You may have heard a lot about antioxidants if you’re into skincare, but what exactly are they? In summary, the word ‘antioxidant’ is sort of an umbrella term used to describe compounds that are able to impede free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules that are known to cause damage to your body’s cells when at high levels. This can subsequently cause a whole host of problems from premature dermal aging to cell membrane and DNA impairment, all of which are a result of chain reactions that occur on a chemical level within the body when free radicals come into contact with, and react to, other molecules. This process is known as oxidation. To really break antioxidants down to their bare bones, note ‘anti’ and ‘oxidant’.
Your body naturally produces some antioxidants already (glutathione and alpha lipoic acid, to name a couple), but it can’t produce vitamin C (yes, vitamin C is an antioxidant), which is why it’s important to seek antioxidants out via dietary sources in addition to your anti-aging products. In both plants and animals, antioxidants play a vital role in defending against oxidative and free radical-related damage. This is why they’re often utilized in skincare products – they offer dermal protection while boosting your overall skin health, which are essential aspects that help to make your skin appear more revitalized and youthful.
An example of antioxidants’ contribution towards better skin is vitamins C and E, both of which are classed as antioxidants and are integral to not just your dermal health, but that of your general well-being. Vitamin C is great for the skin – it helps to boost the production of collagen and, as such, promotes dermal elasticity and firmness. This is extremely useful if you’re looking to soften the appearance of wrinkles and improve the tone of your skin. Vitamin E, on the other hand, is responsible for safeguarding your body’s cell membranes from damage stemming from oxidative stress. This, in addition to its moisturizing capabilities, ensures that your skin’s hydration levels are maintained and inflammation is tackled head-on. The outcome of applying these two antioxidants is a smoother, plumper appearance with reduced redness and wrinkles.
Antioxidants are commonly split into groups like carotenoids, flavonoids and polyphenols, to name a few, based on their individual abilities and functions. A lot of antioxidants act like pigments in the fruit and veg you enjoy on a daily basis, and they also provide protection against environmental stressors. To put antioxidants into context in the skincare world, you might be familiar with seeing eye creams that are enriched with certain antioxidants. One of the reasons for this is because the skin around your eyes is delicate due to the fact that it’s much thinner than that found on the rest of your face. Such thinness is the reason behind why your eye area is not only prone to sensitivity, but also the first signs of aging. Antioxidants will not help to completely eradicate wrinkles here on their own, but they will work in conjunction with other ingredients to help protect this delicate area from oxidative stress and, therefore, may help to reduce the rate at which wrinkles appear here.
We hope this has helped you to understand antioxidants and their part in both skincare products and your general health. To find out more about certain antioxidants, free radicals and oxidative stress, here are links to our related articles below:
Happy beautifying!