Biohacking explained: from scientific research to everyday actions
The term biohacking quickly moved from confidential circles to mainstream culture. Today, it covers a wide variety of practices: the longevity researcher who experiments with fasting, the wellness enthusiast who tracks their sleep and heart rate, or the passionate scientist who explores genetics in a laboratory.
At its core, biohacking is about taking proactive steps to influence biology—rather than waiting for decline to set in. The movement took shape in the late 2000s, with the opening of labs like Genspace in New York City , making biotechnology accessible to the general public. At the same time, the quantified self movement was emerging: measuring one's sleep, physical activity, and nutrition to optimize performance and resilience.
Today, biohacking extends from cutting-edge research labs to mainstream wellness, but it still rests on a central idea: guiding biology instead of simply reacting to it.
What makes biohacking different?
The classic health tips are well-known: eat a balanced diet, exercise, reduce stress, and sleep well. These pillars remain essential. But biohacking goes further.
Its uniqueness lies in its action at the cellular level. Where most approaches focus on lifestyle habits, biohackers seek to:
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Influencing the molecular processes that govern repair, renewal and longevity.
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Rely on data - connected objects, biological assessments - to adjust and optimize.
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Take preventive action , well before symptoms appear.
In short, biohacking is not a search for shortcuts: it is a way of working with the body, in its deepest mechanisms.
Biohacking and medicine: integrative and functional
To understand the rise of biohacking, it must be placed within the context of the evolution of medicine.
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Integrative medicine , which emerged in the 1980s, sought to combine conventional care with complementary practices (nutrition, acupuncture, supplements, mind-body techniques). It favors a global approach to the patient, with a notable impact in oncology and chronic diseases.
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Functional medicine , which emerged in the 1990s, is based on systems biology. It aims to identify the root causes of disease, drawing on nutrition, the microbiome, and lifestyle. It is now the fastest-growing niche approach, particularly in the United States and the United Kingdom, driven by the demand for personalized care.
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Biohacking , in the 2000s, borrowed its systemic vision from functional medicine and its holistic approach from integrative medicine. But it added a dimension of experimentation, technology, and proactive longevity.
Each of these approaches paved the way for the next: integrative expanded the framework, functional provided the biochemical basis, and biohacking added the technological tools and data.
Biohacking and skin: can we really “hack” skin cells?
The skin is not just a covering. It's a living, dynamic organ that constantly repairs, communicates, and adapts. A natural breeding ground for biohacking.
Research shows that the same biological pathways studied in longevity also directly influence skin health:
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NAD+ and sirtuins
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NAD+ fuels DNA repair and mitochondrial function.
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Sirtuins, NAD+-dependent enzymes, regulate aging and resilience.
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Their decline leads to a loss of skin repair capacity and elasticity.
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Autophagy
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The cellular recycling process that removes damaged proteins and organelles.
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In keratinocytes, it supports the renewal of the skin barrier; in melanocytes, it regulates pigmentation.
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When autophagy slows down, skin becomes fragile, uneven, and dysfunctional.
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Circadian clocks
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The skin follows a day/night rhythm.
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At night: repair and renewal mechanisms intensify.
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Day: The barrier's defenses are at their maximum.
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A disturbed rhythm accelerates visible aging.
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Chronic inflammation
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Inflammaging (low-grade inflammation) erodes collagen, weakens the barrier and promotes pigmentation.
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Controlling this “background noise” is essential to maintaining clarity and resilience.
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Epigenetic reprogramming
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Skin aging also depends on gene expression, not just DNA.
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Certain bioactives can redirect this expression towards repair and more youthful function.
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In short, skin biohacking isn't just about gimmicks or quick fixes: it's about strengthening the cellular foundations of repair, renewal, and longevity.
Skin Biohacking in Practice: Biological Pathways and the Role of Skin Diligent
How do these mechanisms apply to practical care? And how does Skin Diligent fit into this vision?
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Sirtuins → CEL™ Retinal Serum delivers retinal encapsulated in a proprietary complex that stimulates collagen while regulating sirtuins. By delaying senescence—when cells become too damaged to function—it preserves youthful cellular activity.
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Autophagy → The CEL™ complex also supports autophagy, allowing cells to efficiently recycle and regenerate. The result: a strengthened barrier, balanced pigmentation, and improved resilience.
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Circadian Rhythms → Exosome Advanced Night Cream carries exosomal messengers that synchronize with the nighttime skin repair cycle, amplifying renewal when skin is naturally ready to recover.
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Inflammation Control → All our formulas are tested without endocrine disruptors and developed without harsh irritants, to soothe low-grade stress responsible for barrier damage and collagen loss.
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Epigenetic Reprogramming → All our treatments incorporate bioactives that influence gene expression towards repair and balance, targeting wrinkles, texture, tone, hydration, oxidation, sebum regulation and barrier strength.
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Antioxidant Defense → Vitamin C Serum-in-Oil protects fragile lipids from oxidation, neutralizes free radicals with a trio of powerful antioxidants, and improves skin quality and vitality.
In practice : Skin Diligent is applied skin biohacking. Our treatments guide the skin's deep mechanisms to restore balance, resilience, and longevity.
Most Asked Questions About Biohacking
Q: Is skin biohacking the same as anti-aging?
Not exactly. Anti-aging focuses on visible signs (wrinkles, spots). Biohacking works deeper, on telomeres, sirtuins, or epigenetics. The goal: to smooth, certainly, but above all to strengthen cellular resilience and prolong youthfulness.
Q: Can you biohack your skin without products?
Hardly. A balanced diet is essential, but the skin needs minimal external support: hydration, nutrition, and antioxidants. Without these, the skin barrier weakens and becomes vulnerable—the opposite of biohacking.
Q: Is Skin Diligent a skin biohacking brand?
We define ourselves first and foremost as an epigenetic skincare brand, targeting markers of aging and skin health. But our goals are similar to those of biohacking: protecting cellular health, acting preventatively, and supporting skin longevity.
Q: Do dietary supplements have a role to play?
Yes. In our urban environments subject to oxidative stress, antioxidants are essential for limiting cellular damage—a priority for both overall health and skin biohacking.
Biohacking invites us to see the skin differently: not as a surface to be embellished, but as a living and intelligent system that we can guide.
Skin is not a mask. It is a living memory of time. When we support its rhythms and deep pathways, it becomes radiant, healthy, and resilient.