WHAT ARE ANTIOXIDANTS?

Antioxidants are chemicals designed to protect your body’s cells by neutralizing internal and external forces that produce free radicals. Free radicals destructive and unstable oxygen molecules that seek to restabalize by taking electrons from other atoms. When free radicals attack healthy skin cells, they cause the cell to decay. They are believed to cause aging, cancer, even cardiovascular disease.

Free radicals are produced whenever the body “heats up” or burns fuel. When things burn, they are damaged. Our skin expresses that damage as unsightly wrinkles, uneven pigmentation and loss of tone and moisture.

Destructive free radicals are caused by everyday activities like breathing, eating and exercising, or anything that stresses the body — causing adrenalin related chemicals to be produced which in turn decrease blood flow to your skin. Outside factors such as air pollution, sun exposure and cigarette smoke also contribute to free radicals. Of course, you can’t stop eating, breathing and going outside. But you can take measures to protect your skin with topical antioxidants such as vitamins A, C and E, green tea and other antioxidant compounds found in skin care creams and lotions.

Do lotions and creams really make a difference? Science certainly supports the protective factors of antioxidants applied topically. For instance, the antioxidants vitamins C ane E and Selenium have been proven to decrease the effects of the sun on the skin and have been shown to prevent further damage. Regular application is highly recommended for protecting your skin from oxidation (free radical damage). In addition, topical antioxidants provide a degree of protection against environmental damage to your skin and may be effective in slowing down the aging process.

Whether your goal is to preserve your youthful skin, or perhaps manage uneven pigment, poor skin tone, fine lines, enlarged pores, sagginess, or wrinkles, you can easily improve the health and vitality of your complexion with the use of various types of topical antioxidants.