Understanding What Free Radicals Are And Why You Should Protect Your Skin From Them

When you choose products to be part of your skincare routine, it is super common to find products with antioxidant action that protect the skin against free radical activity. However, what are free radicals? Today’s post shows you what these molecules are and why you should protect your skin from them.

WHAT ARE FREE RADICALS?

They are molecules naturally produced by our bodies through many factors, such as inflammatory processes, air pollution, emotional stress, habits like smoking and diets high in sugar and fat, and, of course, unprotected exposure to ultraviolet rays.

Free radicals are unstable molecules with an uneven number of electrons. To find stability and recover an even number, free radicals capture elections from proteins that compose the cells, which generates a big chain reaction for every cell to have even numbers of electrons.

This process, which is known as oxidative stress, can cause many genetic damages to your health, ranging from early aging to more severe diseases, including Parkinson, Alzheimer, stroke, and even certain types of cancer.

HOW TO PROTECT YOUR BODY FROM FREE RADICAL ACTIVITY

To avoid oxidative stress, our organism develops antioxidants, defense mechanisms to control cell activity.

WHAT ARE ANTIOXIDANTS?

Antioxidants are chemical substances, such as vitamins and minerals, that can “donate” an election to free radicals and maintain themselves stable. This antioxidant action makes free radicals stabilize and be eliminated, putting an end to oxidative stress.

Throughout the years, the number of natural antioxidants in our body decreases, making it super important to get these substances elsewhere, for example, through diet and cosmetics.

WHICH FOODS ARE HIGH IN ANTIOXIDANTS?

Foods rich in vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin E, selenium, zinc, and omega-3 are rich in antioxidants, so keeping a well-balanced diet rich in minerals is essential.

ANTIOXIDANTS IN SKINCARE

Our skin begins showing the first aging signs around the age of 25, when the production of collagen, elastin, and natural antioxidants starts to reduce. From that age on, you can already use products that protect against free radicals, which will protect the skin and prevent early aging.

HOW TO INTRODUCE ANTIOXIDANTS INTO YOUR SKINCARE REGIMEN

Many substances have antioxidant activity, including vitamin C, niacinamide (vitamin B3), and retinol (vitamin A). They can be applied during your morning skincare routine, potentializing sunscreen effect and preventing aging, and during your night skincare routine to revitalize the skin after suffering aggressions throughout the day.

ANTIOXIDANTS + SUNSCREEN

Introducing antioxidants into your morning skincare routine is crucial to potentialize the effects of sunscreen. When you apply our Vitamin C Serum before sunscreen, you reduce free radical activities, prevent cellular aging, and protect the skin against UV rays.