antioxidants

Article Written by: Linda F., Esthetican, Elle's Esthetic Studio

What are Antioxidants?

~ Antioxidants protect our cells from unhealthy free radicals damage produced from
things like car exhaust, smoking, uv light, stress, pollution, excessive drinking and so
on..... which can lead to premature aging.
~ Antioxidants are naturally occurring nutrients that help maintain healthy skin by
slowing the destructive aging process of cellular molecules.
~ The three most well known antioxidants are vitamin C, A and vitamin E. Vitamin C is
water soluble and is important in protecting the "aqueous" parts of our cells and tissues,
while vitamin E is oil soluble and protects the "lipid" portions.
Other antioxidants include White & Green Tea extracts, Grapeseed extracts and some of
the Vitamin Bs are also antioxidants so are soy, gingko, bilberry, pine bark and CoQ10
and so on....! Long term use as a cumulative positive effects and help protect the skin
against free radical damage by increasing the skin's own natural resistance to free
radical damage.

CoQ10 What is it?

First, it produces biological energy inside the cells. Second, CoQ10 is a powerful anti-free
radical agent and antioxidant. It helps neutralize harmful free radicals, which are one of the
causes of aging!
Conenzyme Q10 help protect and repair your skin and prevents against further damage..
Most people over 30, levels of CoQ10 in the skin are below optimum level thus affecting
collagen and elastin production.
CoQ10 is a small molecule that can easily penetrate into skin cells thus giving you smooth, firm
skin.
As a powerful antioxidant it reinforces the skin's defense system!

WHAT ARE THE REAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AHA AND ANTIOXIDANTS (A,E,C,
CoQ10, etc..)
All these skin-friendly ingredients offer pretty similar benefits.
AHA promote daily exfoliation which helps brighten the skin while antioxidants treatments are
slower at producing a glow but the long term benefits are more lasting!!! Also antioxidants have
an added protective powers that fight free-radical!
Which one works best for you is often a matter of how your skin reacts to a particular
formulation, so it is just in trying that you will see what works for you.
My recommendation is the best way to boost performance of all these different creams is to
rotate your antioxidants, collagen, etc... and AHA creams. This way you are working at the
skins surface level and lower level (deeper layers). Usually you will notice a difference in your
skin after three to four weeks! Always use a cream for this period of time before you decide to
give up on it!!!!!!

Also for many people when you first start using these products you will notice some degree of
flaking or peeling! Not to worry !!! Peeling and flaking is good!!! It is the first sign of a
complexion being rejuvenated!! - old, dead skin is getting sloughed off, taking with it blemishes,
discolorations and other damage or skin imperfections. Flaking is often a sign that the skin is
healing and repairing itself!!!!!
Flaking is only temporary if you wish you can add extra moisturizer to your skin in the morning
until the flaking stops!!! Do not try to rub it off in an agressive manner this is not what is best
for your skin.
Flaking does not necessarily mean you have dry skin!!!!!!!!
Remember your skin may go through different stages while using a product for the first few
weeks so do not give up too early, sometimes the skin might seem it looks worst before it starts
to look better!!!!

Quick Links to my other
articles

Collagen

Vitamin A and C

Soy