It was an interesting read, but many of the claims are not clinically supported. The gold standard for clinical trials are randomized controlled trial , I understand this is not a scientific paper, but it can be deceiving to make such claims without the correct disclaimers.

There are some really helpful advices, but I don't think I'd recommend this book to someone looking for a scientific perspective.

★★★½
The Beauty Molecule seduced me with its promise of cellular rejuvenation, then overwhelmed me with biochemistry before finally delivering its goods. Perricone's obsession with acetylcholine feels like both revelation and rabbit hole—I found myself alternately enlightened and exhausted. When he finally breaks through the science fog to share his personal regimen, I felt the same thrill I get opening a new serum.

His mind-beauty connection resonates in my bones, validating what my mirror has whispered for years: inflammation ages us faster than time itself. Yet I'm left wanting a shopping list! His mentions of hydrogen water and red light therapy tantalize without guidance. Despite this frustration, I highlighted countless pages, recognizing wisdom worth keeping. Not quite the beauty bible I wanted, but absolutely the science lesson my skincare shelf needed.

Great book for anyone who is looking to have amazing ski and reduce inflammation.
There is lots of scientific research being shared some of which might go over your head unless you are well versed. I know there were things that I had never heard of. He also shares a diet and exercise plan as a way to reduce inflammation, feel better and have better skin. But he of course is also selling you on his products that can be used to take your skin to the next step.
If you are looking for a deeper dive into longevity.

thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

This book is a must-read for anyone seeking real transformation, deep healing, and the freedom to live authentically.
An informative read by Dr. Perricone about an anti-inflammatory diet that is designed to nourish your skin, protect mitochondria—the key to preventing cellular aging—and boost overall health.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

This was so informative! I’ve used Perricone products in the past, but getting to read his words and advice was top notch. I am somewhat of a skincare junkie, so to know the science behind the products and what each one does was so beneficial. I loved hearing about his research and how he created the product, as well as what he pairs it with. I’m intrigued by all the other techniques he talked about, as well as his diet. If you need me, I’ll be meditating and making sure my skin care is on point!

If you’re intrigued by aging and anti-aging products, plus revolutionary products- I’d check this one out!

If you're looking for this book to be the answer to the Fountain of Youth, be prepared for a complicated, meandering path. It turns out, the beauty molecule, or acetylcholine, is influenced by a lot of things, and there is not just one thing you can do to enhance that neurotransmitter. In fact, if you are doing what my doctor suggests every time I see her - cut out sugar, cut out carbs, exercise, stay hydrated - you are halfway to a cure for aging.

The first half of the book is very scientific and explains how and why different supplements and routines work on the body. To me, it's a given that inflammation is the most damaging thing to our bodies, and this book aims to describe many of the things you can do to target, and maybe reverse inflammation in the body. One of the things I noted was the small sample sizes of the experimental groups. The second half is more accessible to the lay person and presents Dr. Perricone's own daily routine (which seems like a full-time job in itself) and goes into detail about how light, meditation, exercise, nutrition and topicals can help you retain muscle tone, health and a youthful appearance.

I was disappointed because the arc I received mentioned a resource list which was not included. The finished hardback I received removed the mention of resources and there was none included in the appendix. So while believe certain things could be beneficial (red light therapy, hydrogen water) I would love to know reputable products and vendors.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for an advanced readers eBook and finished copy.

Final Review

Review summary and recommendations

I decided to read this book because it talksa lot about aging and inflammation. As a person who always wrestling with inflammation, and with two aging parents, I thought this would be an insightful read– an antiaging breakthrough from a renowned MD (he goes on a bit about his credentials, but who can blame him?)

To be honest, I found the biochemistry in some sections too high-level for me to access. I think it's good he included these discussions though-- they amount to his bona fides for the scientific claims he's making, which I did find both accessible and helpful.

I thought the sections on nutrition, exercise, and fasting to be completely demystifying. The science I learned about person care in this book made me recommitted to making choices that make my body and brain healthier. He makes a few lifestyle suggestions, like meditation and deep breathing, an anti-inflammatory approach to food, accessible ideas on exercise, and recommendations for supplements.

I recommend this one for people interested in anti-aging breakthroughs, natural self-care, or holistic medicine.

Rating: ⚗️⚗️⚗️.5 /5 medical experiments
Recommend? yes!
Finished: Apr 9 '25
Format: accessible digital arc, NetGalley
Read this book if you like:
🌱 natural health
🏥 holistic wellness
🪞 anti-aging advice
💊 vitamins and supplements

Thank you to the author Dr. Nicholas Perricone, publishers St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for an accessible advance digital copy of THE BEAUTY MOLECULE. All views are mine.
---------------

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.

Expected publication date: Apr. 25, 2025

Dr. Nicholas Perricone is a practicing dermatologist and bestselling author of “The Wrinkle Cure”. His focus in this work, “The Beauty Molecule: Introducing Neuroceuticals, the Breakthrough for Ageless Beauty” is on the molecule of acetylcholine, which Perricone believes to be the molecule responsible for youthful appearance and vitality.

