Idebenone is a powerful synthetic antioxidant (similar to CoQ10) that works well in labs, but has a major problem: your skin can't absorb it well because it doesn't dissolve in water. Researchers reviewed various delivery methods—like wrapping it in liposomes or nanoparticles—that could theoretically help it penetrate skin better, but this is still mostly theoretical work, not proven consumer results.

This was a literature review, meaning researchers analyzed existing studies about idebenone rather than conducting new experiments. They summarized what's known about idebenone's strengths, weaknesses, and experimental delivery strategies.

Funding not disclosed in abstract