Antioxidant Skin Care Power!
Antioxidant has been a skin care buzzword in the past decade. You hear about all sorts of skin care products infused with antioxidants: moisturizers, serums, foundations and even powders. But what are antioxidants, exactly, and can they really help your skin or are they just a marketing ploy?
Antioxidants are chemicals that protect cells by fighting free radicals. Free radicals occur when the skin is assaulted by excess sun, poor nutrition, and even stress. Antioxidants in skin care can do a lot for the health and appearance of your skin, including reducing the signs of aging. From calming acnegenic and inflamed skin to firming and reducing wrinkles, antioxidants offer great benefits from natural sources like green tea and berries to skin care products infused with Vitamins C and E.
Wrinkle Reduction
If wrinkles are a big concern, skin care products with antioxidants can help plump out the skin and make it appear more youthful. Vitamins C and E remain the top two antioxidants for reducing the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, which is why you’ll see many products and creams for use around the eyes or other problem areas incorporate these two powerhouses. You can also find high concentrations of Vitamin C in serums and Vitamin E in facial oils.
Sun Damage Treatment
Too much sun not only can cause skin cancer, but also doesn’t do your skin’s appearance any favors, either, since it dries it out and damages cells. Sun damage can make skin appear tough and wrinkly, but antioxidants stimulate blood flow in the skin, encouraging the growth of new cells and rejuvenating sun-damaged skin. Luckily, there are many antioxidant-rich cleansers and moisturizers available for treating sun damage that you can use on your entire body.
Skin Firming
Another top benefit of antioxidants in skin care beauty products is skin firming. Antioxidants may actually reverse the effects of aging by improving skin health and rejuvenating its appearance. One such common skin firming antioxidant is CoQ-10, which is added to eye creams and other products (including body lotions) that are meant to firm up the skin.
Antioxidants get a yes vote from us, so look for antioxidant-rich beauty products to treat lines and wrinkles, firm skin and reverse sun damage. Your skin will thank you.