Are you looking for healthy, radiant, younger looking skin? If so, look no further. In order to achieve a vibrant, glowing complexion, understanding the basics of free radicals and how important antioxidants are is essential for optimal skin health. As you age, the cumulative exposure to free radicals causes the visible signs of aging and the decline in your skin’s health. Nourishing skin with powerful antioxidants from the inside and outside will help leave your skin healthy, beautiful and younger looking.

What are free radicals and what do they do?

Did you know that our bodies are under continuous attack by free radicals (highly reactive atoms that damage cells in the body)? You encounter free radicals every day. For example: over-exposure to sun, toxins in food, water and air, through second hand smoke, car fumes, microwaving and even stress can create free radicals. On the inside, free radical damage is implicated in various diseases including cancers, degenerative diseases, and inflammatory illnesses as well as the aging process itself . Free radical damage to skin can cause fine lines, wrinkles, loss of tone and hyperpigmentation.

How Antioxidants Can Help

Antioxidants help the body protect itself from the danger of free radical attack. Antioxidants are specific vitamins, minerals, or nutrients that inactivate free radicals before they can damage cells. Hundreds of antioxidants exist; some, such as Alpha Lipoic Acid, the body produces whereas others, such as vitamins E and C, we must consume. They each function slightly differently but work together synergistically to keep the body and skin healthy.

How Antioxidants Influence Skin

To maintain healthy, youthful skin we must ensure that our skin has enough antioxidants to adequately protect itself. Because skin is fed by blood stream, we can deliver these antioxidants through a healthy, balanced diet with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables and taking an antioxidant supplement orally. However, according to Dr. Lester Packer, Founder of Packer Lab at UC Berkley (that specializes in antioxidant research) and author of The Antioxidant Miracle, applying antioxidants topically is the fastest way to help support and protect your skin, “Although taking oral supplements will help to boost the amount of antioxidants in your skin, the direct application of antioxidants to the skin is a much faster way to increase the level of antioxidants.”

Furthermore, countless studies demonstrate the protective effects of topical antioxidants. A study conducted in Germany measured the effects of antioxidants on skin structure in two groups. In the first group, volunteers applied a 3% ascorbic acid (vitamin C) emulsion daily. The second group used a placebo crème containing no active ingredients. Skin analysis following one month of treatment found improved microstructure of the skin in the group using the vitamin C emulsion; after two months, a reduction of facial wrinkles was noticed in the same group. Studies in France using a 5% vitamin C crème substantiate these results. In a study using Green Tea, topical application before UV exposure helped protect against photoaging and skin cancers. Other numerous studies have also demonstrated that topical antioxidants reduce inflammation.

Antioxidants Applied Topically

Topical antioxidants are the fastest and most effective way to counteract skin’s age damage caused by free radicals. Applying crèmes and serums rich in antioxidants optimize the health of the skin and help guard against environmental stress, diminish fine lines and wrinkles, soothe inflammation, even skin tone and improve texture and elasticity. Anti-aging skincare products include antioxidant-rich ingredients such as Olive Oil, Green Tea, Pomegranate, Vitamins C and E, Pycnogenol®, Astaxanthin, Alpha Lipoic Acid, Cranberry Oil, Ester-C®, Ginkgo Biloba Extract, Grapeseed Oil and Milk Thistle Extract.

• Olive - Clinical studies have shown that olive oil provides potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties when applied topically. Additionally, it has been discovered that some of the most important active compounds found in the oil, fruit, and leaves of the beautiful olive tree, protect against photodamage from UV exposure and demonstrate antibacterial and antifungal properties.
• Pomegranate – Rich in antioxidants and nutrients, pomegranate extracts contain anti-inflammatory and anti-aging benefits to help prevent fine lines, firm the skin’s epidermis and reduce free radical damage. Additionally, pomegranate helps provide a natural protection from the sun and reverse the effects of sun damage.
• Green Tea Extract - In addition to its antioxidant benefits, Green Tea is an anti-inflammatory and antibacterial, and helps protect against UVA and UVB radiation damage caused by the sun.
• Pycnogenol® - Harvested from the bark of the French Maritime Pine, this antioxidant is 50 times more powerful than Vitamin E and 20 times more powerful than Vitamin C. Pycnogenol® helps protect against UVB rays, strengthens capillaries, and works synergistically with Vitamin C to encourage collagen growth, resulting in smoother, more supple skin.
• Astaxanthin® - Harvested from micro algae, this complex, powerful antioxidant is 500 times more powerful than Vitamin E making it the most potent antioxidant yet discovered. Astaxanthin® protects the skin from UVA and UVB rays and has anti-inflammatory properties that enhance the activity of defensive cells.
• Ester-C® - This patented stable form of Vitamin C blends essential minerals such as calcium, zinc, and metabolites to work synergistically with Vitamin C so it can penetrate the tough epidermis and work to facilitate collagen and elastin fiber regrowth for healthy, firm skin.
• Alpha Lipoic Acid - This “universal antioxidant” protects all portions of the skin’s cellular structure helping deactivate a wide array of cell damaging free radicals and recycling other antioxidants, making them much more effective.

In learning the basics of free radical damage and the power of antioxidants, you now have the tools necessary to help make the right choices in order to achieve healthy, younger looking skin. Be sure your crèmes and serums contain effective levels of the appropriate antioxidants for your specific skincare needs to help you put your best face forward each and every day!