When it comes to skin care, antioxidants are some of the most sought-after ingredients. That’s because antioxidants help prevent damage to the skin caused by free radicals, which are unstable molecules that can make a person look much older.
But what exactly do antioxidants do? And how can you incorporate them into your own skincare routine? Here’s everything you need to know about the benefits of antioxidants for your skin. What are antioxidants?
Antioxidants are the opposite of free radicals. Where free radicals have a missing electron and are unstable, antioxidants have a extra electron and are stable. Antioxidants are the molecules that help to neutralize free radicals, thus minimizing the damage caused to tissue by free radicals. The most abundant antioxidants in food are vitamins A, C, and E.
The term “antioxidant” appears in food labels when a product contains at least 10% of a nutrient known to have great antioxidant properties. The most commonly used antioxidants are vitamin C and vitamin E. Vitamin C is water-soluble and vitamin E is fat-soluble.>
Which foods contain antioxidants?
Vitamin A, found in carrots and other orange food items, aids to preserve the health of your eyes. Vitamin C is important for wound-healing and collagen production. Vitamin E can be found in nuts and seeds.
Vitamin C is a water-soluble antioxidant that protects against free radicals which can damage cells. Vitamin E is a fat-soluble antioxidant that protects the body from cell interference to by preventing the action of free radicals. Vitamin C and vitamin E are available in various formats , such as tablets, capsules, powder, liquids and tubes .
By using products like moisturiser with antioxidants to scavenge free radicals, you can help protect your skin from some of the damage caused by free radicals. Antioxidants scavenge free radicals, helping you to prevent or repair some damage they cause to your skin cells. Studies show that antioxidants help protect your skin from free radical damage and, in some cases, even stimulate collagen production and improve skin elastin.
Antioxidants like vitamins A and C can help protect against free radical damage that can accelerate skin aging. The higher the level of antioxidants in a product, the better it will be able to protect skin from free radical damage. Sunscreens protect skin from UV rays and the damage they cause. Sunscreen ingredients work in two ways: physical sunscreens reflect or scatter UV radiation, while chemical sunscreens absorb it.
Physical sunscreens contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, while chemical sunscreens usually contain the active ingredient oxybenzone. Sunscreen is best applied at least 15 minutes before going outside so that it has time to fully absorb into skin. Use a generous amount, at least 1 ounce (2 tablespoons), and be sure to apply to all areas of exposed skin. Reapply every two hours, after swimming or excessive sweating, and immediately after towel drying. Avoid tanning beds. Overlapping UV rays emitted by tanning beds are more likely to cause skin cancer than those from the sun. If you must use a tanning bed, always wear protective eyewear.