Beauty secrets

Antioxidants- the anti-ageing super-agent

Antioxidants are substances that fight the free radicals that are responsible for cellular damage and early aging.

Published May 10, 2022

The skin is the most exposed part to the environment. Naturally, it is the one that shows the earliest signs of ageing. Antioxidants help in slowing the ageing process and help one look younger for a longer time.

"Antioxidants are essential to combat free radicals that are released at the cellular level due to oxidative stress. They help in reversing the ageing process and make us look youthful."

Here are some of the best antioxidants for your skin:

Vitamin E: Tocopherol as it is also known; is the best antioxidant for your skin. It helps increase the collagen formation that tightens your skin and makes it look youthful. It also helps in reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Vitamin E is found in nuts, vegetables and meat.

Lycopene: This powerful antioxidant is a carotenoid found in reddish-orange fruits and vegetables. It is a great choice for improving skin texture because it promotes collagen production and reduces the DNA damage that leads to wrinkles. Carrots, tomatoes, pumpkins and oranges are foods that are rich in lycopene. Lycopene is also a part of several topical skin creams.

Green Tea: This is the latest superstar among foods. The health benefits of this are numerous as it affects almost every system in our body. Green tea has an ingredient called catechins, which exceeds the amount found in regular black tea by over five times. It is also responsible for clearing cell damages, repairing wrinkles and removing blemishes. Applying green tea bags to the skin reduces the harmful effects of the sun.

Reservatrol: This compound is found in grapes, wine, nuts and fruit among others. Studies have proven that when applied topically this anti-oxidant has the ability to cure the damage caused by free radicals and UVB rays.

Grape Seed: Grapeseed is rich in proanthocyanidins, which belong to the flavonoid family. Proanthocyanidins are potent antioxidants with strong free radical scavenging activities. A grape seed extract has been shown to be an even stronger scavenger of free radicals than vitamins C and E.

Vitamin C: Essentially found in tangy citrus fruits, it is best known for its immune-boosting properties. As it contains powerful antioxidants it plays a significant role in reversing the ageing process too.

Niacinamide: Niacinamide or Vitamin B3 is a powerful antioxidant that has been known to boost anti-ageing processes. It improves the skin texture and also reduces fine lines and wrinkles.