I have not used it much, so I can’t speak to its effectiveness. I used to use $$$ vit c daily for years but never noticed a difference. I continued for a long time just incase it was doing something, but worst case, if it made my spf work better, that was a win.
I’ll add, there are newer and more stable forms of vit c available these days. medik8/trinny London etc.
Looks like he gained weight and stopped shaving his head. The baldING look makes him look older, plus if you look at the picture below the hair on his head before was black not grey (you can see even though what hair he had was shaved). Beard is almost entirely grey, probably from stress due to the Epstein stuff. Eyebrows also appear to be greying.
Skin has aged dramatically from my analysis. Crows feet, under eye area, forehead, neck. Puffy face. Visible double chin despite photo angle. Area between eyebrows appears aged. Complexion is uneven.
Side by side left is 2023 vs right is 2026: looks to have aged 20 years. Is this even the same person? Where is the photo you posted from?
I found out doing an internet search that the ferulic acid in the aforementioned vitamin C (+E+ferulic) serums is one of the main compounds in polypodium leucotomos, which people may know as the “oral sunscreen” supplement. Ferulic acid is apparently metabolized if you take it as part of an oral supplement, so only the metabolites would make their way to the skin. It’s possible that some of the other compounds in polypodium work synergistically with ferulic acid – so it may not be that it’s the only compound offering sun-protection (assuming it really does offer any at all as an oral supplement).
I thought he looked good at his wedding, but in a short few months he seems to have morphed … but just shows we all have different tastes! After all, it’s why we have Mounds and Almond Joy.
What about Astaxanthin. Not only does it have proven benefits for the skin, but it is a potent antioxidant and the NIA ITP lists it as one of the tested molecules that extends life in mice (men only). And do a pubmed search to show other clinically proven benefits: brain health, exercise/muscle improvement, blood pressure, etc.
I asked Claude: “proven benefits of astaxanthin for skin”
Astaxanthin has several clinically supported skin benefits, primarily driven by its exceptional antioxidant potency — estimated to be up to 100x stronger than vitamin E.
Photoprotection
Oral astaxanthin accumulates in both the dermis and epidermis, where it reduces UV-induced reactive oxygen species and limits lipid peroxidation. Clinical trials using 4 mg/day showed a significant increase in minimal erythema dose (MED) — a measure of sunburn resistance — compared to placebo after 10 weeks. It also suppresses UV-induced matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1), an enzyme that breaks down collagen.
Wrinkles & Elasticity
Human studies at 6 mg/day for 6–8 weeks showed reductions in wrinkle depth and improvements in skin elasticity. Systematic reviews confirm moderate but consistent improvements in elasticity and hydration, though wrinkle effects are more variable across studies. Astaxanthin’s collagen-protective action is a key mechanism behind these results.
Skin Hydration & Barrier Function
Astaxanthin improves barrier function by reducing transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and increasing moisture content. Studies in The Journal of Dermatological Science found that daily supplementation improved skin resistance to UV damage and promoted hydration.
Pigmentation & Tone
Clinical evidence also shows reduced hyperpigmentation and age spots, leading to a more even skin tone. Continuous intake reverses age-related morphological changes in residual skin surface components, with effects especially pronounced in middle-aged subjects.
Practical Guidance
Dose: 4–12 mg/day oral supplementation is the typical studied range
Timeline: Benefits generally appear within 6–12 weeks
Source: Algae-derived astaxanthin is preferred over synthetic forms
Side effects: Generally well-tolerated; possible GI effects, minor bleeding risk, and blood pressure/glucose changes
Given your interest in longevity and skin aging, astaxanthin pairs well with other antioxidant protocols — it works synergistically with vitamin C and E for enhanced photoprotection.
Yes, I like astaxanthin. Take 12mg/d. Can’t say I’ve specifically noted any skin benefits, but I think that’s very difficult to tell given all the other factors (other skin treatments, plus the changing season etc).
Still, in theory, it offers some degree of photoprotection in terms of skin ageing, and therefore presumably some degree of skin cancer protection. I don’t think there has been any trial looking at that, but it seems plausible to me that if it increases resistance to sunburn, it should also protect from the damage which causes many cancers.
UPDATE on estriol face cream experiment for myself (a male):
I did find the estradiol and estriol combo to have a more noticeable visual benefit for the skin compared to just estriol, but the long term hormonal effects for estradiol use concerned me.
I was using estradiol/estriol 1-2x a week. Didn’t experience any side effects.
This past week I used estriol on my face every night. I unfortunately need to report that I experienced sexual side effects. Erectile dysfunction and less sensitivity.
I stopped using the estriol on my face 2 nights ago and noticed improved erectile function, and expect full function to return within 1-2 weeks.
I’m going to take 25mg of Mesterolone (brand name: Proviron) daily for the next 2 weeks as well to counteract some of these side effects.
It’s unfortunate that estriol alone didn’t have the same effects as the combo of estradiol and estriol. I question if estriol even did anything. Perhaps it was just the estradiol.
Equally unfortunate is the fact that estriol use does not seem sustainable in a consistent fashion for men.
I wanted to report this as I felt it was useful data.
UPDATE 24 hours later: Erectile function has improved dramatically since ceasing estriol. A promising sign of quick recovery.
RLS-1496 is an investigational, first-in-class, disease-modifying, selective glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) modulator that targets pathologic senescent and other stressed, aging cells that drive chronic, age-dependent diseases, such as AK, and represents a novel drug category — Adaptive SenoTherapeutics
The Phase 1b/2a study of RLS-1496 showed a 46% reduction in AK count compared to 11% for untreated control at 4 weeks in the first 18 of 24 patients evaluated
RLS-1496 was associated with favorable safety, with no serious adverse events (AEs) and no discontinuations due to AEs during the 4-week study
RLS-1496 was well-tolerated, causing minimal local irritation, an area of high unmet need in the standard of care
A Phase 2b dose-ranging AK study for RLS-1496 will begin in Q4
I don’t want to be ‘that guy’ but can you discount placebo/nocebo effects?
Effects subsiding within 24h is way too fast for it to be attributable to those compounds IMO. If you truly raised systemic estrogens enough to alter your SHBG, testosterone and libido, they wouldn’t normalise that quickly.
Estriol is a weak estrogen and probably wouldn’t have much systemic effect. But estradiol is much stronger and also has a longer half life after transdermal application.
Also, as a random anecdote I actually note that I feel and function better with higher E2 than lower.
It wasn’t placebo or nocebo. I wasn’t expecting it to cause erectile dysfunction. Effects began subsiding within 48 hours not 24, and symptoms have improved consistently since then.
I don’t plan on using it again, you can try it if you want and report the results.
I’m very glad you were willing to do the experiment and tell about the results. Thanks. I considered the potential for skin improvements with Estradiol cream some time ago, but decided “No Way Jose” after reading about the very likely to occur problem of systemic absorption.
