PSorting out the alphabet soup of antioxidants can be a daunting task. It seems as if there is always a new skincare product that comes along touting the latest and greatest ingredient. It is becoming increasingly harder to decide which product is right for you. Before we get into specific antioxidants and their benefits to the skin, it is important to understand exactly what an antioxidant does.
Every day, an invisible enemy from within the body and the outside environment attacks your skin. The enemy is called a free radical. Using UV rays, pollution and other environmental factors to damage the skin, it leaves in its wake the visible signs of aging, including lines, wrinkles, skin discoloration and uneven texture. Lifestyle habits contribute as well.
Antioxidants protect and defend your skin against free radical damage. They are the martyrs of skincare, giving themselves up and stopping free radicals in their track so your skin can be spared. An antioxidant-rich treatment is an essential step in any skincare regimen; it is critical in keeping the skin healthy and looking its best.
An Antioxidant Primer
Vitamin A (Retinol, Retinal, Retinoic Acid)
Vitamin A is one of the best-known antioxidants with a lot of history. This antioxidant not only builds collagen, but it promotes cell turnover. retinoic ccid is available by prescription, while retinol and retinal can be found in over-the-counter formulations. While some patients may experience some transitory redness and flakiness as the skin becomes acclimated to the product, this may be minimized by starting with a lower strength product or using a retinol/retinal, which is combined with an anti-inflammatory agent such as green tea polyphenols.
Vitamin C
The benefits of vitamin C on the skin have been studied extensively. Vitamin C is not only effective for building and protecting collagen, but also plays an active role in wound healing. The two main points to consider when purchasing vitamin C is the product's stability and the form of the vitamin that is being used. Today, the top skincare formulators have learned how to stabilize vitamin C. Be leery of products that have turned brown, which indicates the product has been oxidized and the effective vitamin C content reduced. Also, while many forms of vitamin C are available, some are no more than a fancy preservative disguised as an anti-aging product. Search for products that use L-ascorbic acid as their vitamin C source. This form is the one the body most easily recognizes.
Vitamin E
Along with its protective qualities, vitamin E possesses some anti-inflammatory effects and aids in moisturizing the skin.
CoQ-10
This antioxidant may useful in its ability to regenerate the skin, and the molecule's small size makes it easy to absorb. Newer to the market is idebenone, a close relative to CoQ-10. It is thought idebenone works similarly to CoQ-10 in the fight against aging.
Green Tea Polyphenols
A powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent, green tea polyphenols can be used on even the most sensitive skin types. There is even research indicating that this antioxidant possesses an antibacterial property, which helps with breakouts. True green tea products will have a brownish tinge to them, which is the color of the actual green tea and indicates an effective dose of the polyphenols. Some formulations have also combined green tea with caffeine to supercharge the antioxidant properties.
Resveratrol
Resveratrol is currently making its debut into skincare. Also a polyphenol, this powerful antioxidant reported on in numerous peer-reviewed, prestigious medical journals and is naturally found in red grapes and other herbals.
Other Antioxidants
Other antioxidants that have made headlines include CoffeeBerry derived from the coffee plant, DMAE and Alpha Lipoic Acid.
Which Should You Choose?
All antioxidants will fight free radical damage, the differences being which metabolic pathway they use to protect the skin. For example, say you had several streets that all lead to the center of town. Each street would get you to town, but you must choose which is the best route for you. In the case of skincare, a board-certified dermatologist would help you decide which antioxidant would work best on your specific skin type.
At the end of the day, the best skincare regimen is the one you will actually use. Choose effective, medical-grade products that are easy to use, and skincare success will be yours.
Every day, an invisible enemy from within the body and the outside environment attacks your skin
