I think it may have taken me a few years of being at Body Tonic to really GET why we need antioxidants, and to understand what they really do. Antioxidants and free radicals are mentioned all the time in product advertisements, but what are they really, and why do we care? Antioxidants neutralize free radicals, which are damaging to the your skin and contribute to the symptoms of aging.
First, what is a free radical? Here's how Live Science explains it (and by the way I LOVE their site!): "The body is under constant attack from oxidative stress. Oxygen in the body splits into single atoms with unpaired electrons. Electrons like to be in pairs, so these atoms, called free radicals, scavenge the body to seek out other electrons so they can become a pair. This causes damage to cells, proteins and DNA. Free radicals are associated with human disease, including cancer, atherosclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and many others. They also have a link to aging, which has been defined as a gradual accumulation of free-radical damage, according to Christopher Wanjek, the Bad Medicine columnist for Live Science."
Free radical damage in the skin can appear as changes in skin color, weakened or saggy skin, and wrinkles. These aging symptoms can be stopped with antioxidants which essentially neutralize the free radicals. It’s molecular magic. Antioxidants are like the superhero that comes to save you from the free radicals.
Antioxidants are generally in serum form and we have several options to choose from.
Benefits of antioxidants:
Help speed up the skin's natural repair process
Inhibit further damage from UV rays
Act as a preventative for further sun damage
Help your skin heal faster after laser or microneedling procedures
Help prevent sunburns
Which one is for you? Well we have four: Skin Ceutical’s CE Ferulic, Phloretin CF, and Resveratrol BE, and Skin Better’s Alto Defense. I use CE Ferulic because it suits my skin type. Heck I’ve used it for years, way before I knew it was good for me. I just liked that it made me look like I had a glow. If I felt I looked dull, I’d just slap that on my face and I was all better.
CE Ferulic contains vitamins C and E as well as ferulic acid.
It is good for:
Dry Skin
Combination Skin
Normal Skin
It helps:
Improve firmness
Replenishes lipids
Reduces wrinkles
Brightens complexion
Is effective for 72 hours without reapplying
Protects again UVA, UVB and infrared radiation A, making it a great compliment to SPF
Skin Ceuticals has a lot of proven science behind making the Vitamin C in CE Ferulic stable and effective in penetrating the skin. It not only increases the Vitamin C level in your skin but it also provide’s eight times your skin’s natural barrier against environmental pollution.
Resveratrol BE
I’m guessing the red wine drinkers out there have heard of resveratrol and its anti-aging benefits. This is a first-of-its kind nighttime treatment combining a maximized concentration of pure, stable resveratrol, enhanced with baicalin and pure vitamin E for optimized antioxidant performance. This is great for repairing aging, thinning skin.
Is good for:
All skin types
Particularly good for mature skin
It helps:
Restore elasticity
Improve skin radiance
Improve skin density for firmness
It further enhances skin’s internal defense system to repair and prevent accumulated damage.
Phloretin CF
Phloretin is highly effective at improving skin tone, so this is great for those of you with hyper-pigmentation. It also reduces inflammation in the skin that is caused by environmental toxins.
Is good for:
Oily skin
Problematic skin
Normal skin
It helps:
Dramatically reduce pigmentation issues
Even skin tone
Improve radiance
Retexturize skin
Diminish lines
Alto Defense Serum
Unlike the Skin Ceuticals serums, this one is in an airtight pump and the consistency is more like a cream than a true serum. It boasts 19 antioxidant ingredients for some serious antioxidant protection. It is appropriate for all skin types.
It helps:
Enhance skin vitality and radiance
Promotes an even skin tone
Reduces appearance of redness
Brightens the skin
The take-home point: start using one of these antioxidants and you will find yourself looking better quickly: firmer skin, glowing skin, clearer skin…it’s a no brainer. Be sure to pair your antioxidants with a physical sunscreen (like Elta MD) for the perfect blend of sun protection, skin repair, and skin health!