A clinical approach to skin longevity

Four mechanisms.
Eight actives.

Skin doesn't age along a single pathway — it loses melanogenic control, barrier integrity, dermal collagen density, and oxidative defense in parallel. glo is formulated against all four, with each active dosed at the level published clinical evidence showed an effect.1–10

Co-developed by 8 specialists · 6 MDs + 2 PhDs · 6 KR + 2 US cGMP-certified · USA Setria® · AstaReal® — trial-grade actives 10 primary references
4×8 protocol
01 Mechanisms 02 Pathways 03 The eight 04 Dose table 05 Formulation 06 Testing 07 Scientists 08 References
Thesis · N°01

Skin ages along four mechanisms.
Most ingestibles address one.

Dermal aging is a parallel, multi-mechanism process: melanocyte hyperactivation upstream of tyrosinase1, stratum-corneum ceramide depletion and TEWL increase2, fibroblast senescence and MMP-1-mediated collagen breakdown3, and cumulative ROS-driven oxidative stress.4 Single-ingredient products solve one quarter of the biology at best. The 4×8 protocol is built from eight clinically-studied actives organized into four functional complexes, each calibrated to its mechanism.

4mechanisms targeted
8evidence-led actives
0proprietary blends
10primary references

Four mechanisms.
One quieter protocol.

Each pathway: its biological mechanism, the measurable biomarker, the actives that intervene, and the clinical window in which effect becomes observable.
N°01 · Tone
Evenness,
returned.
Mechanism
Inhibits tyrosinase via Cu²⁺ chelation; reduces melanosome transfer at keratinocyte–melanocyte interface via PAR-2 blockade.5,6
Biomarker
↓ Melanin index · ↓ ITA° shift · ↓ L* decrease
Glutathione · L-Cysteine · White tomato · Niacinamide
01
Notice by · 8–12 wk→
N°02 · Barrier
Hydration,
retained.
Mechanism
Replenishes SC lamellar ceramide pool; multi-MW HA occupies tissue compartments from SC surface to mid-dermis.7,8
Biomarker
↓ TEWL · ↑ SC water content · ↑ Corneometer
HA complex (3 MW) · Milk ceramide
02
Notice by · 4–6 wk→
N°03 · Structure
Elasticity,
preserved.
Mechanism
Pro-Hyp / Hyp-Gly dipeptides stimulate fibroblast Type I collagen synthesis; niacinamide downregulates MMP-1-mediated collagenolysis.3,9
Biomarker
↑ Type I pro-collagen · ↑ Cutometer R2 · ↑ Dermal echo
Collagen peptide (<500 Da) · Niacinamide
03
Notice by · 12 wk→
N°04 · Defense
Oxidative
burden.
Mechanism
Quenches singlet ¹O₂ and ROS; GSH regenerates oxidized ascorbate; astaxanthin inserts into membrane bilayer to protect lipid from peroxidation.4,10
Biomarker
↓ 8-OHdG · ↓ MDA · ↓ MMP-1 upregulation
Astaxanthin · Glutathione
04
Cumulative→
N°02 · Cellular pathways

How the four mechanisms interact
at the cellular level.

The four pathways are not fully independent — glutathione operates on both melanogenesis and oxidative defense; niacinamide intervenes on melanosome transfer, MMP-1, and NAD⁺. The diagram below maps each active to its primary intervention site.

Mechanism N°01 · Tone

Melanogenesis · three points of intervention.

Tyrosinase chelation at the active site, UV filter upstream of melanocyte stimulation, and PAR-2 transfer block downstream. Three independent leverage points on a single visible-pigment pathway.

Melanocyte
tyrosinase active
→
Tyrosinase
Cu²⁺ active site
→
Melanosome
↑ eumelanin
→
Keratinocyte
PAR-2 transfer
①②Glutathione + L-Cys — chelate Cu²⁺ at the tyrosinase active site; shift eumelanin → pheomelanin
③White tomato — phytoene/phytofluene filter UV-B/A1 upstream of melanocyte activation
④Niacinamide — blocks PAR-2-mediated melanosome transfer to keratinocyte
Biomarker ↓ Mexameter Melanin Index · pigmentation drift ↓
Mechanism N°02 · Barrier

Hydration · three molecular weights, three layers.

