Beauty Is a Marathon, Not a Sprint: The Cellular Science Behind Skin Health

Beauty is often discussed as if it happens at the surface. A new serum. A brighter complexion. A quick fix before an important date. But skin is living tissue, and what we see in the mirror is shaped by thousands of processes taking place beneath it.

Collagen has to be formed. Cells require energy to carry out their normal functions. The body continuously responds to stress, repairs damage and renews tissue. None of this is instant, which is precisely the thinking behind MARATHON, NOT A SPRINT, INORA’s doctor developed liquid ritual for cellular support and healthy ageing.

The formula brings together nicotinamide riboside, or NR, vitamin C and Lion’s Mane alongside niacinamide, olive leaf and sea buckthorn. Each has a distinct role. Together, they reflect a more intelligent understanding of beauty: not a short term cosmetic intervention, but something supported consistently, from within.

What does cellular health have to do with skin?

Every visible aspect of skin begins with cells. Skin cells need energy to perform their everyday work, including renewal, barrier maintenance and responses to environmental stress. Fibroblasts, a type of cell found in the dermis, are responsible for producing structural components such as collagen and elastin.

This is why cellular support matters to a conversation about beauty. It does not mean that a supplement can stop ageing or transform the skin overnight. It means recognising that healthy looking skin depends on the normal function of the cells and tissues beneath its surface.

Skin elasticity describes its ability to stretch and return to its original position. Collagen contributes strength and structure, while elastin helps skin retain its spring. Both are influenced by age, genetics, sun exposure, smoking, nutrition, sleep and the wider environment. A supplement is only one part of that picture, but the right nutrients can support processes the skin naturally relies upon.

NR: a precursor to a molecule every cell uses

NR, short for nicotinamide riboside, is a form of vitamin B3 and a precursor to NAD+.

NAD+ is a coenzyme used throughout the body. It is involved in cellular energy metabolism and acts as a substrate for enzymes connected to cellular maintenance and stress responses. In simple terms, NR gives the body material it can use to make NAD+.

Human studies show that oral NR can increase markers of NAD+ metabolism. That makes it an intriguing area of healthy ageing research. However, it is important to separate biological plausibility from proven cosmetic outcomes. Research has not yet established that taking NR directly improves wrinkles, firmness or skin elasticity in humans.

Its place in MARATHON, NOT A SPRINT is therefore grounded in cellular support rather than an exaggerated promise of younger looking skin. Beauty is part of the wider story of how well the body functions, and NAD+ sits close to the machinery cells use every day.

Vitamin C: the clearest link to collagen and skin function

Vitamin C makes the connection between nutrition and skin particularly tangible. It contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of skin, an authorised health claim in the UK and EU.

Collagen is the skin’s main structural protein. The body needs vitamin C as a cofactor for enzymes involved in stabilising and assembling collagen molecules. Without adequate vitamin C, normal collagen formation is impaired.

Vitamin C also contributes to the protection of cells from oxidative stress. Oxidative stress occurs when reactive molecules exceed the body’s antioxidant defences, and it can be increased by factors including ultraviolet exposure and pollution.

This does not make vitamin C a standalone answer to skin ageing. It makes it a well established nutritional contributor to the normal biology behind skin structure. When people ask how MARATHON, NOT A SPRINT relates to beauty and elasticity, this is the formula’s most direct evidence based bridge.

Lion’s Mane: where beauty meets clarity and consistency

Lion’s Mane, or Hericium erinaceus, is a functional mushroom containing a varied collection of naturally occurring compounds. It has attracted scientific interest primarily in relation to cognition, mood and nerve health, although much of the research remains early and studies use different extracts and doses.

There is not currently robust human evidence showing that oral Lion’s Mane improves skin elasticity or collagen production. We include it for a different reason.

A modern beauty ritual should acknowledge the person as a whole. Mental clarity, daily energy and the ability to maintain supportive habits all shape how we feel and how consistently we care for ourselves. Lion’s Mane complements the formula’s wider healthy ageing philosophy, while vitamin C carries the direct, recognised skin claim and NR anchors the cellular story.

