Part of all anti-aging routines should include an antioxidant. Why are these so important? Because they help neutralize free radicals! Well, what are those? Free radicals are harmful byproducts of oxygen metabolism that damage living cells through oxidative stress. This is a naturally occurring process. These byproducts can cause damage to your cells. Imagine a lifetime of these byproducts causing havoc on your body! Factors that contribute to free radicals are stress and chronic inflammation, pollution, smoking, and UV exposure.
The term antioxidant describes what the substance is doing more than what the substance is. In layman’s terms, the process allows the unstable particle to become stable.
Examples of these free radical scavengers are Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and lycopene, to name a few. Plant-based foods tend to be a great source of antioxidants for your body.
Vitamin C is considered one of the best topical antioxidants for skin. A free radical and antioxidant balance is ideal for normal physiology and prevents cell damage.
Diva Tip: Look for 15% Vitamin C serums with ferulic acid. Anything higher has no added benefit, and please be consistent with a routine. Ferulic acid also helps stabilize Vitamin C!
