidermal equivalents, they applied Vitamin C at concentrations of 1.0 and 0.1 mM levels comparable to those typically transported from the bloodstream into the epidermis.
The team found that by day 7, Vitamin C-treated skin developed a thicker epidermal cell layer without significantly affecting the stratum corneum, the outer layer composed of dead cells. By day 14, the inner epidermal layer was even thicker, while the outer layer had become thinner, suggesting that Vitamin C promotes the formation and division of keratinocytes. Samples treated with Vitamin C also showed increased cell proliferation, demonstrated by a higher number of Ki-67-positive cells, a protein marker present in the nuclei of actively dividing cells.
Importantly, the researchers discovered that Vitamin C supports skin cell growth by reactivating genes associated with cell proliferation through removing methyl groups from DNA. When DNA is methylated, gene activity is suppressed; therefore, by promoting DNA demethylation, Vitamin C helps maintain gene expression that enables skin cells to grow, multiply, and differentiate.
According to the researchers, these findings reveal how Vitamin C promotes skin renewal by triggering genetic pathways involved in growth and repair. They concluded that Vitamin C may be particularly beneficial for older adults or individuals with damaged or thinning skin, enhancing the skin’s natural ability to regenerate and strengthen itself.
“We found that Vitamin C helps thicken the skin by encouraging keratinocyte proliferation through DNA demethylation, making it a promising treatment for thinning skin, especially in older adults,” commented lead researcher Dr. Akihito Ishigami of the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology.
C-Fence: A Superior Vitamin C
C-Fence is a vitamin C featuring modified-release technology that periodically releases a small but effective doses over 24 hours, providing sustained support. A pharmacokinetic study, demonstrated that C-Fence can maintain all-day Vitamin C levels . In a randomized, placebo-controlled study, the bioavailability of vitamin C was assessed in the plasma of 18 participants who consumed a single 500 mg dose of C-Fence.
The results showed that the Vitamin C from C-Fence was well absorbed, with plasma levels of vitamin C remaining significantly above the baseline values for the full 24-hour period. The average time to reach maximum plasma concentration was approximately 4.5 hours, in contrast to the typical 2- to 3-hours observed with immediate-release formulations, demonstrating the extended-release properties of this formulation.
TurmXTRA™ glow : Clinical Evidence for Skin Health
In a first-of-its-kind randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 96 healthy adult females aged 18 – 40 were enrolled to evaluate the effects of TurmXTRA™ glow on skin health. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either 250 mg TurmXTRA™ glow 250 mg or a placebo daily for two months. Skin hydration levels were assessed using MoistureMeterSC, while trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) was measured using VapoMeter. Facial gloss and blemish reduction were evaluated using Antera imaging and Skin GlossMeter tools.
The study produced highly encouraging results, with participants in the TurmXTRA™ glow group demonstrating significant improvements in overall skin appearance and texture compared to the placebo group. These improvements included increased facial hydration, enhanced radiance and glow, a visible reduction in blemishes and dark spots, and a more even skin tone with smoother texture. Additionally, reductions in TEWL indicated improved skin barrier function and resilience.
Lead author Shefali Thanawala commented, “Our findings demonstrate that a once-daily 250 mg dose of TurmXTRA™ glow produced significant improvements in multiple facial skin attributes, including reduction in blemishes, enhanced skin radiance, and improved hydration.”
Conclusion
Beautiful, youthful and healthy skin is in, consider both C-Fence™ and TurmXTRA™ glow to nourish skin from within. Together, these science-backed nutricosmetics support hydration, barrier function, and radiance, helping consumers achieve glowing, resilient skin naturally.
Reviewed by Sneha Sawant Desai, PhD