Hyaluronic complex distributes by molecular weight to surface, intermediate, and mid-dermis depths. Milk ceramide rebuilds the lamellar lipid pool the epidermis loses with age.

SC surface
HA-HMW · ~1 MDa
→
Lamellar bodies
ceramide pool
→
Mid-dermis
HA-LMW · ~10 kDa
→
TEWL ↓
trans-epidermal water loss
⑤HA complex · 3 MW — HMW surface, MMW intermediate, LMW mid-dermis. ↓ TEWL at 120 mg/day in 12-wk RCT
⑦Milk ceramide — delivers Cer[NS / NP / AP] subtypes; restores SC lamellar lipid lamellae
Biomarker ↓ TEWL · ↑ SC water content · ↑ Corneometer
Mechanism N°03 · Structure

Dermal ECM · synthesis up, breakdown down.

Sub-500 Da dipeptides cross the intestinal epithelium intact and signal fibroblast collagen synthesis. Niacinamide simultaneously suppresses MMP-1, the enzyme that degrades collagen. Net dermal density gain.

Fibroblast
Pro-Hyp signal target
→
Pro-collagen I
↑ synthesis
→
Collagen fibrils
ECM · Cutometer R2
⊣
MMP-1 ↓
collagenolysis blocked
⑥Collagen peptide <500 Da — Pro-Hyp / Hyp-Gly dipeptides absorb intact, directly stimulate fibroblast Type I synthesis
④Niacinamide — downregulates MMP-1 collagenolytic enzyme; preserves the ECM the fibroblast just built
Biomarker ↑ Cutometer R2 · dermal echo density · firmness
Mechanism N°04 · Defense

Oxidative load · membrane, DNA, repair.

Astaxanthin sits across the lipid bilayer where vitamin C and E can't reach. Glutathione recycles oxidized antioxidants intracellularly. Niacinamide fuels NAD⁺-dependent sirtuin DNA repair. The mechanism most ingestibles ignore.

ROS / ¹O₂
oxidative load
→
Membrane bilayer
lipid peroxidation · MDA ↑
→
DNA
8-OHdG · oxidative damage
→
NAD⁺ / Sirtuin
DNA repair · longevity axis
⑧Astaxanthin — keto-carotenoid spans full bilayer; quenches ¹O₂ ~6,000× vitamin C. AstaReal® natural 3S,3'S
①Glutathione (GSH) — recycles oxidized vitamin C; ↓ 8-OHdG; intracellular antioxidant pool
④Niacinamide — NAD⁺ precursor via Preiss-Handler; fuels sirtuin-mediated DNA repair
Biomarker ↓ 8-OHdG · ↓ MDA · ↑ NAD⁺ pool

Each pathway and intervention cited in References.

N°03 · The eight

Eight actives.
Four complexes.

Each active at trial-grade form where available. Molecular structure shown. Source, standardization, and mechanism annotated. Every milligram printed — no proprietary blends.1–10

