WTF are Antioxidants?
To understand antioxidants you first need to understand free radicals. Free Radicals lack a stable body of electrons. This leads them to seek out electrons from other molecules, damaging them in the process. This means that free radicals can target your skin cells damaging your cellular DNA in an attempt to steal electrons. This will lead to increased signs of ageing as it damages your collagen. Unfortunately, free radicals are unavoidable. They can occur from UV radiation, blue light, pollutants, and other lifestyle factors.
How to protect your collagen?
Antioxidants are a group of compounds that protect the skin against free radical damage. They counteract the unstable molecules that damage cell DNA by giving up some of their own electrons which neutralises the free radical. This will protect dermal collagen and elastin fibres.
Antioxidants can be found in a number of ingredients but the most studied is Vitamin C. Yes, formula, percentages, and combining ingredients matter in protecting against free radical damage. Sorry, your rosehip oil alone won’t cut it. Between 10-20% Vitamin C with Vitamin E and Ferulic Acid is a well studied formula that has been proven to effectively target all forms of oxidative stress.
“Lipids are often prime targets of oxygen radicals because many of the enzymes producing ROS are embedded in lipid bilayers. Carbon-centered lipid radicals react with molecular oxygen to form peroxyl radicals that, if not neutralized by α-tocopherol in membranes, may participate in the radical propagation reaction…. Vitamin C has the ability to protect against LPO by acting as a scavenger of ROS and by one-electron reduction of lipid hydroperoxyl radicals via the vitamin E redox cycle.”
In simpler terms, Vitamin E is oil-soluble and Vitamin C is water-soluble. A formula combining the two ingredients will effectively target all aspects of free radical damage while ferulic acid will enhance the effects of the Vitamin C. This is why Vitamin C products are recommended for daily use; we are constantly being targeted by free radicals.
The Glow C+ Brightening Serum is perfect for all skin types.
20% Vitamin C
Ferulic Acid
Vitamin E
Green Tea Extract
The C Infusion Serum is perfect for those that want some added active ingredients in their routine.
10% Vitamin C
0.025% Retinol
Ferulic Acid
Vitamin E
What are some other ingredients too look out for?
CoQ10 (Ubiquinone) is an oil soluble compound that plays a huge role in cellular functions. It can act as an antioxidant as it protects cell membranes, lipoproteins and mitochondrial DNA similar to that as Vitamin E and C.
Niacinamide we wrote an entire blog! Read it here.
Green Tea contains polyphenols which are very effective at protecting the function and membrane walls of the cell. Fun fact; all Green Envee products contain a Green and White Tea Base as opposed to a water base for their products.
We Recommend:
Clear Oil Serum which contains:
Niacinamide
CoQ10
Vitamin C
Vitamin E
Green Tea
How to encourage production of collagen:
If you want to reverse free radical damage and increase skin health you’ll definitely want to include a retinol and exfoliant into your routine and invest in facial treatments.
Retinol is a highly studied ingredient that is proven to encourage collagen production. Read more about retinol here.
Exfoliants are an important step in everyone’s weekly routine, however it is crucial to have a good quality exfoliant if your focus is repairing damage. As we age our cell turnover rate slows, paired with free radical damage it only worsens for us. This step will encourage cell renewal, revealing brighter and smoother skin. We highly recommend the Glyco Peptide Cleanser 2-4x a week. This is a treatment cleanser that was specifically formulated to tackle signs of ageing.
As for facial treatments we highly recommend micro-needling and chemical peels.
Micro-needling uses your natural wound-healing process to encourage collagen production and fibroblast. Read more in our micro-needling blog.
Chemical Peels use high percentages of acids to delve deep into the skin to stimulate the deeper dermal layers. These active ingredients can stimulate collagen to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, target hyperpigmentation and blemishes. Some peels will cause the skin to peel, this will reveal brighter new skin.
