What are Antioxidants?

Antioxidants help fight Free Radical Damage.  Free Radicals are a normal occurrence, every time you breathe in oxygen there are Free Radicals created.

Free Radicals are cells that have one electron attached. To be stable, they require two electrons, and will steal the second from a healthy cell.  Once the Free Radical is satisfied, this leads to the death and putrefication of the once healthy cell. 

This once healthy cell is now a weak spot, a place of damage, aging and possible cancer growth.  This process is the same in the skin as well as the rest of the organs of the body.  So by introducing Antioxidants into the body and skin we can fight this damage.

Antioxidants enter the scene...

As Antioxidants enter the system they are surrounded by a large group of positively charged electrons.  The Free Radicals are naturally attracted to this positive charge and will steal the needed electron from the large group around the Antioxidant. This satisfies the Free Radicals needs without killing an otherwise healthy cell.

Where do we find Antioxidants?  

Antioxidants are something that we all have heard a lot about lately. We know that we can eat a long list of foods like blueberries, pomegranates, or mangosteens as a source of these Antioxidants, and there are also supplements that can supply us when these foods are not available.

Are these foods and supplements enough to protect the skin as well?

It is Ironic that while the skin is the largest organ, it's the last one to be feed the nutrition that we take into the body. This makes it necessary to topically apply Antioxidants to the skin to provide the full benefit.

Topical Antioxidants have many sources.  Here are some of the ingredients you should be looking for in your skin care.

• Active Vitamin C
• Ferulic Acid
• Alpha Lipoic Acid
• Citric Acid
• Coenzyme Q10
• Vitamin E

They can found in all these difference skin care products.

• Cleansers
• Toners
• Moisturizers
• Serums
• Sunscreens

                  **The least effective of these are cleansers, due to the fact that they are on the skin for such a short time.

Now you know what Antioxidants are and why they are so important.

Check in next time to see what else some of these Antioxidants can do!!

Catherine Sir, Master Esthetician and Educator

As always let me know if you have any questions, or comments on this blog. 

You can always reach me at... www.believableskincare.com

See you next time!!! Catherine