In recent years the terms “free radicals” and “antioxidants” have become very common and routine in the cosmetics field. What exactly do these terms mean? Why are oxidation and free radicals harmful to our skin and how can using advanced cosmetic products containing antioxidants neutralize this damage and protect the skin against accelerated aging?
Oxidation is a natural process, which takes place all the time in nature. On the one hand, without oxygen life would not be possible, and every living cell needs oxygen in order to produce energy and build proteins. On the other hand, the very same oxygen causes wear and tear, destruction and disintegration, and as a result, the aging and death of the cells.
What exactly is the oxidation process and why does it harm our bodies and skin?
The oxidation process is in effect the process of oxygen combustion, which takes place in each cell of our body and serves to produce energy and build proteins. Like in any factory, in the process of production and extraction there are byproducts, mainly free radicals. The free radicals are molecules which play important roles in our bodies and skin, such as killing bacteria and forming connections between collagen fibers in the skin. On the other hand, these molecules have a significant disadvantage – they are unstable and over active. These molecules have a surplus electron (free), which they try tirelessly to get rid of, and this by seeking the closest molecule to which to attach. The problem is that they are likely to connect also to vital and sensitive molecules such as proteins, fats and other tissues, and even to our genetic material – the DNA. As soon as they connect to another molecule, the free radicals attack and harm it. In addition, they turn this molecule into a free radical, which in turn harms other molecules. This creates an infinite chain reaction, which if not stopped right at the beginning, can cause cumulative and significant damage, including the development of carcinogenic processes, chronic diseases and premature aging, including accelerated aging of the skin.
Nature has made sure that every cell contains neutralizing agents – antioxidants. These agents bind the free radicals and in so doing balance their concentration and prevent them from harming the tissues and cells. Normally, in our bodies there is a balance between the accumulation of free radicals and their destruction. But external agents such as air pollution, radiation, smoking, detergents and fertilizers, processed foods, fat-rich foods etc. accelerate the formation of free radicals and cause their accumulation.
Solutions from the field of cosmetic medicine
In recent years numerous medical and anti-aging researchers have focused on oxidation and free radicals, in an attempt to slow down these processes. One of the solutions under investigation which has already been proven in countless studies, is the use of antioxidants which neutralize the free radicals, such as Vitamin A, C and E, found in plants, vegetables and fruit, the minerals selenium and zinc, and other substances such as coenzyme Q10 and alpha lipoic acid. The intake of food and food supplements rich in antioxidants today constitutes an inseparable part of anti-aging medicine. In parallel it has been found that cosmetic products containing active concentrations of vitamins slow down the aging process of the skin. Another finding is that the topical application of vitamins is several times more efficient than consuming them in food or food additives.
For many years, researchers in the laboratories of Holy Land Cosmetics, which is spearheading research in anti-aging of the skin, have been studying the optimal effects on the skin of antioxidants from natural sources. Most of the company’s products combine important vitamins and other effective antioxidants. For example, Multivitamin Serum contains a combination of vitamins which also serve as antioxidants, among them vitamins A, C and E, where their combination improves even more the antioxidant action of each of the vitamins. In addition, Serum Vitamin C from the C the Success product line, which contains a high active concentration – more than 10% of pure Vitamin C, is particularly effective in reducing damage caused by free radicals. The Coenzyme Energizer Q10 line was also developed especially to slow the aging process of the skin and to combat oxidation damage. The Renew Formula line contains alpha lipoic acid together with vitamins A, C and E. Due to the alpha lipoic acid and the highly potent combination between it and the vitamins, this range is substantially more effective in preserving the skin and slowing the speed of aging.
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