01
Tone & Melanogenesis Complex
Total · 790 mg · 4 actives
N°01
Glutathione
글루타치온 · L-γ-glutamyl-L-cysteinyl-glycine (GSH)
HOOCCHNH₂CO·NHCHCO·NHCH₂SHCH₂COOHC₁₀H₁₇N₃O₆S · MW 307.32 Da
Source · Grade
Setria® reduced L-glutathione · Kyowa Hakko Bio, Japan. Oral bioavailability in RCT; oxidized form has negligible dermal effect.
Inhibits tyrosinase via Cu²⁺ chelation; shifts eumelanin → pheomelanin; quenches intracellular ROS; regenerates oxidized ascorbate.5
Daily dose250 mg
N°02
L-Cysteine
L-시스테인 · sulfur amino acid
H₂NCHCOOHCH₂SHC₃H₇NO₂S · MW 121.16 Da
Source · Grade
Pharmaceutical-grade free-form L-cysteine. Rate-limiting precursor in γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase-catalyzed GSH synthesis.
Elevates hepatic and dermal GSH pool via de-novo synthesis. Cysteine supply is the single rate-limiting factor in systemic GSH production at physiological concentrations.5,2
Daily dose240 mg
N°03
White tomato extract
화이트토마토 추출물 · phytoene + phytofluene
Phytoene C₄₀H₆₄ — polyene backbone:7,8,11,12,7′,8′,11′,12′-octahydro-ψ,ψ-caroteneAbs: UV-B 286 nm / UV-A1 348 nm
Source · Std.
Non-pigmented Solanum lycopersicum. Std. ≥7% phytoene + phytofluene — colorless carotenoids absent in standard supplements.
Absorb UV-B / UV-A1; accumulate in skin within 12 wk oral dosing; reduce UV-induced erythema and pigmentation drift vs. placebo.6
Daily dose30 mg
N°04
Niacinamide
나이아신아마이드 · nicotinamide · vitamin B₃
NC=ONH₂→ NAD⁺ (Preiss-Handler)C₆H₆N₂O · MW 122.12 Da
Source · Grade
USP-grade nicotinamide. Dual mechanism: PAR-2 melanosome-transfer blockade + NAD⁺ precursor via Preiss-Handler pathway.
Inhibits PAR-2-mediated melanosome transfer; downregulates MMP-1; feeds NAD⁺ for SIRT1 / PARP1 DNA repair.9,10
Daily dose250 mg
02
Barrier & Hydration Matrix
Total · 160 mg · 2 actives
N°05
Hyaluronic complex · 3 MW
히알루론산 복합물 · multi-molecular-weight HA
Repeating: [β-D-glucuronate · β-D-N-acetylglucosamine]ₙGlcUAGlcNAcnHMW ~1 MDa → SC surfaceMMW ~200 kDa → intermediateLMW ~10 kDa → mid-dermis(C₁₄H₂₁NO₁₁)ₙ · biofermented · non-animal
Source · Spec
Tri-MW matrix biofermented from Streptococcus zooepidemicus. Three MW fractions = three anatomical hydration layers.
↓ TEWL, ↑ SC water content at 120 mg/day vs. placebo in 12-wk RCT. LMW fraction (~10 kDa) penetrates to mid-dermis.7
Daily dose120 mg
N°06
Milk ceramide
밀크 세라마이드 · Cer[NS/NP/AP]
Ceramide [NS] core — sphingosine + N-acyl FA:CH₃(CH₂)₁₂CH=CHCH(OH)CH(NH—CO— (CH₂)ₙCH₃CH₂OHCer[NS/NP/AP] subtypes · SC lamellar lipid pool
Source · Form
Sphingomyelin-enriched milk lipid, enzyme-hydrolyzed to Cer[NS], Cer[NP], Cer[AP] — the ceramide subtypes the epidermis loses with age.
Restores SC lamellar lipid lamellae; ↓ TEWL in 30–50 mg/day RCTs. Ceramide depletion begins in third decade.8
Daily dose40 mg
03
Dermal Structure Peptide
Total · 1,000 mg · 1 active
N°07
Collagen peptide · <500 Da
초저분자 콜라겐 펩타이드
Key bioactive dipeptides (intact absorption):Pro-Hyp: H₂N–Pro–Hyp–COOHHyp-Gly: H₂N–Hyp–Gly–COOHMW <500 Da · intact gut epithelium crossing→ fibroblast stimulation in vivo
Source · Specification
Marine-derived (tilapia / cod) Type I collagen, hydrolyzed to mean MW <500 Da. Enriched for Pro-Hyp and Hyp-Gly dipeptide signatures detected intact in plasma post-ingestion.
Why 1,000 mg vs. 5–10 g bulk?Sub-500 Da peptides cross intestinal epithelium intact at significantly higher rates than >3 kDa fractions. Rate-limiting variable = MW, not gross intake. 1,000 mg at <500 Da delivers comparable bioavailable dipeptide to >5 g bulk collagen.
↑ Dermal collagen density and ↑ Cutometer R2 elasticity at 8–12 wk oral dosing. Pro-Hyp dipeptide activates fibroblast collagen synthesis and inhibits MMP activity.3
Daily dose1,000 mg
04
Cellular Defense Antioxidant
Total · 6 mg · 1 active*
N°08
Astaxanthin
아스타잔틴 · 3,3′-dihydroxy-β,β-carotene-4,4′-dione
Keto-carotenoid C₄₀ — end-ring structure:=OOHC₄₀H₅₂O₄ · MW 596.84 Da · spans full bilayer
Source · Grade
AstaReal® natural astaxanthin from Haematococcus pluvialis, closed-system photobioreactor. Natural 3S,3′S stereoisomer — not synthetic racemic mixture.
Why this form & mechanism?Singlet-oxygen quenching ~6,000× vitamin C, ~800× CoQ10. Uniquely spans the full lipid bilayer — both inner and outer leaflet — providing membrane-level protection impossible with hydrophilic antioxidants. *Glutathione (N°01) also operates in cellular defense and is attributed to Complex 01 to avoid double-counting.
↓ UV-induced MMP-1; ↑ elastin; improves visco-elastic parameters at 6–8 mg/day vs. placebo. ↓ 8-OHdG in dermal fibroblasts.4
Daily dose6 mg
N°04 · Dose validation

