Antioxidants are substances which prevent or inhibit free radicals and/or oxidative stress. They can be made in a laboratory or occur naturally. Vitamins C and E are good examples of natural antioxidants. Antioxidants counter oxidative stress caused by age, pollution, diet and a host of other factors. Oxidative stress plays a role in disease proliferation such as cancer, Alzheimer’s, Parkinsons, cardiovascular and eye diseases. It also contributes significantly to signs of early aging.
Your body creates free radicals when you exercise or when you convert food into energy. A free radical is an unstable moleculecular species. These unstable free radicals are in constant search of another electron with which to pair. The lack of an electron to pair with is what made the oxygen molecule unstable in the first place. This disruption to your body's natural order can cause alteration to your DNA. Thus, causing damage to your organs and skin.
Antioxidants counter the effects of these free radicals by giving up some of their electrons to the free radicals that are missing electrons. As you can see in the graphic above, the free radical is missing a few electrons. The anti-oxidant has plenty to give. There are multiple processes that can and do occur when an antioxidant encounters a free radical. In addition to helping stabilize free radicals, anti-oxidants can reinforce and donate oxygen to cells. All of this makes antioxidants essential to our diet (in order to get much needed oxygen to our organs), as well as topically on our skin (our largest organ).
Antioxidants in our diet come mainly from fruits and vegetables. However, dark chocolate is ripe with antioxidants. We’re not telling you to go crazy on the bon bons, but there are some fun ways to work antioxidants into your diet. Blueberries, strawberries and beans are all delicious foods filled with antioxidants. Kale, spinach and any dark leafy green vegetable will be excellent sources of antioxidants. Improving your diet has the potential to increase your longevity, improve your skin, and accelerate your metabolism.
Antioxidants for your skin are equally abundant and easily applied. Any serum with vitamins C and E is a good start. Gemma Crema Vegan Anti-Aging Serum has a variety of antioxidant rich extracts which include Vitamins C and E. Jojoba oil, Aloe, Rose Water and Radish Root are all rich in antioxidant molecules. We combine these with vegan sources of retinol and hyaluronic acid to reduce wrinkles and oxidative stress at the same time. It’s all transported in a non-comedogenic sunflower oil base (which itself is loaded with antioxidants).
Whether you choose to enjoy the benefits of antioxidants on your own, or with our unique formulas, we hope you experience the benefits of clean skincare and an improved diet. It’s better for you inside and out.
