Autophagy is your body’s natural method for cleaning house by removing dead or damaged cells to regenerate healthier, more vibrant ones. The term comes from the Greek words "auto," meaning self, and "phage," meaning eat—so, autophagy literally translates to "self-eating." Think of it as pressing a reset button for your skin and body. During this process, dysfunctional parts of cells are recycled for repair, while the remaining waste is cleared out.
But autophagy doesn’t just stop at cellular cleanup. It also promotes survival and adaptation by helping cells respond to stress and toxins that accumulate over time. In fact, Dr. Yoshinori Ohsumi won the Nobel Prize in 2016 for his groundbreaking research on autophagy and its related genes. One of the exciting aspects of autophagy is its anti-aging potential—maintaining autophagy can slow down the ageing process and help reduce visible signs of ageing.
For your skin, autophagy acts as a detoxifier, converting waste proteins (which accelerate aging) into amino acids that help produce firmer, plumper, and healthier skin. However, as we age, cellular function declines by about 1% each year, and this is particularly noticeable during perimenopause when the epidermal cycle slows down. This slowdown also impacts the efficiency of autophagy. The good news is that speeding up autophagy can help rejuvenate skin by increasing cell turnover, which shortens the epidermal cycle and results in fresher, younger-looking skin.
Boosting autophagy can even help minimise fine lines and wrinkles by increasing the production of amino acids, leading to a smoother complexion. And here’s the best part: autophagy doesn’t have to slow down with age. There are ways to enhance this process naturally.
Polyphenols, a category of powerful plant-based chemicals, are key players in promoting autophagy in the skin. With over 500 unique polyphenols—collectively known as phytochemicals—these antioxidants protect cells by inducing autophagy to combat free radicals. You can find polyphenols in skincare ingredients like Vitamin A (retinol), Vitamin C, Vitamin E, ascorbic acid, Caesalpinia spinosa (Tara seed extract), and citrus bergamot.
Use these products from the Junoskin range to promote autophagy in your skin:
Retinol Revitalise - retinol, a stabilised vitamin A derivative which has been clinically proven to increase cell turnover. It will reduce pore size, resulting in firmer younger looking skin as well as reduce, visible signs of ageing including pigmentation and uneven skin tone.
Juno-C - offers daily antioxidants protection with stabilised L-ascorbic acid, a form of vitamin C which is easily and quickly absorbed by the skin for greater potency.
Juno Eye Gel - an intensive eye serum which actively works to rejuvenate and repair the signs of ageing. Containing a unique blend of ingredients including vitamin E to hydrate, almond oil to repair and protect against the signs of ageing and lactic acid which has gentle resurfacing properties to diminish the appearance of crow’s feet and visibly improve clarity and tone.
Moisture Endure - This luxury silky moisturiser contains clinically proven ingredients to keep your skin optimally hydrated and in peak condition. It contains tripeptide-1 and tetrapeptide-7, biomimetic peptides to help stimulate growth factors and collagen synthesis, to protect and help restore the skin's natural moisture barrier and reduce inflammation. Natural Tara seed extract works deep within the skin to boost moisture levels and help prevent future dehydration. It’s also high in vitamin C and B.