That distinction matters. Thoughtful formulation is not about making every ingredient perform the same job. It is about combining ingredients with complementary purposes and being precise about what the evidence can, and cannot, say.

Why skin support requires patience

Skin renews continuously, but meaningful change rarely follows the pace of a trend cycle. Collagen turnover, environmental exposure, hydration, sleep and hormonal changes all unfold over time.

The name MARATHON, NOT A SPRINT captures this reality. It is an invitation to think beyond sudden correction and towards repetition. A daily ritual. A nutrient rich diet. Sun protection. Rest. Movement. Fewer promises, practised more consistently.

In INORA’s six week consumer study of the complete formula, 59% of participants reported an improvement in the appearance of their skin and 56% reported healthier looking skin. These are self reported findings for the finished product, not proof that any single ingredient produced the result. They sit alongside, rather than replace, the established nutritional science behind the formula.

A formula designed around connection, not excess

MARATHON, NOT A SPRINT combines:

• Nicotinamide riboside, a precursor the body can use to make NAD+, supporting the formula’s cellular focus

• Vitamin C, which contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of skin and helps protect cells from oxidative stress

• Lion’s Mane, selected as part of the formula’s broader approach to cognitive wellbeing and healthy ageing

• Niacinamide, another form of vitamin B3 involved in normal energy yielding metabolism

• Olive leaf and sea buckthorn, botanicals chosen to complete the formula’s considered, plant led profile

Rather than crowding a label with disconnected actives, the formula is built around a clear idea: cellular function, resilience and beauty are related, but they are not interchangeable. Each ingredient earns its place for a reason.

The meaning behind MARATHON, NOT A SPRINT

Healthy ageing is not a race against time. It is the cumulative effect of what we return to.

That is the meaning behind this liquid ritual. NR speaks to the energy and maintenance systems within cells. Vitamin C supports normal collagen formation and helps protect cells from oxidative stress. Lion’s Mane broadens the ritual beyond appearance, recognising that feeling clear and engaged is part of ageing well.

The result is not a promise of instant transformation. It is a more credible proposition: give the body considered nutritional support, consistently, and treat beauty as something deeper than the surface.

MARATHON, NOT A SPRINT is a daily liquid ritual for cellular support and healthy ageing, with sour cherry and hibiscus.

Discover MARATHON, NOT A SPRINT

Frequently asked questions

Does vitamin C help skin elasticity?

Vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of skin. Collagen is central to skin structure, which is connected to firmness and elasticity. However, skin elasticity is influenced by many factors, and a supplement should not be presented as a guaranteed treatment for loss of elasticity.

What is NR?

Nicotinamide riboside is a form of vitamin B3 and a precursor to NAD+, a coenzyme involved in cellular energy metabolism and other essential cellular processes. Human research shows that NR supplementation can raise NAD+ related metabolites, while evidence for direct visible skin benefits is still developing.

Is Lion’s Mane good for skin?

There is not yet strong human evidence that oral Lion’s Mane directly improves skin health or elasticity. It is studied more often for cognition, mood and neurological health. In MARATHON, NOT A SPRINT, it forms part of a broader approach to wellbeing and healthy ageing.

How long does it take to notice a difference from a supplement?

There is no universal timeline. Results depend on nutritional status, lifestyle, consistency and the outcome being measured. Supplements should complement, not replace, a balanced diet, sleep, movement and daily sun protection.

Editorial references

1. European Commission. EU Register of nutrition and health claims: vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of skin; vitamin C contributes to the protection of cells from oxidative stress.

2. Martens CR et al. Chronic nicotinamide riboside supplementation is well tolerated and elevates NAD+ metabolism in healthy middle aged and older adults. Nature Communications. 2018.

3. Conze D et al. Safety and metabolism of long term administration of nicotinamide riboside in a randomised clinical trial. Scientific Reports. 2019.

4. Cornford N et al. Hericium erinaceus: a possible future therapeutic treatment for cognitive health. Systematic review, 2025.

Food supplements should not be used as a substitute for a varied, balanced diet and healthy lifestyle. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication or living with a medical condition, speak to a healthcare professional before use.