What Is NAD+? Meet the Ingredient About to Join the Skincare A-List

Retinol, hyaluronic acid, vitamin C… if your skincare shelf reads like a greatest hits album, get ready to make room for a new headliner. NAD+ (yes, that's short for the delightfully tongue-twisting nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is popping up everywhere from dermatology clinics to wellness clinics to your favourite skincare aisle, and it's got some serious science behind the hype. 

Here's the twist, though: NAD+ isn't some brand-new lab invention. It's been quietly working away inside your cells this whole time, powering energy production and helping your skin repair itself. So why is everyone suddenly talking about it? Scientists have started connecting the dots between declining NAD+ levels and the visible signs of ageing, and that discovery has sparked a wave of excitement about what NAD+ could do for skin repair, resilience and radiance. 

Let's break down what this ingredient actually is, how it works, and whether it deserves a spot in your routine. 

So, What Is NAD+ Exactly? 

NAD+ is a coenzyme found in every single cell in your body. Think of it as your cells' internal battery pack, fuelling essential processes like energy production, DNA repair, inflammation regulation and general cellular upkeep. All of these processes happen to be pretty crucial when it comes to keeping skin looking healthy, plump and resilient. 

NAD+ supplements and IV treatments have been part of the wellness world for a while now, but getting NAD+ into topical skincare is a much newer development. The molecule itself is large and a little unstable, which makes it tricky to deliver effectively through the skin. That's why many formulas instead use precursor ingredients like NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide), NR (nicotinamide riboside) or niacinamide, which are smaller, more stable, and easier for skin cells to convert into usable NAD+. 

Does NAD+ Actually Slow Down Ageing? 

NAD+ levels tend to peak in early adulthood and then gradually decline from there. By midlife, many of us are running on noticeably lower reserves than we were in our twenties. Since NAD+ powers so many of the processes involved in cell renewal and repair, lower levels can mean skin has less capacity to bounce back from daily damage, maintain a strong skin barrier, or keep fine lines at bay. 

To be clear, NAD+ isn't a miracle cure or a fountain of youth in a bottle. But supporting your skin's natural NAD+ levels, whether through topical products or overall lifestyle habits, may help it function more like it did when those levels were naturally higher. That's a compelling reason for it to earn a spot in a healthy-ageing routine. 

How Does NAD+ Actually Work in Skincare? 

Because NAD+ struggles to penetrate skin on its own, brands have gotten creative. Some formulas rely on those smaller precursor molecules (NMN and NR) that skin cells can convert into NAD+ once absorbed. Others use encapsulated or stabilised forms of NAD+ itself, designed with delivery systems clever enough to help the molecule actually reach skin cells rather than just sitting on the surface. Either way, formulation matters enormously here, which is why not all "NAD+ skincare" is created equal. 

Why NAD+ Might Deserve a Spot in Your Routine 

Here's a rundown of what NAD+ is thought to bring to the table when it comes to skin health: 

Cellular energy production: NAD+ fuels the mitochondria (your cells' power plants), helping skin cells renew and repair more efficiently. 

Collagen support: By supporting cellular processes tied to collagen production, NAD+ may help skin maintain firmness and elasticity over time. 

Skin barrier strength: A healthy NAD+ supply helps skin hold onto moisture and defend against everyday environmental stressors. 

Antioxidant activity: NAD+ plays a role in neutralising free radicals, which can otherwise accelerate visible ageing. 

Calming inflammation: Supporting cellular balance may help soothe redness and irritation. 

Texture and tone: Some evidence suggests NAD+ may support more even pigmentation and smoother-looking skin over time. 

DNA repair: NAD+ is directly involved in helping cells repair everyday damage, which matters for long-term skin health. 

Because it works at such a foundational, cellular level, NAD+ is often described as a "multitasking" ingredient, one that may support several visible concerns at once rather than targeting just a single issue. 

Pairing NAD+ With Other Actives 

Like most skincare heavy-hitters, NAD+ tends to work best alongside complementary ingredients. Peptides can help support the firmness and elasticity side of things, ceramides help lock in the hydration NAD+ is trying to preserve, antioxidants like vitamin C add extra defence against environmental damage, and retinoids (vitamin A derivatives) support cell renewal in a way that pairs nicely with NAD+'s repair-focused role. 

Shop the NAD+ Edit 

Ready to see what all the fuss is about? Here are a few of our favourite ways to work NAD+ (and its skin-supporting sidekicks) into your routine: 

numbuzin No.9 NAD+ PDRN Glow Boosting Toner 150ml - a hydrating toner that pairs NAD+ with PDRN to boost radiance from the very first step of your routine. 

numbuzin No.9 NAD+ Retinol Volumetox Eye Cream 10ml - combining NAD+ with retinol to target the eye area, where fine lines and fatigue tend to show up first. 

Murad Cellular Hydration Repair Serum 30ml - a serum built around cellular hydration and repair, perfect for supporting skin's natural renewal processes. 

Alpha-H Firming Collagen Repair Cream 50ml - a rich cream designed to support firmness and elasticity, ideal alongside NAD+'s collagen-supporting benefits. 

Dermalogica FutureCode Booster 30ml - an advanced, biotech-driven booster designed to target multiple visible signs of ageing at once. 

Medik8 Liquid Peptides 30ml - a lightweight peptide serum that makes the perfect pairing partner for NAD+, helping support firmness from every angle. 

The Bottom Line 

NAD+ is exciting because it doesn't work like your typical skincare ingredient chasing a single concern. Instead, it taps into the fundamental processes your skin cells rely on every day to repair, renew and protect themselves. The science is still evolving, particularly around how effectively topical formulas can deliver it, but the early buzz is rooted in genuine cellular biology rather than pure marketing spin. 

If you're building a healthy-ageing routine and love keeping an eye on the ingredients making real waves in dermatology circles, NAD+ is very much one to watch. Just remember that formulation and delivery matter just as much as the ingredient itself, so it pays to do a little homework before adding it to your shelf.