Through his own research, contributions from other medical professionals, and anecdotes from those who have first-hand experience, Dr. Perricone blends chemistry and physiology together to create the ideal recipe for longevity and youthfulness. Obviously, readers can assume that diet, exercise, nutritional supplements and meditation play a part, but Dr. Perricone goes so far as to explain why they are important, and the exact combinations for ultimate success.

I found Perricone’s connection between inflammation and aging to be fascinating, albeit technical. Meditation and I are fickle friends, so I didn’t put too much stock or pay too much attention to that section. Dr. Perricone not only advocates for his own products, but he shares his diet and exercise plan with readers to be completely honest and upfront. So, yes, prepare for Perricone to push and peddle his own products but it is his book after all.

There is a lot of scientific language in this book, especially when it comes to chemical compounds and the like. But overall, “Molecule” is digestible and, although many parts are common sense, Dr. Perricone takes it one step further to explain all of the “why’s” and “how’s” and, of course, he supplies the science to back it up.

As mentioned, “Molecule” won’t really provide you with anything that you don’t already know, but the specific details are helpful. Perricone has earned quite the reputation, with his popular skin care products and bestselling books, and he is more than qualified to present the scientific side of things as well.

“Molecule” is more scientific than self-help, but it does contain parts of both. Highly recommended for anyone who has an interest in the chemical makeup of their bodies and brains and who wants to learn more about how our lifestyle affects our appearance and energy levels.

Dr. Perricone's newest book is centered on the neurotransmitter acetylecholine (ACh), which he dubs "The Beauty Molecule." Dr. P. believes this molecule repairs damaged cells, enhances memory and cognition via the central nervous system, and reduces inflammation via the parasympathetic nervous system. Dr. P advocates for certain supplements, like DMAE, and certain foods (animal-based products, cruciferous veggies, certain beans, nuts, seeds and whole grains, all rich in choline) to influence the production of ACh. He calls for readers to reduce the intake of any inflammatory foods to improve healthy outcomes.

Part of the book is Dr. P's professional history and early observations that inflammation is foundational to many diseases, and not a "secondary response" to disease, as many in the medical community are taught and believe. If people want to look "beautiful" and youthful, they need to pay attention to inflammation and what food/supplements support development of ACh. He believes people's skin is a barometer of their inflammation and propensity to have disease and other aging symptoms.

I found the book to be very technical in vocabulary and style throughout. It reads like a scientific text about your body at a cellular level. Thankfully, Dr. P balances that with simple directions like how to do a "3-day facelift" and specific dietary recommendations. He goes in depth on why certain foods are recommended and what they do to the body (hint: olive oil is liquid gold!). If the reader wanted to post-it mark certain pages to reference for day to day diet/supplement choices, I think it would be helpful. Overall I found I could digest only a bit at a time because of the scientific writing style, but I highlighted many sections in my kindle copy!

Long story short, readers would be wise to follow his advice at any level to delay or eliminate many of the worst parts of aging, including movement disorders, disease and improving how we look. We all want to look good, and in another generation, things like Dr. P write about will be dialed into a specific medical specialty (this is already happening: anti-aging doctors). Health-oriented readers will definitely find something worthwhile in this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

While most of the info (things you should do and not do) probably won't suprise you, he covers more of the science behind it, holistic and broadly addressing all elements of lifestyle.

"The Beauty Molecule" is a frank and informative piece on beauty and health. I would recommend this for any health/skincare/beauty aficionado. It's also a great place to start if you're looking for a simple list of changes you can make in your life, or even shopping list.

The first book in ten years from #1 New York Times bestselling author Nicholas Perricone, M.D. introduces the beauty molecule—acetylcholine (AcH)—and delivers a program anyone can put into practice today to begin seeing benefits to their skin and overall health in 21 days. This is a new book about beauty molecule and you will get a lot of insight.

This book was so informative. I feel like I learned so much! Normally, I can’t get through an informative book, I always wind up losing interest. This book not only kept me locked in, but I retained so much of the information. I love recommending this book to people because the information is useful and I know whoever picks up this book will be happy they read it!

"The Beauty Molecule" by Dr. Nicholas Perricone

If you’re walked into a Sephora, or you’ve Googled in the last two decades for ways to become healthier, it’s probably safe to say that you have heard of Nicholas Perricone, also known as Dr. Perricone M.D.

Yes, it’s the same scientist who has devoted his life to studying optimal health and longevity, and the one-and-the-same with the skincare line (Perricone M.D. Skincare, for those of you wondering). Nicholas Perricone, M.D., has already penned several books back in the early 2000s which include (but are not limited to) "The Perricone Prescription" and "The Wrinkle Cure." With his new book slated for release in 2025, Perricone reveals in "The Beauty Molecule" the extensive length and research he has personally taken to discover new ways to become healthier.
Perricone shares with us his findings in “The Beauty Molecule” and the significance and impact of a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine (ACh) or fondly dubbed the beauty molecule. In a nutshell, the more you have of this beauty molecule in your body, the better your body is able to repair your central nervous system (all things memory and cognition), as well as your parasympathetic nervous system. Both are key in your overall physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing.

