The #2
anti-aging product is an antioxidant. There are so many great products out there, it becomes personal preference. Are you a serum kind a gal, cream or lotion? I like to switch up between serums and creams. Just know that you need one, applied twice daily. Not only will it help with cell turnover, but it will build collagen … which is ever so important with each ticking day.
Topical antioxidants are touted as being a good protector against
environmental damage to the skin and may be effective in slowing down skin aging. However, their effect depends on skin permeability and ingredients. It appears that increasing oral intake of some antioxidants (
tea, drops, pills) may additionally protect skin from free radicals.
I am a big tea drinker. White and green tea (
loose leaf) are chock full of antioxidants and have so many health benefits that I could write a term paper on tea alone! I drink at least one glass of each, white and green, a day. I have also used Dr. Brandt’s antioxidant drops. Aside from fighting free radicals, green tea helps prevent cancer and is said to aid in weight loss. It strengthens the immune system, reduces stress and regulates blood sugar. And white tea has three times the antioxidants of green tea. Drink up!
For me, it's all about the ingredients ... the science behind the product. I have found that serums are best penetrated (
immediately) into the skin and produce the best results.
Ingredients to look for in an antioxidant:
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin A
- Cysteine
- Methionine
- Selenium
- Glutathione
- Carotenes
- Lycopene
- Coenzyme Q10
- Lipoic acid
- Melatonin
- Some polyphenols
- Some flavonoids
On the horizon… There is a new category of anti-aging treatments aimed at preventing sugar from damaging skin. Excess sugar attaches to elastin fibers causing them to harden when we consume too many sweets. The direct result is
glycation - a loss in skin elasticity, enabling wrinkles to occur more easily.
