The longevity trend that’s taken over the wellness industry is a worthy one—who doesn’t want to live a longer, healthier life?—and NAD+ is at the center of the conversation. Celebrities from Gwyneth Paltrow and Jennifer Aniston to Hailey Bieber and Kendall Jenner claim that infusion therapy with NAD+, or nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, makes them feel their best, so it was only a matter of time until the ingredient found its way to the larger cultural conversation, first via supplements and now, skincare.
Vogue’s Favorite NAD+ Skin-Care Products
“NAD+ is a molecule found in every cell that helps convert nutrients into energy and supports critical cellular functions like DNA repair, cell signaling, and maintaining healthy metabolism,” explains board-certified dermatologist Dr. Anetta Reszko. Just as our collagen reserves deplete with age, so too does NAD+, with almost 50 percent of our NAD+ stores disappearing by age 40, says Dr. Amanda Kahn, board-certified internist and longevity expert. This steep dropoff of NAD+ contributes to oxidative stress, inflammation, and reduced production of cellular energy, or ATP.
What does NAD+ do for the skin?
With less ATP, your cells begin to age faster, and all tissues degenerate more quickly—and that can be especially visible in the skin. “Research suggests that NAD+ helps maintain skin elasticity by promoting collagen and elastin synthesis, improving tissue hydration, and supporting adequate nutrient delivery by supporting the skin’s microvasculature,” explains Dr. Kahn. NAD+ also can help reduce skin inflammation, protect against DNA damage (including the havoc wreaked by UV exposure), and may even help reverse the aging process.
Does NAD+ skincare actually work?
Considering NAD+ can help boost collagen production and optimize skin health, function, and appearance, it may be a little surprising that the ingredient is only just starting to get top billing in topical products. But there’s a reason for this—NAD+ skincare needs to be developed carefully to work. “Topical NAD+ has limited utility because the molecule is large and unstable, making skin penetration challenging,” says Dr. Reszko.
While you may still see localized benefits from cosmetic formulas that contain NAD+, the most effective NAD+ skin-care products tend to contain NAD+ precursors, or ingredients that your body can turn into the buzzy active. One of the most effective NAD+ precursors happens to be one of the most popular ingredients used in skincare today: niacinamide. Others include nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) and sunflower sprout extract, the latter of which can be found in Timebeam Moisture Melt Serum Balm and Parëva COLL20 Gel Cream Moisturizer. “A 2022 study found that sunflower sprout extract increased cellular ATP production and protected DNA from damage by UV rays, likely by increasing an enzyme that happens to help cells recycle NAD+,” explains Dr. Kahn.
Ultimately, the best ways to boost your body’s NAD+ levels is by living a healthy lifestyle—sleeping well, eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly (both cardio and strength training), avoiding UV exposure—as well as using supplements and receiving IV drips that contain NAD+. But if you’re interested in experimenting with the topical stuff, read on to shop some of the bestselling NAD+ skin-care formulas on the market.
Best Overall: Numbuzin No.9 NAD+ BIO Lifting-sil Essence
- Why We Love It: This Korean essence was the first NAD+ skin-care product to capture our attention over a year ago. Dr. Reszko notes that the combination of actives in the formula make it best for those seeking firming benefits, and the ingredients are impressive—in addition to NAD+, there are a whopping 50 peptides as well as humectants like hyaluronic acid and tremella mushroom extract. But what’s most memorable about this essence is its truly unique texture: It’s oddly stretchy, almost like a snail mucin formula, yet isn’t remotely sticky and absorbs beautifully into the skin. Despite the lengthy ingredient list, Numbuzin’s NAD+ essence is gentle (and fragrance-free), making skin look plumper, smoother, and lifted with consistent use.
- Key Ingredients: NAD+, niacinamide, tremella mushroom extract, peptides
- Size: 1.69 fl. oz.
Best Hydrating: Aramore NAD+ Cell Energizing Lotion
- Why We Love It: Dry, damaged skin will drink up this nourishing treatment from Aramore, developed with ingredients that Dr. Reszko shares can replenish and protect the moisture barrier while supporting cellular vitality. Barrier-fortifying emollients like shea butter, ceramides, and fatty acids are paired with β-nicotinamide mononucleotide—an ingredient naturally found in your body that your cells use to create NAD+. Somewhere in texture between a serum and a cream, it layers beautifully with other products; the lotion provides lasting moisture, even if you choose to wear it solo.
- Key Ingredients: β-nicotinamide mononucleotide, ceramides, shea butter
- Size: 1.69 fl. oz.
Best for Hyperpigmentation: Filorga NCEF-Shot Ultra-Concentrated 10 Day Face Treatment
- Why We Love It: This bottle is small, but mighty, housing a super-potent serum loaded with amino acids, hydrators, and NAD+ to combat uneven texture and tone in 10 days. The brand’s founder, Dr. Michel Tordjman, is a pioneer in mesotherapy, an aesthetic treatment that consists of dozens of shallow, nutrient-rich injections to the skin; the ingredients in this formula are concentrated at a dose equivalent to a daily meso-injection to make skin luminous, taut, and smooth without a medspa visit.
- Key Ingredients: NAD+, amino acids, vitamin C, sodium hyaluronate
- Size: 0.5 fl. oz.
Best With Vitamin C: Dr. Sam’s Flawless Vitamin C NAD+ Serum
- Why We Love It: A lot of vitamin C serums are runny, sticky, or stinky, but not this one, which combines the potent antioxidant with NAD+ and NAD+ precursors to help firm and brighten skin, says Dr. Reszko. The vitamin C here is tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, an oil-soluble form of the active that’s more stable than traditional L-ascorbic acid. Not only is it better able to penetrate the skin, it’s gentler—and for good measure, the formula also contains fellow free radical fighters ferulic acid and ectoin, the latter of which helps soothe, repair, and defend against environmental stressors. The result? Healthy, glowing skin.
- Key Ingredients: NAD+, vitamin C, ectoin, ferulic acid
- Size: 1 fl. oz.
Best Refillable: Codeage Maison Rouge NAD+ Face Serum
- Why We Love It: According to Dr. Kahn, this silky formula contains NAD+ as well as one of its precursors (niacinamide), vitamin C, and plant extracts to address signs of aging. One such extract is seaweed extract, specifically Irish moss, which is shown to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties as well as offering UV protection and dark spot-fading benefits. As the serum works to positively impact skin health by repairing and protecting, the packaging minimizes your impact on the environment—the bottle features an internal chamber that can be removed and replaced with a refill.
- Key Ingredients: NAD+, niacinamide, seaweed extract, vitamin C
- Size: 1.7 fl. oz.
Best Splurge: Biologique Recherche Cocktail d’Actifs Régénérants
- Why We Love It: If your skin is sending out SOS signals and you’re prepared to splurge on a solution, consider this set of concentrates from iconic French skin-care brand Biologique Recherche. The ingredient list boasts all 20 amino acids found in the human body (the building blocks of protein, including collagen and elastin), multiple peptides, numerous vitamins, and NAD+ to boost the vitality of even the most depleted complexions, perf Dr. Kahn. You’ll receive 10 vials—for best results, use half of one each day for 20 days, pressing the formula into your skin to maximize absorption. You’ll need to refrigerate the half-used vial once it’s been opened to keep the serum inside at maximum potency. After you’ve used them all up, you’ll see smoother, healthier-looking skin that’s almost impossibly glowy, making this a worthy treatment to try ahead of a major event.
- Key Ingredients: NAD+, peptides, amino acids, retinol, vitamin C
- Size: 10 vials, .17 fl. oz. each