The Antioxidant Advantage

Recently you may have heard a lot in the news about the health benefits of Antioxidants. But did you know that antioxidants have great benefits to the skin also? But what are they? What do they do? How do they work? and How can we get more of them?

Antioxidant molecules slows down, or even prevents, the oxidation of other molecules. When molecules in the body oxidize, they can create free-radicals, or cellular bi-products. It is very normal to have these free-radicals in the body, but in excess, they can wreak havoc on our cellular structures.

Free radicals can cause molecules in the skin cells to become unstable, because of the inherent instability of free-radicals, they try to attack other healthy cells to get stable themselves. This then causes the once-healthy cells to react in the same way, attacking others in an never-ending attempt for cellular stability. This can be damaging to the skin as well as inside the body.

FREE RADICALS = BAD GUYS ANTIOXIDANTS = GOOD GUYS

Oxidative damage plays a huge role in many of our modern-day diseases, such as muscle and tissue degeneration, heart disease, diabetes, cancer, as well as many other health problems. You are exposed to free radicals as a normal bi-product of regular bodily processes, like breaking down the food we eat, taking toxic medicines, as well as through exposure to pollutants. In addition, over-exposure to the sun (sunburn) and smoking can also increase your body’s need to oxidize and create free-radicals. Antioxidants stop this cellular chain reaction of oxidation by neutralizing the free radicals.

Eating antioxidant rich foods (the top 5 are berries, broccoli, garlic, green tea and tomatoes) is not enough for your skin. Your skincare regime should include at least one good antioxidant product. The most common antioxidant ingredients found in skincare are Vitamin C, Copper Peptides, Vitamin A, Vitamin E, Alpha Lipoic Acid, Zinc, Selenium and Green Tea.

AND YOU MUST REMEMBER TO USE A SUNSCREEN!

Antioxidant skincare products can prevent and correct wrinkles, have excellent anti-aging properties, help diminish age spots and improve skin elasticity.

Here at The Cosmetic Practice we have a wide range of products with great antioxidant benefits, we particluarly love the gloTherapeutics range which contains an exclusive antioxidant and vitamin formula across its whole range.

If you would like more information about antioxidant skincare or any skincare concerns, Contact us!