As we age, our skin will start to lose its elasticity. This is a natural part of the aging process which can be slowed down with a nutrient-rich diet and a good skincare routine. Many factors cause the skin to age at an accelerated rate. And the result can be premature aging and a dull complexion caused by free radical activity. These free radicals are molecules produced by exposures to pollutants such as tobacco smoke and UV rays.
It’s believed that naturally occurring antioxidants may be the key to providing protection against the damaging effects of these free radicals. Not only on our skin but in the body’s cells too.
Antioxidants are a staple ingredient in the modern-day cosmetic industry and are also being studied for their medicinal potential.
The chemical peel, for instance, is full of antioxidant goodness with plenty of anti-aging potential when provided by a skin care specialist as part of your regular skincare routine. We’ve linked a video here if you’d like to know more about the different types of chemical peels, their antioxidant potential and how they can improve your complexion.
There are heaps of powerful antioxidants that can be used beneficially to promote healthy, youthful skin. Still, here we’ll highlight just some of the most effective when it comes to achieving a flawless complexion.
Just like your body needs a range of nutrients to function correctly, our skin needs the right amount of antioxidants to remain youthful and keeps its glow.
Not only do antioxidants help combat environmental factors that destroy the skin but they calm the complexion, revitalizing dull-looking skin.
When it comes to anti-aging properties, antioxidants are an essential part of your skincare regimen. Read on, and we’ll explain just how easy it is to make them a part of your life.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is up there with the best of them when it comes to potent antioxidants. And is particularly useful in diminishing fine lines, wrinkles, and overall dullness. Vitamin C evens the skin tone and is a celebrated anti-aging ingredient suitable for all skin types.
Applied topically, vitamin C firms and smooths the complexion and improves an uneven skin tone. It’s instrumental in brightening lackluster skin giving you a visibly more radiant complexion. Like most antioxidants, vitamin C can also effectively calm and hydrate your face.
It’s an essential nutrient that comes from heaps of fruits and vegetables. Vitamin C is well known for its cold-fighting power. It is definitely an ally when it comes to preventing and reversing the signs of aging.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is the same as retinol, though retinol is in its concentrated form. Used regularly, it smooths out those fine lines, brightens the complexion and can drastically reduce acne.
Once you start your retinol routine, be prepare for a few weeks of dry, flaky skin. If you can deal with that, you’ll start to see some great results in 3 to 6 months. It’s best to build up to a nightly application gradually, but the results are totally worth it.
Retinol can often be found in moisturizers, serums, and chemical peels. But it’s best to check the percentage as some over the counter products aren’t strong enough to give the true benefits that retinol can offer.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E (tocopherol) occurs naturally in the skin and in foods like vegetables and meats. It boosts collagen production, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It’s also crucial for maintaining healthy nails and hair.
The skin benefits much more from topical treatments vitamin E rather than through oral supplements. Make sure to check labels carefully and look for alpha-tocopherol. In both its natural and synthetic form, vitamin E has significant antioxidant benefits for the skin, though it is more potent in its original structure.
Vitamin E keeps the skin soft and supple, which is crucial for preventing scar formation and combined with vitamin C, it’s a potent and effective anti-aging product. Vitamin E is an ingredient in sun protection as well since it helps defend against skin stress from UV rays. Though it’s not suitable to be used alone as sun protection.
Lycopene
Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant found in fruits and vegetables, giving them their red color. Tomato sauces used in many pasta dishes are an excellent source of lycopene and it’s exceptional for skin texture, promoting collagen. Lycopene also reduces the DNA damage that causes wrinkles. Since it is easily absorbed by the skin, you can take a lycopene supplement daily or apply topically like a cream.
Green Tea
Green tea has become a popular drink and ingredient in skincare over the last decade. As part of your skincare, it contains polyphenols, antioxidants that help renew damaged skin cells. Used topically, green tea can reduce sun damage by reducing inflammation and tackling free radicals. As a beverage, green tea has five times more catechins than black tea.
Applied to the face as a serum it can help with issues such as rosacea, psoriasis, and sensitive skin.
Resveratrol
The potent antioxidant resveratrol is a compound, which is commonly found in fruits, nuts and red wine. Some studies suggest that applied topically, resveratrol protects the skin’s surface and brightens the complexion.
Grapeseed
Grapeseed comes from Vitis vinifera and is rich in flavonoids. Proanthocyanidins are flavonoids and offer a stronger weapon against free radicals than vitamins C and E.
Vitamin B3
Niacinamide otherwise known as vitamin B3 has anti-inflammatory and depigmenting properties. It improves the texture and tone of the skin, as well as reducing fine lines, wrinkles and hyperpigmentation.
Antioxidants are naturally occurring vitamins and minerals with the potential to protect the skin from free radicals. These molecules in the environment that damage the skin cling to your collagen and weaken elasticity. Air pollutants and chemicals can destroy the complexion and antioxidants protect us from that damage.
Conclusion
Your skin needs a variety of antioxidants to really benefit from its protective and anti-aging properties. And in topical form, they can lose their effectiveness quickly, so an antioxidant-rich diet is a must as well.
Applied directly on to the skin antioxidants break down when exposed to light. So make sure you both consume them as part of a healthy diet and apply them to your skin as part of your regular skincare regimen. Used as a combination of food, supplements, and applications, they are a powerhouse in the fight against premature aging.
