Antioxidants
The ABC’s of Antioxidants
Sorting out the alphabet soup of antioxidants can be a daunting task. It seems as if there is always a new skin care product comes along touting the latest and greatest ingredient and 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.
Protect & Defend
Everyday an invisible enemy attacks your skin. The enemy is called a free-radical, and it uses UV rays, pollution and other environmental factors to damage the skin, leaving in its wake the visible signs of aging including lines, wrinkles, skin discoloration and uneven texture. Antioxidants protect and defend your skin against free-radical damage. They are the martyrs of skin care, 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 skin care regimen, it is critical in keeping the skin healthy and looking its best.
Vitamin A (Retinol, 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 Acid is available by prescription while Retinol 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 which is combined with an anti-inflammatory agent such as green tea polyphenols.Vitamin A is a key ingredient in the following LANCERx Skincare Products: Blemish Control Polish, AM/PM Nourishing Treatment, Antioxidant Sunscreen, Glycolic Acid Treatment, Body Smooth, Evening Anti Aging Therapy and Eye Bright Illuminator Rx
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 skin care formulators have learned how to stabilize Vitamin C. Be leery of products which have turned brown, that 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 which use L-Ascorbic Acid as their vitamin C source. This form is the one the body most easily recognizes.Vitamin C is a key ingredient in the following LANCERx Skincare Products: Vitamin C Treatment Cream, Antioxidant Sunscreen, Glycolic Acid Treatment Cream and Body Smooth
Vitamin E – Along with its protective qualities, Vitamin E possesses some anti-inflammatory effects and aids in moisturizing the skin. Vitamin E is a key ingredient in the following LANCERx Skincare Products: Blemish Control Polish, AM/PM Nourishing Treatment, Antioxidant Sunscreen, Glycolic Acid Treatment, Tri Defense Serum and Body Smooth
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. Co-Q10 is a key ingredient in the following LANCERx Skincare Products: Tri Defense Serum, Antioxidant Sunscreen, Glycolic Acid Treatment and Body Smooth
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 and anti-bacterial 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. Green Tea is a key ingredient in the following LANCERx Skincare Products: AM/PM Nourishing Treatment, Rapid Redness Relief, Antioxidant Sunscreen, Evening Anti-Aging Therapy, Eye Bright Illuminator Rx, Body Smooth and Body Buff
Resveratrol – Resveratrol is currently making its debut into skin care. 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.
The Choice
All antioxidants will fight free-radical damage, the differences being which metabolic pathway they utilize to protect the skin. For example, say you had several streets which 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 skin care, a board-certified dermatologist would help you decide which antioxidant would work best on your specific skin type.
