Maintain youthful appearance - With the help of your cells

Betaine (also known as trimethylglycine or TMG) ​​is a natural compound found primarily in beetroot. In the body, betaine acts as a methyl group donor and plays an important role in one-carbon metabolism.

Simply put, betaine supports methylation – a biochemical reaction in which molecules such as DNA, proteins or neurotransmitters are regulated by the addition of methyl groups.

Why is this relevant for anti-aging? With age, epigenetic regulation often becomes imbalanced, partly due to altered DNA methylation patterns. Furthermore, levels of the harmful amino acid homocysteine ​​in the blood rise when methylation processes are suboptimal—which is associated with vascular damage, cognitive decline, and oxidative stress.

Through this dual effect, betaine supports youthful cellular metabolism. In other words: Less homocysteine ​​means less oxidative stress and inflammatory damage to blood vessels and tissue, which counteracts age-related changes [15] [17] .

Betaine also acts as an osmoprotective molecule, helping cells regulate their water balance. In skincare products, betaine is valued for its moisturizing properties—it can bind water in the skin, thus contributing to plumper, more hydrated skin.

In the skin, betaine even thickened the epidermal basal layer, which normally thins with age [22] . A thicker epidermis means more resilient, more youthful skin. Furthermore, the number of so-called senescent cells (aging cells) in the animals' skin, heart, muscle, and brain decreased [23] [22] .

These results suggest that betaine can delay cellular aging processes and rejuvenate tissue structure—similar to exercise. For us, this means that betaine could protect cells from aging stress, inhibit inflammation, and thus help skin stay smooth and radiant longer.

Selenium is an essential trace element, and it's included in Revive for a reason. Although only needed in tiny amounts, selenium is vital for the body's antioxidant defenses.

It is a component of selenium-containing enzymes such as glutathione peroxidase, which neutralize aggressive free radicals. Free radicals are formed, for example, by UV radiation, environmental toxins, or during normal metabolism and damage cells by attacking membranes, proteins, and DNA.

This oxidative stress is a major driver of skin aging—it accelerates the formation of wrinkles and dark spots and can even contribute to skin cancer. Selenium-containing antioxidants act as a protective shield: they intercept free radicals before they can cause damage [24] .

An optimal selenium level therefore helps keep skin cells young and functioning. In fact, selenium is recognized by the dermatological community as an important anti-aging nutrient.

Dr. Karen E. Burke, dermatologist of the American Academy of Dermatology, emphasized the importance of selenium as early as 2002: "The mineral selenium is necessary for the antioxidant glutathione peroxidase, which protects the body – including the skin – from damage caused by UV rays. Selenium helps to maintain tissue elasticity and slows down the aging and hardening of tissue caused by oxidation." [25] .

In other words, selenium preserves skin elasticity and prevents premature sagging and hardening of connective tissue, which can be caused by free radicals [25] . It is precisely this elasticity that makes youthful skin smooth and firm.

There is also evidence that adequate selenium intake makes the skin more resistant to UV damage. Oral selenium supplementation (50–200 µg daily) has been shown in animal studies to protect the skin from sunburn and reduce UV-induced cell damage; it even reduced the incidence of skin cancer [26] .

Selenium therefore appears to offer an internal sun protection effect that complements classic sunscreen – a boon for skin health.

Last but not least, the skin also needs selenium for normal cell division and wound healing. Severe selenium deficiency, which occurs in some regions, leads to slowed cell regeneration, impaired healing, and an overall accelerated tissue deterioration process [27] .

As part of Revive, selenium acts as a mini-bodyguard for our cells, preserving skin elasticity and protecting against the invisible aggressions of everyday life (UV radiation, environmental stress) that would otherwise undermine the youthful appearance of our skin.

The final ingredient in REVIVE's active ingredient formula is quercetin – a natural plant substance (flavonoid) that is found in apples, onions and berries, for example.

Quercetin is known for its diverse health-promoting properties: It has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and even senolytic effects. The latter term is particularly exciting for anti-aging: Senolytic means that a substance can help remove aged, dysfunctional cells—often called senescent cells or colloquially "zombie cells."

Although such cells have exited the cell cycle (no longer divide), they do not die. They remain "stuck" in the tissue and secrete inflammatory messengers and enzymes that break down collagen and elastin.

