What are antioxidants and how do they work?

If you’re at all in tune with the skincare world, we’re guessing you’ve heard of antioxidants and know that they’re good for your skin. But why? Let’s explore the truth about these small but mighty game-changers and how you can use them for your own good. Learn to use antioxidants and you’ll have your own secret weapon to defend against premature skin aging and glow naturally all year long.

Here’s a simple example to illustrate how this works; imagine leaving a slice of apple out on the counter. If you come back a day later, it’s brown and it has aged. But squeeze some lemon juice on it, and you’ll notice the apple is preserved. The way antioxidants preserve your skin is similar to the way a lemon preserves an apple.

Antioxi-what? 

To understand antioxidants, first we’ll need to talk about free radicals. These two work in tandem to create balance in the body on your skin. 

What are free radicals and how do they affect your skin’s aging process?

Your body is constantly forming free radicals. The balance between free radicals and antioxidants is essential, because when free radicals overproduce in the body, it can cause cancer or heart disease. Free radicals are also important in the body;they can help fight infection or aid the immune system. But when it comes to your skin, the balance between free radicals and antioxidants is just as important. When they’re not stable, free radicals can try to stabilize themselves and this can cause oxidative stress. Oxidative stress weakens your skin’s tissues and healthy cells. In summary, an excess of free radicals can cause premature skin aging and exacerbate signs of skin or sun damage on your complexion. Antioxidants stabilize free radicals to reduce this damage and prevent signs of aging.

Where do antioxidants come from?

Antioxidants come from a variety of sources, but are primarily found in fruits and vegetables. Skincare products with ingredients like resveratrol, vitamin C, vitamin E, or niacinamide contain antioxidant ingredients to protect, preserve, and defend your skin.

 

How can I use antioxidants?

We’d love to help you build a skincare plan that protects, renews, and restores your skin. From antioxidant serums to combination treatment plans that use the transforming power of peels or laser treatments to rebuild your skin, we’re here to help you achieve your best skin.

Contact us to book a consultation today!