What are Antioxidants? Are They Good for Your Skin?

August 2, 2021

What Exactly Am I Buying Into When I Buy Products With Antioxidants?

Have you ever seen metal rust and weaken when left outside? Well, then you've seen free radical damage. This is oxidation.

Something that prevents this rusting is called an antioxidant; it stops this rusting and corrosion from happening.

Why should I care about oxygen?

This rusting I used as an example, oxygen does this and this rust is free radical damage. Inside you body, an antioxidant is a molecule that has the ability to counteract the harmful effects of oxidation by neutralizing these free radicals, which are the cause of aging.

For example, when your skin gets sunburned this causes oxidative stress caused by UVB rays, which leads to inflammation and cell damage...and ultimately leads to free radical damage which leads to aging.

An antioxidant is a neutralizing molecule which sort of cleans up these free radicals in a way to completely neutralize them and render them harmless, and protecting your skin and body from aging.

Oxidative Stress Occurs:

In your body
In your skin
In your food
Your makeup
In hair products
All of your life, etc

Antioxidants reduce this oxidation in many ways:

They can scavenge for these damaging molecules
Regenerate other antioxidants within the cell (such as vitamin C)
Serve as cofactors with enzymes that are responsible for neutralizing enzyme activity.

Human Nature on Antioxidants

The problem is that our cells cannot produce enough antioxidants on their own to counteract the harmful effects of oxidative stress. This is why we have to get our antioxidants from external sources, such as food or skin care products.

Fortunately, there are many different types of antioxidants and in a variety of forms: these include vitamins A, C and E; CoQ10 and glutathione (found within the body) and phytochemicals such as resveratrol (found in red wine), anthocyanins (red pigments found in plants). The best thing about all these antioxidants? They may improve skin’s appearance by reducing fine lines, wrinkles, hyperpigmentation ́and other signs of aging!

A great example is Vitamin C, which can be found in a variety of fruits and vegetables such as citrus fruits (lemon, orange and grapefruit), pineapples, kiwis and the skin of red peppers. Vitamin C has been shown to reduce inflammation caused by UV exposure through its anti-inflammatory properties.

In fact, an application of 10% Topical Vitamin C shows the skin-protecting ability to reduce UVB-induced redness by 52% and sunburn by 40-60%.

Even though Vitamin C (Vit. C) alone can provide UV protection, it works best in conjunction with Vitamin E (Vit. E), which bumps up the skin-protecting action of Vit. C four-fold.

A combination of 0.5% ferulic acid (a potent antioxidant of plant origin) with 15% Vit. C and 1% Vit. E can increase the efficacy of Vit. C eight-fold. To get this triple effective combo for yourself, try Photoszyme Vitamin C + E Ferulic Acid Serum with DNA.

Another great example, Vitamin E, which can be found in almonds, spinach, broccoli and sunflower seeds, that by applying a mixture of vitamins A and E on the skin every day for eight weeks improved fine lines by 3 percent when compared to placebo. This is because it’s an excellent antioxidant that works as a scavenger for free radicals; these are molecules that tend to cause damage within cells due to their highly reactive nature.

Glutathione is the "Big Daddy" of antioxidants and protects your body, and your skin very well, from the inside out. Getting more of it into your cells and throughout your body is key. LipoNaturals Liposomal Glutathione with Vitamin C is a terrific way to give yourself an enormous anti-aging benefit from the inside out.

Taken as a supplement, Vitamin C + E, along with Beta-carotene, zinc and Copper, improve visual function by reducing Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and cataracts. Both the National Institute of Health and Ophthalmology peer-reviewed medical journals.

The Uber Antioxidants

Red Algae - Found along rocky ocean shores,Red Algae actually starts out green, becoming a purplish-red as it matures. Its polyphenol and flavonoid extracts are considered highly effective against DNA damaging UV sun exposure. Red algae has several other benefits that can help compromised skin, including antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-microbial, antibiotic and free radical fighting properties.

Reg Algae's antioxidant protection can be found in:

Jojoba Oil - Actually a liquid wax, Jojoba oil is derived from the seed of this desert plant. Persons undergoing any kind of cancer treatments particularly need the skin to be hydrated and moisturized. The molecular structure of jojoba oil is the closest to our own skin’s sebum, which allows it to be easily absorbed and to restore the skin’s natural oil balance without clogging pores. Because Jojoba oil contains polyphenols, composed of approximately 3% tannins and 0.5% phytosterols, which will help reduce inflammation and itchiness. Jojoba oil has other benefits that can help fragile skin, including antibacterial, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-aging, anti-viral and free-radical fighting properties.

Jojoba Oil can be found in:

Black Rice - Depending on the extraction point of the plant, black rice contains anthocyanins, polyphenols and flavonoids. Recent studies have reported that an anthocyanin-rich extract from black rice inhibits breast cancer cell growth (when taken internally). Based on its internal abilities, black rice is starting to appear in topical products for its antioxidant properties and to help reduce by Kris Campbell scrutinizing labels skin| continues By offering UV protection, antioxidant and antibacterial properties, many of the skin conditions that arise can be calmed. Black rice has several other benefits that can help someone diagnosed with cancer, including antiviral, antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-aging, UV protection, moisturizing, anti-microbial and free-radical fighting properties.

Products with Black Rice include;

Hale and Hush - Hush Hydrate Gel

Green Tea - Contains high levels of polyphenols, studies have shown that Green Tea may help certain types of cancer. The most potent polyphenol in green tea is epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) (sometimes called epigallocatechin-3-gallate). EGCG has several other benefits that can help someone with sensitive and fragile skin, including antiviral, antioxidant, antibacterial, antimicrobial, anticarcinogenic, anti-aging, anti-inflammatory and free-radical fighting properties, as well as UV protection.

Try Green Tea in these popular skin care products:

Broccoli - Polyphenols, flavonoids, and anthocyanins can all be extracted from broccoli. Studies on the benefits of broccoli, both internal and external, have shown that it can strengthen health-challenged skin. There is also evidence of positive results with broccoli providing UV when it is added to a topical formulation. Broccoli has several other benefits that can help someone with challenged skin, including: antioxidant, anti-microbial, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, anti-viral, anti-aging, hydrating and free-radical fighting properties, as well as UV protection.

Fro Broccoli's protection, try:

Anthocyanins, polyphenols and flavonoids appear to be a great new class of ingredients that cover a broader spectrum of the needs that affect people with challenged skin, whether they are going through cancer treatment, navigating an autoimmune response.

This is great knowledge, but is there a product that contains all the ingredients above?

Glad you asked!

Yes, Hale and Hush specifically engineered products with that in mind. In addition, their products are designed with a "micro-delivery system" which allows for easy absorption by the skin.

Can your skin benefit from antioxidants?

You betcha!

The earliest cosmetics where people rubbing the pulp of fruits and vegetable into their skins and onto their faces...and this works. Perhaps not as effective as modern cosmetic chemistry, yet substantial enough to demonstrate the effectiveness of this proto-skin care.

Protecting and restoring your youthful appearance with uber antioxidants, exquisitely formulated in your skincare products deliver maximum anti-aging and youth-protecting skin care.

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