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Antioxidants
Antioxidants are well known to provide health benefits when ingested (See Skin Supplements) and should be your first line of defense against aging along with a well-balanced diet. There is much debate though over whether or not antioxidant products applied topically can produce the same benefits. It is mostly agreed that topical application can protect the skin and supply it with larger than average doses of antioxidants that will absorb into the skin and remain there for several days. While this sounds great, the problem still remains that in order to have this effect on the skin, the antioxidants must be formulated in the perfect concentrations and in such a way that they remain perfectly stable.
Below is a description of the three main antioxidants that you should consider including in your anti-aging skin regimen. Other, more trivial ingredients include green tea (polyphenols), aloe vera, rosa mosqueta, kinetin, hyaluronic acid, alpha lipoic acid and fruit acids.
Vitamin C, a common vitamin found in cosmetic products, is an antioxidant meant to strengthen and even promote the production of the skin's collagen. The most important factor in choosing antioxidant vitamin C products is making sure that the vitamin C is in L-ascorbic acid form, which is the only truly effective form of the vitamin. Do not buy products that use ascorbyl palmitate and magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, which do nothing to affect collagen. Also be certain that the product you are buying is sealed in an air-tight container that is dark or opaque so that it cannot be affected by sunlight.
Vitamin E is a major antioxidant and emollient known for protecting against cancer, promoting a healthy heart and healing scars among other things. Since it cannot be produced by the body it must be supplied via food or supplements. It is also known to be very effective when applied topically. Note that it belongs to the tocopherol family of drugs and that many beauty products will claim to contain tocopherol although it is often artificial. Only the natural form of vitamin E is acceptable as an efficient antioxidant.
Copper Peptides are considered to be a potentially powerful antioxidant which has properties that can heal and protect the skin from environmental damage. Peptides contribute to improving the skin's elasticity, stimulating collagen formation and elastin production. (Note: Copper peptides and Vitamin C skin care products can not be used simultaneously or they nullify the effect of each other. Simply use at different times of the day.)
Vitamin A
Vitamin A (beta-carotene) is a retinoid and a deficiency of this vitamin leads to dry skin. Not only does it play a part in healthy skin, but it also performs a variety of other functions in keeping the body healthy from vision to bone growth and even your immune system.'
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Murad Environmental Shield Essential C Daily Renewal Complex |
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