Antioxidants are popular beauty buzzwords found in numerous health and wellness products and a favorite of fitness gurus and health professionals. These super ingredients boast impressive health properties that aren’t just good for you - they can help to promote a glowing, radiant complexion.
We’ll explain what antioxidant properties are, how they relate to skincare, and how you can add them to your skincare routine to give your skin the protection it needs. It all starts with understanding oxidative stress.
What Is Oxidative Stress?
Oxidative stress, also known as free radical damage, is caused by the onslaught of free radicals that interfere with skin cells function. Some free radical damage comes from inside our bodies, which is normal, but most free radicals come from external sources.
What Are Free Radicals?
Molecules make up our cells and like to have an even number of electrons. When molecules are unbalanced, they have an odd number of electrons and become unstable. These unstable molecules are called free radicals.
Free radicals are constantly searching for other electrons, and they find them on the molecules of healthy cells, like the ones in your skin. When they find them, they take them, which leaves the skin cell damaged.
What Does Oxidative Stress Look Like?
The damage done to skin cells by free radicals is called oxidative stress. Oxidative stress may appear as prematurely aged skin, with an increase in fine lines, wrinkles, dark spots, and uneven skin tone. You may also notice a rough skin texture, areas of skin irritation, or a loss of fullness in the skin.
Where Do Free Radicals Come From?
Some free radicals are located inside your body, but most free radicals are found in the environment. Free radicals come from sources like:
- Ultraviolet rays from the sun
- Blue light from screens (like your laptop, tv or smart phone)
- Household cleaning solutions and chemicals
- Pesticides
- Pollution and smog
- Cigarette smoke (including second-hand smoke)
Protecting your skin from free radicals requires smart lifestyle choices (like wearing sunscreen and avoiding pollution and cigarette smoke) and using antioxidants to prevent and fight free radical damage.
What Are Antioxidants?
Thankfully, we aren’t without a defense against free radicals. Antioxidants are compounds that support our skin cell health during free radical damage. Incorporating antioxidants into your skincare routine is surprisingly simple and effective.
What Are Antioxidants?
Antioxidants are naturally occurring, but can also be provided by manmade compounds to support our skin cells’ resistance to oxidative stress from free radicals. The most commonly used antioxidants in skincare come from essential vitamins like vitamins C, E, and A.
How Do Antioxidants Work?
In the body, antioxidants offer one of their electrons to free radicals, preventing the free radical from ‘stealing’ an electron from a skin cell molecule. Because antioxidants cause the skin to age prematurely, topical antioxidants can help keep your skin looking youthful.
Where Do Antioxidants Come From?
Plants are a rich source of natural antioxidants. Vitamin C, for instance, is a potent antioxidant found in many fruits and vegetables, especially citrus fruits. This particular antioxidant also supports your skin’s ability to make more collagen, which can keep it youthful and firm. Fruit extracts and green tea are other potent sources of antioxidants commonly used in topical skincare.
While it’s always best to talk to a board-certified dermatologist before changing your skincare routine or adding new ingredients, especially if you have sensitive skin, antioxidants are known to be gentle and largely safe for skin health.
What Are the Benefits of Antioxidants?
One of the best ways to ward off premature aging is by using antioxidant-rich skincare. Using antioxidants on your skin topically will reap serious skin benefits.
Offer Brightening Benefits
Skin that isn’t renewing as quickly often looks dull and lackluster. Antioxidants (especially vitamin C and niacinamide (vitamin B3) help to restore skin, support skin cell turnover, and help support an even skin tone. NuFACE Super Antioxidant Booster serum is an excellent source of antioxidant power that is easy to incorporate into your existing skincare routine. Just a few drops provide a powerful shield of antioxidant protection derived from green tea and superfruit blend.
Minimize the Look of Pigmentation Issues
Dark spots from photodamage can make your skin tone uneven and hard to cover up. Laser therapies may be an option, but if you’re looking for a non-invasive treatment, antioxidants can help. Vitamin E, for instance, is often used to help reduce the appearance of dark spots and help skin look more even and balanced.
Provide Skin Barrier Protection
The uppermost layer of your skin is referred to as the skin barrier. This protective layer helps prevent moisture loss and protects the deeper layers of the skin. Antioxidants help ensure that the skin barrier is strong and helps maintain an ideal pH balance.
Minimize the Look of Fine Lines and Wrinkles
Antioxidants help flood your skin with ingredients supporting their ability to begin collagen and elastin production. Unfortunately, collagen and elastin production begins to decline as we age, which can result in visible signs of aging, like wrinkles and lines.
Support Skin Texture
Sometimes our skin feels out of balance, with areas that are too oily or even rough patches that never seem to have enough hydration. Using natural antioxidants in your skincare products is an easy way to help you regain balance.
Antioxidants can help keep skin hydrated; some even work as emollients to soften the skin and keep it supple.
How Can You Start Using Antioxidants in Your Skincare Routine?
Adding antioxidants into your daily skincare routine is simple with NuFACE. We combine clinical-grade ingredients with antioxidants for results that are visible and dramatic.
NuFACE Super Antioxidant Booster Serum enhances microcurrent when used before your Microcurrent Activator, while treating skin with a rich blend of antioxidant ingredients that fight oxidative stress.
Protect and Shine
Your skin was meant to be beautiful at any age. Unfortunately, external aggressors can rob your skin of its glow. Using the right products with powerful antioxidants can help protect your skin and keep it looking healthy and for years to come.
Sources:
Oxidative Stress in Aging Human Skin | PMC
