From Anirva, the maker of Dermal Radiance. This article is general information, not medical advice. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Most people know lutein as a nutrient for the eyes. If you have seen it in a skin supplement, you may wonder what it is doing there. Lutein is a yellow pigment from plants, and researchers have also studied it in skin. Here we look at what lutein is and how it may work, the human trials, how much is in Dermal Radiance, food sources and safety.
In this article
- Lutein is a yellow plant pigment. It is found in leafy greens and egg yolks, and it belongs to the carotenoid family. [1][2]
- In a 12-week trial, lutein by mouth improved overall skin tone. Adults took 10 mg of lutein with 2 mg of zeaxanthin each day. [4]
- A placebo-controlled trial measured hydration, elasticity and skin lipids. Lutein and zeaxanthin gave a significant benefit. [3]
- A mix with 8 mg of lutein was followed by less skin redness after UV light. The mix also had lycopene and beta-carotene, and the trial ran for 12 weeks. [8]
- Dermal Radiance contains 8 mg of lutein. Lutein is absorbed with the help of fat, so it is taken with a meal. [2][7]
Facts at a Glance
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Ingredient and form | Lutein, a carotenoid [7] |
| Amount in Dermal Radiance | 8 mg a day, in 2 capsules [7] |
| Amounts used in the skin trials | 8 mg to 20 mg a day, for about 12 weeks [4][5][8] |
| Kinds of evidence | 4 placebo-controlled human trials, most giving lutein together with other carotenoids [3][4][5][8] |
| Human studies cited here | 4 trials, 12-65 people each |
| Regulatory guidance | EFSA acceptable daily intake: 1 mg/kg body weight (≈70 mg/day for a 70 kg adult) [6] |
What Is Lutein?
Lutein is a carotenoid, one of the natural pigments that plants make. It belongs to a group called xanthophylls. Unlike beta-carotene, the body does not turn lutein into vitamin A. [2]
Lutein is found in egg yolks, in leafy greens such as kale and spinach, and in yellow and orange fruits. [1] It usually comes with a close relative called zeaxanthin, and studies often test the two together.
In the body, lutein builds up in the eye, in a part of the retina called the macula. There, lutein and zeaxanthin absorb up to 90% of blue light. [2]
How Might Lutein Work in Skin?
Antioxidant activity
Lutein is an antioxidant. It neutralizes unstable molecules called reactive oxygen species, which can harm DNA and proteins. [1] Sunlight creates these molecules in skin.
Blue light
Lutein absorbs blue light. [1][2] This is well studied in the eye. Researchers are now looking at whether the same property matters in skin, which also meets blue light every day.
Collagen
UV light switches on a gene for MMP-1, an enzyme that breaks collagen down. In a human study described below, lutein limited this response. [5]
What Does the Research Show?
The research on lutein and skin is still growing. Four human trials give the clearest picture.
A 2007 trial on hydration, elasticity and skin lipids
In 2007, researchers ran a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Groups took lutein and zeaxanthin by mouth, used them as a cream, did both, or took a placebo. The team measured five things: surface lipids, hydration, elasticity, lipid oxidation and the skin's response to light. [3]
Lutein and zeaxanthin gave a significant benefit by mouth and as a cream. The combination of the two routes did the most. By mouth, lutein appeared to do more than the cream on two measures: lipid oxidation and the response to UV light. [3]
A 2003 trial of a carotenoid mix
In 2003, a placebo-controlled trial tested a mix of three carotenoids: lutein, lycopene and beta-carotene, at 8 mg each a day. Each group had 12 volunteers, and the trial ran for 12 weeks. [8]
Carotenoid levels in the skin rose. After 12 weeks, skin redness after UV light was significantly lower than at the start. The mix did as well as 24 mg of beta-carotene by itself. [8]
A 2016 trial on skin tone
In 2016, a trial enrolled 50 healthy adults aged 18 to 45 with mild to moderately dry skin. They took 10 mg of lutein with 2 mg of zeaxanthin a day, or a placebo, for 12 weeks. [4]
Overall skin tone improved with lutein compared with placebo, and skin luminance values rose. Skin also tolerated more UV light before turning red. Two of the three authors worked for OmniActive Health Technologies, a supplement ingredient company. [4]
A 2017 study on UV light and collagen-related genes
In 2017, researchers studied 65 healthy volunteers in a double-blind crossover trial. Each person took 20 mg of lutein a day for 12 weeks, and a placebo for 12 weeks. Skin was then exposed to UV light, and the team measured three genes that UV switches on. One of them makes MMP-1. [5]
When people took lutein before the placebo period, it fully blocked the rise in all three genes. When lutein came after the placebo period, the effect was smaller. Lycored, a supplement ingredient company, supplied the products and paid for the study. [5]
Lutein is not a sunscreen. Experts suggest daily sunscreen and shade for sun care.
| Study | People | Amount a Day | Length | Main Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heinrich et al., 2003 [8] | 12 per group | 8 mg each of lutein, lycopene, beta-carotene | 12 weeks | Less redness after UV |
| Palombo et al., 2007 [3] | Four groups | Lutein and zeaxanthin, by mouth and as a cream | Long-term | Hydration, elasticity and skin lipids improved vs. placebo |
| Juturu et al., 2016 [4] | 50 adults, 18–45 | 10 mg lutein + 2 mg zeaxanthin | 12 weeks | Overall skin tone improved vs. placebo |
| Grether-Beck et al., 2017 [5] | 65 healthy volunteers | 20 mg lutein | 12 weeks | UV-triggered rise in three genes, including MMP-1, was blocked |
How Much Lutein Is in Dermal Radiance Compared With the Studies?
