Why are antioxidants important?

Antioxidants have many different uses and are an essential part of your nutrition, body and skin health. 

Before we get started, let’s define a few key terms:

Antioxidants: Molecules that fight free radicals in our bodies, helping protect our skin from unwanted aging and damage. 

Free Radicals: Aggressive, unstable, oxygen-containing molecules. Because they have lost an electron, they steal electrons from your skin cells, causing an oxidation reaction and producing new free radicals in the process. This oxidation damages your skin and can lead to premature aging.

BENEFITS OF ANTIOXIDANTS 

• Supports collagen and elastin
• It helps to minimize pore size
• Brightens the complexion of the skin 
• Decreases inflammation and calms irritation
• Delays photo-aging
• It helps to smooth fine lines and wrinkles

Your phenomenal bodies can naturally produce several antioxidants on their own to help neutralize free radical scavengers. If a free radical is not neutralized, inflammation and aging will occur. 

HOW DOES THIS WORK IN YOUR BODY?

Our body naturally creates free radicals as a by-product of cell metabolism, which starts the breakdown cycle. External aggressors such as UV exposure, blue light, smoking and inflammation are all considered oxidative stressors to your cells. 

Therefore, the more antioxidants used in your skincare, the better your body can help neutralize unstable molecules caused by free radical inflammation. They will help your body maintain healthy skin cells. Higher levels of free radicals are known to catalyze diabetes, heart disease, and even cancer. 

Skincare professionals have used antioxidants such as Vitamins A, C and E have been used for many years. They work by interfering with inflammation, which helps to reduce the production of enzymes that injure and destroy skin cells. They also help keep products fresh, which plays a vital role in maintaining the quality, integrity, and safety of skin care products. 

Here are fantastic antioxidants you'll find in GlyMed Plus professional skincare:

• Vitamin A: Works to stimulate collagen production to help your skin stay youthful by reducing aging spots, skin texture and reducing breakouts. It can also speed up cell turnover in the skin, which reduces the visible signs of aging in the short and long term.
• Vitamin C: It's a natural skin brightener. It serves to protect against the damage caused by free radicals and boosts collagen production while also working on tightening the skin at the same time.
• Vitamin E: The healer Antioxidant. It is often found in moisturizers, lotions, and creams for dry and cracked skin and products that target spots such as stretch marks. And it can help to nourish and protect your skin from damage caused by free radicals. Not ideal for acne-prone clients.
• Vitamin B3: Also known as niacinamide, is lovely to boost the skin’s natural barrier. It is excellent for those who suffer from inflammation caused by rosacea and acne. It can be a booster of other antioxidants and help your skin retain moisture and smooth out fine lines and wrinkles. 
• Green Tea: Helps to reduce redness and inflammation
• Resveratrol: This ingredient has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It helps to protect against photodamage, pigmentation, and collagen degradation.
• Grapeseed Oil: Enables Vitamin C and Vitamin E in your skin to be more efficient and effective at preserving your skin. It may be more assertive on free radicals than Vitamin C and E.