Bontac Liposomal NAD⁺: Bringing Anti-Aging Back to What Truly Matters
Liposomal NAD⁺ Delivers Up to 30% Greater Transdermal Absorption
For years, NAD⁺ has been one of the most talked-about anti-aging ingredients in the skincare industry. Countless brands have invested heavily in developing NAD⁺ serums, and manufacturers have refined their formulations through dozens of iterations. Yet many consumers report that while these products feel refreshing on the skin, they provide only limited improvement in dullness, fine lines, or skin laxity—resulting in disappointing repurchase rates.So, is NAD⁺ simply another overhyped marketing ingredient? Or have we been using it the wrong way from the very beginning?
In 2025, a study published in an MDPI peer-reviewed journal revealed the answer: when applied topically in its free form, approximately 90% of NAD⁺ loses its activity before exerting its biological effects. The key to effective skin delivery is not a higher concentration, but liposomal transdermal delivery technology.
Part 01
The Reality: Topically Applied Free NAD⁺ Loses Most of Its Activity
The skin functions as a highly efficient protective barrier. Its outermost layer, the stratum corneum, consists of tightly packed corneocytes ("bricks") embedded within lipid bilayers ("mortar"), making it extremely difficult for large, hydrophilic molecules to penetrate.This challenge is not unique to NAD⁺. Vitamin C, resveratrol, hyaluronic acid, and plant polyphenols all face similar limitations.
Three Major Challenges of Free NAD⁺
1. Rapid Activity Loss
NAD⁺ is an unstable, highly hydrophilic coenzyme. Once applied to the skin surface, a significant portion becomes inactive before it can penetrate the stratum corneum, substantially reducing its effectiveness.2. Limited Skin Penetration
Because of its strong polarity, free NAD⁺ molecules struggle to pass through the intercellular lipid matrix of the stratum corneum. As a result, most of the applied ingredient remains on the skin surface instead of reaching the deeper dermal layers and microvasculature.3. Poor Cellular Uptake
Even when a small amount reaches the epidermis, keratinocytes and vascular endothelial cells have limited ability to utilize free NAD⁺ efficiently. Consequently, aging-associated biomarkers such as p16 and p21 remain elevated, providing minimal improvement in fine lines, dullness, or other visible signs of skin aging.Conclusion
The concentration of an active ingredient alone does not determine its efficacy. The efficiency of transdermal delivery is the critical factor that ultimately determines skincare performance.
Part 02
Scientific Evidence: Liposomal NAD⁺ Achieves Up to 30% Higher Skin Penetration
The first dedicated study investigating topical liposomal NAD⁺ evaluated its performance using both human epidermal keratinocytes and vascular endothelial cells, which simulate the skin microcirculation. After a 48-hour comparison, the results clearly demonstrated the advantages of liposomal delivery.
Quantitative Analysis in Human Skin
Infrared spectroscopy performed on ex vivo human skin samples from a 29-year-old donor showed that, at the same dosage, liposome-encapsulated NAD⁺ (LF-NAD⁺) achieved 30% higher effective accumulation in deeper skin layers compared with free NAD⁺.Improved Vascular Endothelial Cell Function
Compared with free NAD⁺ at the same concentration, LF-NAD⁺:- Significantly increased intracellular NAD⁺ levels
- Reduced the proportion of senescent endothelial cells by 28.7%
- Downregulated the senescence marker p16
- Helped preserve healthy skin microcirculation
Enhanced Keratinocyte Renewal
Compared with free NAD⁺, LF-NAD⁺ also:- Reduced senescent keratinocytes by 15.4%
- Downregulated both p16 and p21, two key biomarkers of cellular senescence
Part 03
Liposomes: The Leading Delivery Technology for Active Ingredients
As one of the most established and widely recognized nanocarrier systems, liposomes possess a structure highly similar to that of biological cell membranes. They are spherical vesicles composed of phospholipid bilayers and cholesterol, with particle sizes ranging from approximately 30 nm to several micrometers. Their nanoscale dimensions make them well suited to penetrate the skin through hair follicles and other transdermal pathways (≤640 nm).Why Choose Liposomal NAD⁺?
Unlike many nanocarriers that rely on a single delivery pathway, liposomal NAD⁺ enhances skin delivery through five complementary mechanisms:- Release of encapsulated active ingredients
After liposomes reach the skin, NAD⁺ is gradually released from the vesicles and absorbed in its free form. - Enhanced skin permeability and hydration
The phospholipid fragments generated after liposome disruption improve skin permeability while enhancing skin hydration. - Direct fusion with the stratum corneum
Liposomes can fuse directly with the lipid matrix of the stratum corneum, facilitating efficient transport of active ingredients into the skin. - Intact vesicle penetration
Certain deformable liposomes are capable of traversing the stratum corneum while maintaining their structural integrity. - Follicular and sebaceous gland delivery
Their nanoscale size allows liposomes to enter the skin through hair follicles and sebaceous gland pathways, providing additional routes for transdermal delivery.
Part 04
Bontac Liposomal NAD⁺: Bringing Anti-Aging Back to What Truly Matters—Effective Delivery
Modern skincare is no longer defined by simply increasing the concentration of active ingredients. Instead, delivery technology has become the key competitive advantage in next-generation anti-aging solutions.Key Advantages of Bontac Liposomal NAD⁺
Bontac Liposomal NAD⁺ is specifically designed to address the major limitations associated with conventional NAD⁺ formulations.1. Deep Skin Penetration
Liposomal NAD⁺ penetrates deeply into the follicular infundibulum, reaching depths of approximately 300–600 μm. It forms a localized "skin reservoir" that enables the gradual release of NAD⁺, allowing the active ingredient to remain effective for an extended period.2. Enhanced Stability and Activity Protection
The phospholipid bilayer encapsulates NAD⁺ and protects it from exposure to oxygen, ultraviolet radiation, and enzymatic degradation within the skin. This significantly reduces activity loss during storage, minimizes the need for excessive stabilizers, and enables cleaner, more streamlined formulations.3. Gentle Yet Highly Efficient Delivery
Liposomes exhibit excellent biocompatibility and biodegradability, offering an ideal balance between mildness and transdermal delivery efficiency. Their sustained-release mechanism avoids excessive accumulation of high concentrations of active ingredients on the skin surface, making them suitable for sensitive, mature, and oily skin alike.Conclusion
Even the most powerful active ingredient cannot achieve optimal performance without an effective delivery system.Liposomes are not merely a marketing concept—they represent an essential technology that enables NAD⁺ to reach its biological target and deliver meaningful anti-aging benefits.
References：
［1］Ministrini S, Liberale L, Erle HE, et al. A Liposomal Formulation Enhances the Anti-Senescence Properties of Nicotinamide Adenine-Dinucleotide (NAD+) in Endothelial Cells and Keratinocytes. Curr Issues Mol Biol. 2025;47(9):722. Published 2025 Sep 5. doi:10.3390/cimb47090722
［2］Zhou H, Luo D, Chen D, et al. Current Advances of Nanocarrier Technology-Based Active Cosmetic Ingredients for Beauty Applications. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2021;14:867-887. Published 2021 Jul 13. doi:10.2147/CCID.S313429