The dose the studies used.

No proprietary blends. Every milligram printed. What published trials used, what typical OTC delivers, and where glo sits.1–10

Active
Studied dose
Typical OTC
glo GL-01
Glutathione (reduced)
250–500 mg
50–100 mg
250 mg · Setria®
L-Cysteine
240–500 mg
often omitted
240 mg
White tomato (P+PF)
~30 mg
5–15 mg
30 mg · std. ≥7%
HA complex
120–200 mg
50–100 mg (1 MW)
120 mg · 3 MW
Milk ceramide
30–50 mg
often omitted
40 mg · Cer[NS/NP]
Collagen peptide (<500 Da)
1–2.5 g (low-MW)
5–10 g (bulk)
1,000 mg · <500 Da
Astaxanthin
4–12 mg
2–4 mg (often synthetic)
6 mg · AstaReal® natural
Niacinamide
100–500 mg
25–250 mg
250 mg · USP-grade

Note on collagen dose: glo doses ultra-low-MW collagen at 1,000 mg — substantially below the 5–10 g typical of bulk collagen powder. Sub-500 Da peptides cross intestinal epithelium intact (Pro-Hyp detected in plasma post-ingestion3), while >3 kDa fractions require hydrolysis with lower dipeptide yield per gram. The formulation targets bioavailable dipeptide delivery, not gross collagen intake.

N°05 · Formulation

Eight specialists.
Four years. One protocol.

glo was developed by eight specialists — five Korean MDs (board-certified dermatologists and plastic surgeons in Seoul) plus one US dermatologist, alongside two PhDs in skin reverse-aging research (Seoul + US) — each with 10+ years in the field. Four years of formulation, dose calibration, and biomarker review against published longevity literature.

01 · The why
4×8
Four mechanisms. Eight actives.
Skin ages along four parallel pathways. Each active is chosen for one mechanism — and a few work on two — dosed to the lower bound of the evidence-supported range to leave room for patients already stacking.
02 · The dose
mg
printed.
Calibrated to the trial.
Every milligram printed. No proprietary blends. No "as studied in" fine print that hides a 10× dose mismatch. Where literature shows a range, we dose to the evidence-supported lower bound.
03 · The lineage
8
specialists.
6 MDs + 2 PhDs.
Six MDs (Korean dermatologists + plastic surgeons in Seoul + 1 US dermatologist) and two PhDs in skin reverse-aging research (Seoul + US) — each with 10+ years in the field. Korea's surgical-grade clinical discipline meets US-published research evidence.
N°06 · Testing & QA

What's not in it
matters too.

Every batch third-party tested before release. COAs available on request to practitioners and members via official@weglow.biz

01
Heavy metals
USP <232>
Pb, As, Cd, Hg — every batch to USP elemental oral limits. No exceptions.
02
Microbiology
USP <2021>
Total aerobic, yeast/mold, E. coli, salmonella, Staph. Every lot.
03
Potency
HPLC verified
Every active assayed pre-release. What's on the label is in the shot, ±10%.
04
Facility
cGMP · Prop. 65
cGMP-certified manufacture, USA. Prop. 65 elemental thresholds respected.
N°07 · The clinical collective

Eight specialists.
One quieter standard.