Senescent cells are therefore considered to be contributing factors to the signs of aging, particularly in the skin (they promote the formation of wrinkles, inflammation, and even hair loss).

This is where quercetin comes in: Studies show that quercetin can target precisely such cells. In laboratory experiments and animal studies, quercetin stimulated the removal of senescent cells—a process scientists call senolysis [28] .

By specifically removing these dysfunctional cells, space is created for new, fresh cells, and the tissue literally "rejuvenates" itself from within. Quercetin is thus a natural weapon against the silent inflammation and collagen degradation caused by zombie cells.

But quercetin can do even more for youthful skin. As a powerful antioxidant, it scavenges free radicals and thus protects skin cells from UV damage and environmental stress – similar to selenium, but in a plant-based way.

Quercetin also plays an important role in plants themselves—it protects leaves from UV radiation and oxidative stress. Applied to human skin, this means that quercetin can help keep the skin barrier intact and retain moisture, promoting a plump, smooth complexion.

Also interesting is that quercetin and nicotinamide riboside complement each other in Revive. Research suggests that quercetin inhibits an enzyme called CD38 [30] – and CD38 is a major contributor to NAD+ depletion in old age.

Reduced CD38 activity through quercetin could therefore help maintain valuable NAD+ levels (through NR) higher for longer. This creates a synergistic anti-aging effect: Revive combats aging processes both at the cellular level (NAD+, epigenetic regulation, senolysis) and at the tissue level (through collagen maintenance, elasticity, and inflammation control), which has a doubly beneficial effect on maintaining a youthful appearance.

A youthful appearance doesn't just happen – it starts with inner cell health. Revive addresses this: The carefully formulated formula of nicotinamide riboside, calcium AKG, betaine, selenium, and quercetin combines five scientifically proven strategies to combat the aging process.

Together, these active ingredients support cells in repair and regeneration, combat oxidative stress and inflammation, promote collagen production, and remove harmful “zombie cells.”

The results of this holistic anti-aging approach are impressive: cells strengthened from within can renew and protect themselves better, which is reflected externally in firmer, smoother skin and a fresh complexion.

Revive therefore does not aim for short-term cosmetic effects, but rather addresses the underlying causes of skin aging.

Of course, a supplement is no substitute for a healthy lifestyle—factors like diet, exercise, sleep, and sun protection remain important for youthful skin. But Revive offers an innovative way to actively support cell longevity and thus the body's youthfulness.

Sources:

1. Chambers, E.S. & Vukmanovic-Stejic, M. Skin barrier immunity and aging. Immunology 160, 116–125 (2020). (See: Decline in barrier function and skin thickness with age.) [1]

2. Health.com – 4 Benefits and Uses of NAD. (2024). (NAD⁺ supplementation and repair of UV-damaged skin cells) [5]

3. Novos Labs – Calcium AKG Benefits for Longevity. (2025). (Ca-AKG supports collagen production, reduces fibrotic skin aging) [14]

4. Son et al., Biol. Pharm. Bull. 30(8):1395-9 (2007). (α-Ketoglutarate increases collagen in fibroblasts and reduces UV-induced wrinkle formation in vivo) [12] [13]

5. Zawieja, E. et al., Ageing Res. Rev. 104:102634 (2025). (Betaine increases SAM and lowers homocysteine ​​– protection against age-related oxidative damage) [15] [16]

6. Ciardha, V. – NMN.com (News) (2025). (“Exercise mimetic” betaine reduces inflammation, senescent cells, and thickens the skin layer in aged mice) [20] [22]

7. Burke, KE – American Academy of Dermatology (press release, 2002). (Selenium preserves tissue elasticity and slows oxidative skin aging) [25]

8. Medical News Today – Does selenium really slow aging? (2022). (Selenoproteins neutralize free radicals, support cell division and wound healing) [24] [27]

9. James, EL et al., npj Aging 9, 5 (2023). (Quercetin promotes the removal of senescent cells; multi-target NAD⁺ approach for healthy aging) [28]

10. Lifespan.io – Quercetin may slow down skin aging. (2023). (Topical quercetin application increases skin hydration and elasticity, reduces wrinkles) [29]