| Source | Lutein a Day | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dermal Radiance (2 capsules) | 8 mg | From the label [7] |
| 2003 carotenoid mix trial | 8 mg | With 8 mg lycopene and 8 mg beta-carotene, for 12 weeks [8] |
| 2016 skin tone trial | 10 mg | With 2 mg zeaxanthin, for 12 weeks [4] |
| 2017 UV study | 20 mg | For 12 weeks [5] |
| One cup of cooked spinach | 29.8 mg | Lutein and zeaxanthin together [2] |
Dermal Radiance provides 8 mg of lutein. This matches the amount in the 2003 carotenoid mix trial. The other trials used 10 mg and 20 mg. The studies tested lutein by itself or with other carotenoids, so their results do not describe Dermal Radiance as a whole.
Food Sources of Lutein
Dark leafy greens are the richest sources. These figures are for lutein and zeaxanthin together, in one cup of the cooked vegetable: [2]
- Spinach: 29.8 mg
- Turnip greens: 19.5 mg
- Collards: 18.5 mg
- Kale: 5.9 mg
The body absorbs lutein with the help of fat, and 3 to 5 g of fat in a meal appears to be enough. [2]
What the Research Does Not Show Yet
Safety and Interactions
Lutein has a good safety record. Memorial Sloan Kettering reports that side effects have not been reported. [1] In a large eye-health trial, people took 10 mg of lutein a day for about five years with no safety concerns. [2]
European regulators set an acceptable daily intake of 1 mg per kilogram of body weight for lutein from marigold. [6] For a 70 kg (154 lb) adult, that is 70 mg a day, by our calculation. Dermal Radiance has 8 mg.
Lutein is a nutrient that many people already eat every day in green vegetables, and it is well tolerated. [1] A few points can help you use it well:
Lutein Is One Part of Dermal Radiance
Dermal Radiance is a daily two-capsule supplement with 20 vitamins, minerals and plant extracts. They were chosen to support healthy collagen, skin firmness and elasticity, and radiance. Lutein is one of them.
Dermal Radiance has not been clinically tested as a finished product. For this reason, we cannot say how its ingredients work together. The studies in this article tested lutein by itself or with other carotenoids.
If you take Dermal Radiance, you are not relying on lutein alone. It is one of 20 ingredients in each serving. Every ingredient and amount is listed on the label. [7]
About Dermal Radiance
A daily two-capsule formula with 20 vitamins, minerals and plant extracts, including 8 mg of lutein per serving. Dermal Radiance hasn't been clinically tested as a finished formula. The label lists every ingredient and its amount.
See the Dermal Radiance product page →If You Are Deciding
Lutein is a familiar nutrient, and leafy greens are a rich food source. A supplement adds a steady daily amount to what you eat. If you would like to try Dermal Radiance, the directions are two capsules a day with a meal. [7]
The Short Version
Lutein is a yellow plant pigment that absorbs blue light and acts as an antioxidant. In human trials, lutein by mouth improved overall skin tone and supported skin hydration and elasticity. In another study, it limited a UV-triggered rise in a collagen-breakdown gene. Dermal Radiance provides 8 mg of lutein.
Frequently Asked Questions
References
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. About Herbs: Lutein. Updated November 16, 2022.
- Linus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University. Micronutrient Information Center: Carotenoids. Page dated January 5, 2026.
- Palombo P, Fabrizi G, Ruocco V, Ruocco E, Fluhr J, Roberts R, Morganti P. Beneficial long-term effects of combined oral/topical antioxidant treatment with the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin on human skin: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Skin Pharmacol Physiol. 2007;20(4):199-210. doi:10.1159/000101807. PMID: 17446716.
- Juturu V, Bowman JP, Deshpande J. Overall skin tone and skin-lightening-improving effects with oral supplementation of lutein and zeaxanthin isomers: a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2016;9:325-332. doi:10.2147/CCID.S115519. PMID: 27785083.
- Grether-Beck S, Marini A, Jaenicke T, Stahl W, Krutmann J. Molecular evidence that oral supplementation with lycopene or lutein protects human skin against ultraviolet radiation: results from a double-blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover study. Br J Dermatol. 2017;176(5):1231-1240. doi:10.1111/bjd.15080. PMID: 27662341.
- EFSA Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient Sources added to Food (ANS). Scientific Opinion on the re-evaluation of lutein (E 161b) as a food additive. EFSA Journal. 2010;8(7):1678. doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2010.1678.
- Anirva. Dermal Radiance Supplement Facts label and product page.
- Heinrich U, Gärtner C, Wiebusch M, Eichler O, Sies H, Tronnier H, Stahl W. Supplementation with beta-carotene or a similar amount of mixed carotenoids protects humans from UV-induced erythema. J Nutr. 2003;133(1):98-101. doi:10.1093/jn/133.1.98. PMID: 12514275.