A formulation collective of eight specialists — six MDs (five Korean dermatologists and plastic surgeons in Seoul + one US dermatologist) and two PhDs in skin reverse-aging research (Seoul + US) — each with 10+ years in the field. Every dose calibrated against published evidence; nothing prints without a citation.

Lead researcher · PhD · Seoul · 18 yrs
Dr. Tae-hoon Park
PhD, Skin Reverse-Aging Research Lab, Seoul. 18 yrs in research. Co-author of the 4×8 protocol and lead investigator of the formulation work since 2021.
— Focus: melanogenesis, oxidative defense, dermal collagen kinetics.
PhDSkin reverse-agingSeoul · KR
Aesthetic surgery lead · MD · Gangnam · 14 yrs
Dr. Min-jun Lee
Board-certified plastic surgeon, Gangnam. 14 yrs in clinical practice. Chairs the dose-validation committee. Plus 4 KR MD colleagues, 1 KR PhD researcher (Park), and 1 US MD + 1 US PhD on the formulation bench.
— Specialty: post-procedural skin recovery, aesthetic outcomes.
MDPlastic surgery+ 5 MDs · 2 PhDs
US lead researcher · PhD · 15 yrs
Dr. Arjun Mehta
PhD in skin reverse-aging research, US-based. 15 yrs in the field. Translates the Seoul protocol for the US market; runs the dose math against US-published evidence and FDA-relevant safety standards. Co-author of the bioavailability dossier behind the <500 Da collagen rationale.
— Focus: carotenoid kinetics, sub-kDa peptide absorption, US-side translation.
PhDSkin reverse-agingUS
N°08 · References

The papers we dosed against.

Primary references for claims on this page. Full bibliography and COAs available to practitioners on request: official@weglow.biz

  1. Farage MA, Miller KW, Elsner P, Maibach HI. Intrinsic and extrinsic factors in skin ageing: a review. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2008;30(2):87–95.
  2. Sekhar RV, et al. Deficient synthesis of glutathione underlies oxidative stress in aging and can be corrected by dietary cysteine and glycine supplementation. Am J Clin Nutr. 2011;94(3):847–853.
  3. Asserin J, et al. The effect of oral collagen peptide supplementation on skin moisture and the dermal collagen network. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2015;14(4):291–301.
  4. Tominaga K, et al. Cosmetic benefits of astaxanthin on human subjects. Acta Biochim Pol. 2012;59(1):43–47.
  5. Watanabe F, et al. Skin-whitening and skin-condition-improving effects of topical oxidized glutathione. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2014;7:267–274.
  6. Aust O, et al. Supplementation with tomato-based products increases lycopene, phytofluene, and phytoene and protects against UV erythema. Int J Vitam Nutr Res. 2005;75(1):54–60.
  7. Oe M, et al. Oral hyaluronan relieves wrinkles: a double-blinded, placebo-controlled study. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2017;10:267–273.
  8. Tessema EN, et al. Potential applications of phyto-derived ceramides in improving epidermal barrier function. Skin Pharmacol Physiol. 2017;30(3):115–138.
  9. Zouboulis CC, Makrantonaki E. Clinical aspects and molecular diagnostics of skin aging. Clin Dermatol. 2011;29(1):3–14.
  10. Bissett DL, et al. Topical niacinamide reduces yellowing, wrinkling, red blotchiness, and hyperpigmented spots in aging facial skin. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2004;26(5):231–238.

Citations support structure-function statements about individual ingredients based on published peer-reviewed literature. Statements about the formulated product have not been independently evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Setria® is a registered trademark of Kyowa Hakko Bio Co., Ltd. AstaReal® is a registered trademark of AstaReal AB.

Begin

From paper
to protocol.

Eight actives, dosed like the studies meant it. One pineapple shot, daily. Ten primary references on this page — the rest available on request.

Shop GL-01 → Meet the 8 specialists