We always hear about antioxidants- we know we should use products containing antioxidants- but what exactly are they?

Antioxidants are not specific ingredients; they describe a certain function that some ingredients can perform. Their main function is to stop free radical damage.

Free Radical Damage

So…what is free radical damage? To explain, we must give you a quick chemistry lesson. A healthy cell contains a proton, a neutron and  electrons. When our skin cells get damaged by the sun, pollution, smoking, etc., that healthy cell loses an electron (making it “unstable”). That damaged cell must now find another electron to become stable again, so it steals that electron from a healthy cell. So you see, we now have a cascading effect that is damaging perfectly healthy skin cells!

The Role of Antioxidants

That’s where antioxidants come in.  Their job is to stabilize that damaged cell so that it will not harm any more healthy cells. If we didn’t have antioxidants (which should be part of your diet as well as skin care products), free radical damage would take over. The result? Cells would break down and not be able to function normally.

Ingredients

You may be wondering what skin care ingredients have antioxidant properties…there are quite a few, but here is a solid list:

  • Vitamins A, C and E
  • Beta Carotene
  • Co-Q10 (Coenzyme Q10)
  • Flavanoids
  • Genestein
  • Grape Seed Extract
  • Green Tea
  • Ginkgo Biloba
  • Olive Fruit Extract
  • Super Oxide Dismutase
  • White Tea
  • Zinc

Dermalogica's Options

It is safe to say that the majority of Dermalogica products contain beneficial antioxidants. Here are a few that the press is praising for their powerful antioxidant properties:

Lucky, May 2008

AGE Smart™ helps target "wrinkles and uneven skin tone with an arsenal of ingredients like antioxidant-rich White Tea, Vitamin C and Soy."

Allure, November 2008

Allure likes Antioxidant HydraMist because the "peptides are known to stimulate collagen production."

 

Prevention, August 2008

Prevention magazine likes Daily Resurfacer because it contains Rooibos Red Tea, "ideal for reducing irritation...preventing the UV damage that causes fine lines and brown spots," and is "packed with antioxidants."