As we get older, it's normal for
our skin to gradually lose its elasticity and thin out. This is part of the
skin's natural ageing process. However, there are a variety of factors that can
cause the skin to start aging at an accelerated rate. A big part of this
"premature skin ageing" is a result of free radical activity in the
body.
Free radicals are molecules that
are produced by environmental exposures like tobacco smoke and radiation,
including radiation from the sun and other sources of UV rays, including
tanning beds. Free radicals are also produced when your body breaks down food.
Antioxidants are naturally
occurring substances that may provide protection against the effects of
damaging free radicals on the cells in your body, including your skin.
Antioxidant ingredients are already promoted in a number of skin care products
available both over-the-counter and by prescription, and are being actively
studied in clinical trials for a variety of medicinal uses.
Nine antioxidants to look for
when choosing a skincare product:
1. Vitamin E
Vitamin E (tocopherol) is an
antioxidant that is present in the skin and found in various foods, such as
vegetables, seeds and meat. (1) It helps the skin look younger by boosting
collagen production and in turn reducing the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles
and age spots. (2, 3)
Unlike other vitamins, skin
derives more of its benefits from vitamin E better through topical treatments
than through oral supplements. Vitamin E is available in two forms:
alpha-tocopherol (alcohol-based) and alpha-tocopherol acetate. The latter does
not penetrate the skin as easily, so make sure you're reading the labels
closely to get maximum benefit of the vitamin E.
2. Lycopene
Lycopene, a powerful antioxidant,
is a carotenoid found in red fruits and vegetables. (4) It is, in fact,
responsible for their red color. In addition to being a healthy choice for your
diet, it's a great choice for improving skin texture because it promotes
collagen production and reduces the DNA damage that leads to wrinkles. (5) To
get the most benefit from this powerful antioxidant, you can either take a
daily supplement or look for skin care products that contain it in topical
formulas (lycopene is easily absorbed by the skin).
3. Green Tea
Green Tea has become one of the
new age food heroes -- a helpful ally in preventing everything from heart
disease and cancer to skin ageing and weight gain. The full range of heath
benefits may take decades to define, but research on its impact on human skin
is reasonably well developed. The secret ingredients are chemicals called
catechins, which are antioxidants that can clear cell damage on the skin and
repair wrinkles, blemishes or other impurities. (6) When applied to the skin,
green tea can reduce sun damage by reducing inflammation and tackling free radicals.
(7) (It doesn't block UV rays.) When choosing a tea, its helpful to know that
green tea has over five times the amount of catechins as black tea. (8)
4. Coffee Berry
As an ingredient in anti-ageing
formulas, coffee berry prevents collagen damage, reduces wrinkles and protects
the skin against damage. (9) It also has anti-inflammatory properties (10),
which can lessen the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, leading to more
youthful looking skin.
5. Resveratrol
The antioxidant resveratrol is
compound that is commonly found in grapes, nuts, fruits, and red wine, among
others. (11) Separate studies have shown that when topically applied,
resveratrol protects against UVB-mediated cutaneous damage and inhibits
UVB-mediated oxidative stress. (12-14)
6. Grape Seed
Grape seed is extracted from
vitis vinifera and is rich in proanthocyanidins, which belong to the flavonoid
family. Proanthocyanidins are potent antioxidants with strong free radical
scavenging activities. (15) Grape seed extract has been shown to be an even
stronger scavenger of free radicals than vitamins C and E. (16)
7. Genistein
Genistein is an isoflavone
derived from soybeans with the capacity to inhibit UV-induced oxidative DNA
damage. (17) Genistein, either topically applied or orally supplemented, was
shown to effectively protect human skin against UVB-induced skin photodamage.
8. Niacinamide
Niacinamide (vitamin B3) is a
powerful antioxidant that has shown to exhibit anti-inflammatory and
depigmenting properties. It has also shown to improve the texture and tone of
the skin, as well as reduce fine lines, wrinkles and hyperpigmentation. (18)
9. Vitamin C
Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) is an
essential nutrient that can only come from the healthy fruits and vegetables
that contain it. Vitamin C is usually touted for its cold-fighting power, but
it's also under study for its impact on preventing and reversing ageing skin.
It works in two ways: as an
antioxidant, as well as a booster of collagen formation -- both of which are
important to preserving and maintaining skin's youthful appearance. (19-21)
However, boosting your intake of vitamin C-rich foods does not appear to impact
your skin to any measurable degree, so cosmetic companies are hard at work to
study whether it can be absorbed through the skin directly via topical creams
and lotions.
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