Antioxidants are naturally occurring vitamins and minerals that protect against free radical damage. Chances are you’ve heard this before - and you know, in theory, that “antioxidant-rich things that guard against free radicals and oxidative stress” are a good thing. Maybe.
But what does that mean? And why is it important?
Understanding Free Radicals and the Damage They Cause
The first thing you have to grasp is what free radicals are and how they affect the body. Think of it this way:
One day there were some cells in some skin (bear with me here). After a long day at the park, the UVA exposure became too much for the skin and drove it to oxidative stress (though it also could have been emotional stress, cigarette smoke, alcohol, or airborne pollutants). This set off a chain reaction, and a free radical was born.
The free radical was unstable - crazy! It was missing an electron and needed to get it back at all costs. So it started stealing electrons from surrounding healthy cells and turning them into free radicals (talk about taking the team down with you!)
This ever-growing number of free radicals continued stealing peptides from within cells, disrupting the cell membrane, setting the mitochondria on a self-destructive path, and creating errors in the DNA within the nucleus - yikes!
If this process goes unchecked, you’ll have a face full of unstable cells that are destroying their neighbors and stealing from each other. This wreaks havoc on the skin, leading to:
- Premature and accelerated aging of the skin, including wrinkles and loss of elasticity
- Hyperpigmentation
- Inflammatory conditions, such as acne and rosacea
- Skin cancer
On top of that, it can cause serious systemic issues, including:
- Central nervous system diseases
- Autoimmune inflammatory disorders, like arthritis, lupus, and vasculitis (1).
- Ischemic diseases like heart disease and stroke
- Gastric ulcers
- Neurological disorders like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s
- Smoking-related diseases.
Sound dramatic? It’s not. Remember, free radicals attack all of your cells and macromolecules - including your DNA, proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids. This leads to major cell damage and homeostatic disruption, and eventually, major disease (2).
How Antioxidants Help
Luckily, antioxidants help reverse and prevent this damage. They neutralize those free radicals by donating their own electron back to the atom, thereby reversing the damage. This tightens skin, improves tone, reduces inflammation, and restores a natural glow!
Deliver Big-Picture Benefits
There are lots of different kinds of antioxidants. For skincare benefits, focus on non-enzymatic antioxidants - small molecules that scavenge free radicals, finding them and stabilizing them. They're often found in skincare products as:
- L-ascorbic acid
- Vitamin E (tocopherol)
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin A (retinol)
- Polyphenols (green tea)
- Gluthione
- Coenzyme 10
- Melanin
- Lipoic acid
- Plant polyphenols
- Phenolic acids (ferulic acid)
- Flavonoids (hesperetin)
Correct Signs of Aging
Antioxidants combat oxidative stress, which is huge. Stress and the free radicals it produces break down collagen and get in the way of the skin’s natural repair process. That triggers inflammation, fine lines, and loose skin. By scavenging free radicals, antioxidants prevent this damage and allow your skin to heal and recuperate.
Guard Against Sunburn
Your body's sunburn reaction in response to the sun’s rays is inflammation. As anti-inflammatories, antioxidants lower this response, prevent sunburn, and provide additional sun protection to the skin.
Prevent Skin Cancer
Studies have shown that some antioxidants, including vitamins A, C, and E, may help prevent skin cancer.
Brighten Skin
Vitamin C - which you can find in Cloud Whip - is a huge skin brightener. It boosts collagen production and cell turnover, which fights fine lines and brightens skin affected by hyperpigmentation.
Soothe and Moisturize Skin
The polyphenols in green tea - one of our go-to-ingredients often listed as camellia sinensis - are powerful antioxidants. They scavenge free radicals, decrease inflammation, and accelerate wound healing. They also reduce redness, making green tea an ideal skincare ingredient for those with sensitive skin and rosacea. That's why you'll find it in our antioxidant-rich moisturizer, Bright Side.
Get the benefits for yourself: No Plans Clay Mask - Cloud Whip Vitamin C Cream - Zen Out of Ten Face Scrub - Bright Side Cream Cleanser
(1) Lobo, V., Patil, A., Phatak, A., & Chandra, N. (2010). Free radicals, antioxidants and functional foods: Impact on human health. Pharmacognosy reviews, 4(8), 118–126. doi:10.4103/0973-7847.70902
(2) Young, I. S., & Woodside, J. V. (2001). Antioxidants in health and disease. Journal of clinical pathology, 54(3), 176–186. doi:10.1136/jcp.54.3.176