A major milestone for the beauty-from-within movement has just been reached. Aker BioMarine’s Superba Boost® Krill Oil has become the first omega-3 ingredient approved in Japan to carry a skin health claim, offering new validation for the role of nutrition in supporting healthy, resilient skin.
Approved under Japan’s Foods with Function Claims (FFC) system, the claim allows brands to label krill oil products as clinically shown to support skin moisture and enhance skin barrier function. For consumers and brands alike, this approval signals a new level of confidence in omega-3-based beauty solutions.
What this Approval Means
The FFC system, overseen by Japan’s Consumer Affairs Agency (CAA), is one of the world’s most rigorous functional food frameworks. Superba Boost® Krill Oil is the first EPA and DHA omega-3 ingredient to meet its standards for skin health—an achievement backed by a 2023 clinical study conducted in Japan.
With this approval, brands can now formally communicate skin barrier and moisture benefits on product labels, unlocking innovation opportunities in supplements designed for beauty and wellness.
The Rise of Beauty from Within
The concept of “inner beauty”—improving skin and appearance through nutrition rather than topical solutions alone—continues to gain momentum in Japan and around the world. Consumers are increasingly turning to supplements that nourish the body from the inside out.
“This approval marks a milestone for Japanese brands by officially recognizing Superba Boost’s skin health benefits, while also reassuring global consumers that it is clinically proven to support skin barrier function and moisture,” said Simon Seward, CEO of Human Health Ingredients at Aker BioMarine. “Such approvals are essential to our business, which is built on science, R&D, and integrity—the pillars that drive transparency, credibility, and innovation across the nutraceutical industry.”
The Science Behind Krill Oil and Skin Health
The FFC approval builds on a growing body of scientific evidence. In addition to the 2023 Japanese study, two clinical trials published in 2024 in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology found that krill oil supplementation significantly improved key markers of skin health.
Participants taking 1 g or 2 g of krill oil daily showed:
- Stronger skin barrier function
- Improved skin hydration
- Greater elasticity
These benefits were associated with increased blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids, highlighting the essential role of EPA and DHA in maintaining resilient, healthy skin.
Superba Boost® Krill Oil delivers a unique combination of phospholipid-bound omega-3s, choline, and the antioxidant astaxanthin—nutrients that work together to support skin structure and function. Pre-clinical research also points to increases in ceramides, collagen, and hyaluronic acid, offering insight into the reduced transepidermal water loss (TEWL) observed in human trials.
Read more: How marine omega-3 phospholipids support skin hydration and elasticity
Implications for the Global Beauty Market
Krill oil’s strong clinical backing, combined with its alignment with sustainable and holistic beauty trends, positions it as a compelling ingredient in the evolving global beauty landscape.
“This approval is an important milestone that recognizes the growing body of evidence supporting krill oil’s role in maintaining a healthy skin barrier,” said Dr. Line Johnsen, PhD, SVP Human Health & Nutrition R&D at Aker BioMarine. “Our research team has worked extensively to understand how phospholipid-bound omega-3s are utilized in the body, and this confirmation underscores the scientific foundation behind Superba Boost.”
Looking Ahead
As consumers continue to seek holistic approaches to beauty and wellbeing, Superba Boost® Krill Oil offers a clinically supported bridge between nutrition and aesthetics. Its integration into daily wellness routines provides a practical pathway to improving skin health from the inside out—while supporting overall systemic health.
With Japan’s first omega-3 skin health claim now in place, krill oil is set to play an increasingly influential role in the future of beauty from within.