All of the major points of the book ultimately boil down to one key idea: to achieve optimal health (whether that’s fantastic skin, lean muscle, improved strength, better immune system, etc.), you must ensure that inflammation in the body is treated from the inside out.
According to Perricone, inflammation is what ultimately causes signs of aging, the breakdown of muscle and overall flexibility, as well as your mental and cognitive health. For the science-illiterate readers like me out there, Perricone explains very clearly and easily in “The Beauty Molecule” what steps you can take to achieve certain changes in your body and health. Perricone not only makes specific recommendations for particular supplements and exercise movements, but explains what each of them do and what benefit they bring to you.

I am not an annotator, but my copy of this book has been digitally earmarked all over the place, and there are notably three different sections in the book that they’re particularly clustered. One is on the the importance of circadian rhythms and the everyday choices we make that hinder our circadian rhythm. The second is the detailed list of supplements he recommends, where I noted particular ones that I can incorporate as a ‘beginner’ without breaking the bank. The third are dietary recommendations and specific recommended sources of nutrition. As a reader who has tested out some (not all!) of Perricone’s suggested lifestyle and dietary changes- purely in the name of better sleep (i.e. no screens at least one hour before bed, decreased caffeine intake, more conscious movement)- I have seen a marked improvement in my sleep, particularly in the amounts of REM and deep/core sleep as recorded on my Apple Watch. This is an improvement I observed only with a few minor changes made that were very easy to do without thinking too much about it.

Above all, I appreciate Dr. Perricone’s “The Beauty Molecule” for its frank and information-benefits-all approach. Health is wealth, and should be shared as such!! I would recommend this for any health and skincare/beauty aficionados. It's also a great place to start if you're looking for a simple list of changes you can make in your life, or even a shopping list.

★★★★
J

I understand acetylcholine and love that it is something that an MD homes in on as the fountain of youth. I don’t know if everything is fact based in this book but I enjoyed it!

This was a good book! I do think it was pretty chock full of information, a bit overloaded with info at times so it made it very dense and hard to read. It was a bit strongly opinionated as everyone's skin is different and not 1 product works the same way for everyone. So i felt like it was being pushy.

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complementary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

I've used Dr. Perricone's products before, so this was an interesting read. A lot of the advice is common sense, but I learned a great deal, and I like the approach he took to explaining everything. I think you should take his own product recommendations with a grain of salt (as we all should with any recommendations that benefit the writer of the book.) That said, one can't argue that he does tons of research, and we should all start started younger paying attention to, and caring for our skin.

I really enjoyed this book.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for a digital ARC of this title in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

#NetGalley #StMartinsPress #DrPerricone #NicholasPerricone #TheBeautyMolecule

Overall, I think this book is a really good resource for finding new diets that include certain molecules that are said to help. Dr. Perricone also goes in detail on different antioxidants and compounds that help keep you looking good and feeling good. I am pleased to say I take DMAE, NAC, and phenylalanine. I don’t want to make a recommendation on supplements, but the Acetylcysteine in NAC was the most life-changing results. It boosts glutathione which in turn completely stopped my nail-biting (after 30+ years!) and stopped obsessive and compulsive behaviors.
I like how for each compound Dr. Perricone also includes how we can get those nutrients in our diets. He also explains how each antioxidant/ compound helps your health in a way that is easy to read and understand.
What I don’t like is the way he pushes two things - the axulin (the website doesn’t even work) & his hydrogen water. The reports on hydrogen water seem to be inconclusive and/or have small sample sizes.
I would recommend this book to people looking to better their health by learning about molecules and how they can help us. There are also other healthy lifestyle tips.

I definitely found some interesting information in The Beauty Molecule but I found myself skimming the science explanations. While it was valuable to understand the why, it was a bit of a slog. I also don't agree with the fasting instructions as I don't believe (from what other experts have said previously) that it is safe for me. I will be looking for some of these supplements in the future. Missing from the advanced copy is the coveted resource list however. Thank you to St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was fine as far as intros to healthy lifestyle go, but if you've watched a lot of YouTube videos you'll know a lot of the info in this book already. Waking up early, getting sun on your face and exercising first thing, intermittent fasting, meditation and yoga, etc. A lot of the advice assumes you are living a dependent-free lifestyle or someone else is taking care of your children, which makes me skeptical about whether results are actually tied to the changes or whether you just don't age as fast when you don't have the added stress of children! The actual beauty molecule seems to be in a product the author sells through a skincare line so I would need to do more personal research before I believed the claims. I'm just always skeptical about topicals that claim to change your skin because if they actually changed your body they would need to be regulated by the FDA. Overall it was a well-written book and I actually think that it could be useful for older generations (ie. Get X or Boomer) who maybe aren't as aware of the health trends that are going around. I do actually think the advice in the book in relation to lifestyle is good, and I though adding actual exercise and meditation techniques was a nice touch.