China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) Cosmetic New Ingredient Filing Platform announced a major milestone: MitoYouth^® Urolithin A (Filing No.: Guo Zhuang Yuan Bei Zi 20250106), jointly declared by BONERGE and TECH-INNO Health, has been officially approved as a new cosmetic ingredient for use as a skin protectant. This marks a key step in applying circadian rhythm science to cosmetic formulations and reinforces the "Beauty from Within and Without" concept in the anti-aging market.

Redefining Anti-Aging: The Power of Circadian Rhythm Regulation

As skincare science evolves, attention has turned from surface-level treatments to the regulation of biological processes at the cellular level. International leaders like L'Oréal, Estée Lauder, and Lancôme have launched products based on "circadian repair," recognizing the skin’s internal clock’s role in repair and regeneration. Chinese emerging brands including Proya, Bloomage Biotech, and Perfect Diary are also embracing this trend. Urolithin A now provides the Chinese market with a well-researched ingredient to modulate the skin’s circadian rhythm, enabling brands to develop cutting-edge, science-backed anti-aging products.

Enhancing Circadian Rhythm for Improved Overnight Recovery

The biological clock in skin cells is vital for regulating repair, regeneration, and barrier function. The skin’s circadian rhythm was first introduced in academia in 2000, when a study in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology by American biologist Susana B. identified clock genes CLOCK and PER1 in the skin, proving their role in daily physiological cycles. Disrupted rhythms cause increased moisture loss, impaired barrier function, and accelerated collagen degradation.

Studies show Urolithin A restores and strengthens circadian rhythm:

• It boosts the oscillation amplitude of BMAL1 (core clock gene)-driven luciferase in senescent cells by up to 4 times, restoring aging cells’ rhythmic function [1].
• It normalizes the expression of clock genes like BMAL1 and PER2 in intestinal epithelial cells [2].
• It effectively regulates the central clock system in mice’s suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) [2].

Beauty from Within and Without: Dual Applications of Urolithin A

Oral Application: BONERGE previously launched Urolithin A in dietary supplements. Its StanYouth^® Urolithin A completed a clinical study showing a daily dose of 500mg significantly improves skin barrier function, elasticity, and reduces wrinkles. Additional clinical trials investigating StanYouth^® Urolithin A’s benefits for sleep quality and circadian rhythm regulation are currently in progress.

Topical Application: The successful filing of MitoYouth^® Urolithin A now extends its use to topical skincare products. Utilizing advanced delivery technologies such as liposomal encapsulation and oil-soluble processing, the ingredient’s stability and skin absorption are greatly enhanced, making it suitable for serums, creams, eye creams, and other skincare categories.

The approval of Urolithin A brings an innovative, research-backed ingredient to China’s cosmetics market. BONERGE will continue supporting research and collaboration to help brands develop products aligned with the skin’s natural rhythms. Spanning oral supplements and topical use, Urolithin A represents a new anti-aging approach that harmonizes with the body’s innate cycles for comprehensive skincare.

Reference:

[1] Yao Du, Xinyue Chen et al. Effect of Urolithin A on the Improvement of Circadian Rhythm Dysregulation in Intestinal Barrier Induced by Inflammation. Nutrients 2024, 16, 2263.

[2] Rassul Kuatov, Jiro Takano et al. Urolithin A Modulates PER2 Degradation via SIRT1 and Enhances the Amplitude of Circadian Clocks in Human Senescent Cells. Nutrients 2025, 17, 20.

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NMPA approval of MitoYouth® marks a milestone: the first cosmetic Urolithin A ingredient connecting circadian rhythm regulation with visible skin health and longevity benefits.