The buzz around antioxidants is building faster than ever and while we couldn’t be happier about it, beauty and wellness experts have been shouting it from the rooftops for decades. Regardless of whether you’ve known about the importance of antioxidants for a while now or it’s new for you, we’re here to dive deeper so you can be sure to prioritize them in your daily life.
What Are Antioxidants?
“Antioxidant” is a general term used to describe a compound that can inhibit oxidation (hence the name “anti-oxidant”). Inside your body, oxidation can cause the formation of free radicals, which are damaging to the cells. Over time, continued free radical damage is believed to speed up signs of aging, including wrinkles, age-related illnesses, and weakened immunity. More severely, studies suggest it can even contribute to chronic diseases like heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s, and more. Needless to say, antioxidants are crucial to help your body combat oxidative stress that can impair vital cell function.
Where Do I Get Antioxidants From?
DIET: Incorporating antioxidant-rich foods into your diet is a surefire way to limit oxidative stress caused by damaging free radicals. Plant-based foods tend to be the most antioxidant-rich, so when in doubt, fruits and vegetables will usually check the box. More specifically, we love blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, apples, oranges, pineapple, kale, spinach, artichokes, sweet potatoes, pecans, walnuts, almonds, and chia seeds. Green tea and dark chocolate (with a high cocoa percentage) are also less obvious yet delicious options.
SKINCARE: Your skincare regimen is another place in which you can incorporate antioxidants. In doing so, your products can work to neutralize free radicals that can take a visible toll on your skin over time. Arguably our favorite antioxidant for this is vitamin C. Found in our serum and eye & lip treatment cream, it brilliantly (pun intended) blocks free radical damage to minimize the appearance of wrinkles, sun spots, redness, and other discoloration. What’s more? It helps visibly smooth lines and wrinkles while evening skin’s texture. Not to mention vitamin C has been shown to help stimulate collagen production to promote firmer, bouncier skin — and who doesn’t love that?
