The Benefits of Antioxidants in Skin Care
Sunday, December 30th, 2007
by Debra Myers
Today in skin care there are lots of products touting the benefits of antioxidants. With all the hype, we’ve been asked the question; What are antioxidants and do skin care products that contain them provide benefits?
First let’s talk about what antioxidants do. Antioxidants are free radical hunters and neutralizers. Free Radicals are not a Punk band from the 80’s but are the unstable chemical substances in our bodies that damage our cells causing them to oxidize; they are generated during normal bodily processes and are also caused by air pollution, processed foods, radiation and chemicals. When our cells begin to oxidize they mimic the oxidization a piece of fruit goes through when it is cut and exposed to the air. The fruit begins to turn brown and lose vital moisture. In comparison our skin begins to thin, wrinkles appear and it too loses its moisture balance.
Antioxidants can prevent and even reverse cell damage by free radicals and that is why they are so important in natural and organic skin care products. There are many natural antioxidants such as vitamins A, C and E, pomegranate, acai, manganese, and zinc. (more…)