Benefits of Antioxidants

What Do Antioxidants Really Do for Your Skin?  Other than making your skin look phenomenal, do you know why you’re slathering them on your face?
 

Antioxidants are naturally occurring vitamins and minerals, such as Vitamins A, C, E and Green Tea, that protect your skin from free radicals.  Free radicals sound like a bad ‘70s rock band, but they are actually molecules in the environment that damage your skin by clinging to your collagen and weakening your skins elasticity.  Free radicals assault the skin and come from air pollution, chemicals, digestion of fats, cigarette smoke, excessive stress, and sun.
 
Antioxidants are the hero’s and neutralize free radicals to protect your skin from damage.  Some antioxidants also brighten your skin, calm irritation, and even smooth fine lines. 

Green Tea – Best for Soothing
Green tea is filled with polyphenols that not only scavenge free radicals, but also work as an anti-inflammatory to accelerate would healing.  Green tea concentrates can be found in a variety of different products and range from cleansers to serums to mask.  Here are a few of the most concentrated green tea antioxidant products:

  • All Green Envee products contain organic green tea in their formulation

  • Ultra-Gentle Cleanser by Face Reality

Vitamin C – Best for Brightening
Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) is pretty much the ultimate antioxidant for perking up dull, blah, tired-looking skin.  Just like green tea, it can calm and hydrate your skin, and like retinol, it boosts your collagen production to reduce fine lines and smooth uneven skin.  Where Vitamin C really shines is in its brightening powers.  Over the course of 6-8 weeks (to begin seeing results), Vitamin C will lighten hyperpigmentation and dark spots and brighten your overall complexion.  Vitamin C in your routine might look like:

  • Apricot Mango Cleansing Milk by Sorella Apothecary

  • Glow C+ Brightening Serum by Green Envee

  • Brightening Mask by Sothys

  • Pomegranate Acai Antioxidant Serum by Sorella Apothecary

Vitamin A – Best for Age Management
Fun fact:  Vitamin A is the same thing as retinol but made with a higher concentration. There is huge obsession over retinol so let’s simplify. Retinol smooths fine lines, fills in wrinkles, softens bumps and rough patches, brightens skin, fades scars and dark marks, and reduces acne.  So, now can you see why there is so much enthusiasm over one not-so little vitamin.

Doctor prescribed retinols are potent and do come with some side effects, such as purging, dryness and flaking.  My philosophy leans toward the slow and steady route for adding Vitamin A to your skin care regimen, so your skin won’t be distressed and suffer from the nasty side effects.  Vitamin A should be used once a day as part of your evening routine.  My favorite age prevention winners include:

  • All Night Elixir by Sorella Apothecary

  • Wrinkle Targeting Youth Cream by Sothys

  • Vitamin A Corrective Serum by Face Reality

Vitamin E – Best for Moisturizing
Vitamin E (a.k.a. tocopherol) is an all around everything for everyone.  It’s popular because it does a little bit of everything, without being too intense.  It is a natural anti-inflammatory, a strong shield against free radicals and premature aging, and a pro at keeping the skin soft and supple.  Vitamin E teamed up with Vitamin C (which is why you will see products with both vitamin C + E) creates a dynamic duo to combat free radicals.  If you don't have a serum with both Vitamin C and E, then try doubling up on your serums.  When using more than one serum, apply the thinnest to the thickest.  Here's a few winners:

  • Flora Elixir Botanical Oil by Green Envee

  • Daily SPF 30 Lotion by Face Reality

  • Avocado Lip Hydrator by Sorella Apothecary

CYNTHIA WOLEK