Which Antioxidants to Counteract Premature Aging?

If you too, like me, are over 30 and you are resignedly noticing the first expression lines making their way onto your face, you are most likely wondering how and what to do to give your skin all the support it needs to age well. But above all, you may be wondering which antioxidants your face cream should contain to slow down and counteract the premature aging process.

If you have only recently gained more awareness of what you apply to your skin by learning to read the inci and recognize the various ingredients , you have probably often found yourself:

• having trouble recognizing the active ingredients in your cosmetics e
• confused about what role antioxidants play in a first wrinkle face cream or in a face cream for skin aging .

You will find below which are the main antioxidants used in cosmetics to slow down premature aging of the skin , thus making it easier for you to read the Inci of your cream at a later time.

I will also show you the antioxidants that should not be missing in a good natural face cream, but before doing so, I would like to deepen the knowledge of antioxidants with you, without getting too technical.

Antioxidants: what are they and what role do they play?

Antioxidants are chemical substances or physical agents which have the role of counteracting the degenerative processes caused by free radicals , neutralizing them and slowing down the premature skin aging process .

In cosmetics, antioxidants have a significant anti-radical activity.

Click on the image to enlarge.

The primary action of the antioxidant molecule involves breaking the chain of reactions resulting in the reduction or inhibition of oxidation.

Antioxidants can be classified:

By origin:

• endogenous (if they are produced in our body)
  
• exogenous (if they are introduced with the diet)

Based on the chemical structure:

• enzymatic (predominantly present intracellularly)
  
• non-enzymatic (extracellularly present)

According to solubility:

• fat-soluble (e.g. Vitamin E, also known as tocopherol)
  
• water-soluble (e.g. vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid)

Instead, based on their action

 can be classified as:

• "preventive" antioxidants that intervene while the oxidation processes occur that could give rise to free radicals, interacting with them and preventing their formation.
• antioxidant "scavengers" (i.e. "scavengers") that trap the free radicals already formed and carry them away, inactivating them. The chain breaker antioxidants (i.e. those that "break the chain") which block the propagation of radical chain reactions are also part of the same family.
• antioxidants "repairers" of the damage that has already occurred, or substances that recognize the molecules damaged by the radicals and replace them.
• the so-called antioxidant "adaptation agents" , not necessarily attributable to a chemical substance (such as sport or a balanced diet), which enhance the physiological antioxidant system of an organism.

In our cosmetics we distinguish:

• antioxidants that protect and stabilize the cosmetic product , preventing the oxidation of some ingredients subject to the oxidation process and preventing the development of strange odors and colors during the period of use. All fatty substances, including oils and butters, tend to turn rancid in the presence of oxygen and light, also losing most of their functionality in cosmetics. Often, the same antioxidants also play an important role in preventing the degradation of fragrances.
• antioxidants that have a functional role in the fight against free radicals by protecting the skin.

Among the best known and most used antioxidants in the cosmetic industry, we find:

• carotenoids (INCI: BETA-CAROTENE, XANTHOFILL, LYCOPENE, CROCETINA, LUTEIN, XANTHINE)
• vitamin E (INCI: TOCOPHERYL ACETATE)
• vitamin C (INCI: SODIUM ASCORBYL PHOSPHATE)
• the olive tree (INCI: OLEA EUROPEA)
• aloe (INCI: ALOE BARBADENSIS EXTRACT)
• resveratrol (INCI: RESVERATROL)
• ferulic acid (INCI: FERULIC ACID)
• the hawthorn (INCI: CRATAEGUS SPP.)
• rosemary (INCI: ROSMARINUS OFFICINALIS EXTRACT)
• the blueberry (INCI: VACCINIUM MYRTILLUS )
  
• of red grapes (INCI: VITIS VINIFERA EXTRACT)
• the prickly pear (INCI: OPUNTIA FICUS INDICA EXTRACT)
• coenzyme Q10 (INCI: UBIQUINONE)
• pycnogenol (INCI: PYCNOGENOL)
• idebenone (INCI: HYDROXYDECYL UBIQUINONE)
• lipoic acid (INCI: THIOCTIC ACID)
• echinacea (INCI: ECHINACEA ANGUSTIFOLIA EXTRACT)
• turmeric (INCI: CURCUMA DIOICA)
• ginkgo biloba (INCI: GINK-GO BILOBA EXTRACT)
• green tea (INCI: CAMELIA SINENSIS EXTRACT)
• the pomegranate (INCI: PUNICA GRANATUM FRUIT EXTRACT)
• the cherry (INCI: PRUNUS AVIUM - SWEET CHERRY - FRUIT EXTRACT
• the dog rose (INCI: ROSA CANINA FRUIT EXTRACT)
• the orange (INCI: HYDROLYZED AURANTIUM DULCIS FRUIT EXTRACT)

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In conclusion,

a face cream formulated to counteract and slow down premature aging cannot do without antioxidants.

The sun, psychophysical stress, smoking, smog, an unhealthy lifestyle are all factors that favor the creation of free radicals, increasing the body's oxidative stress.

Unfortunately, oxidation reactions accelerate and aggravate the premature aging process and facilitate the appearance of skin spots . In these situations, cosmetics with an antioxidant action are a fundamental support for the skin in preventing skin aging and skin spots.

The most effective antioxidants are flavonoids , molecules that plants themselves use to protect themselves. Instead one of the best synergies that should not be missing in a face cream is the synergy between vitamin C (which carries out an antioxidant action on the hydrophilic part of the cells ) and vitamin E (which carries out an antioxidant action on the lipid part of the cells) . Their association enhances the reciprocal effect as ascorbic acid prolongs the antioxidant action of tocopherol.

For example,

in formulating the Beautilicious Delights face creams against premature aging , we were inspired by Nature's natural defense mechanisms and decided to exploit various synergies between plants and fruit.

As you also see in the above list, most of the cosmetic natural antioxidants come from plants or fruits. Who knows why.. :)

Plants cannot run away from imminent dangers (overexposure to the sun, pollution, weather changes, microbial attacks, etc.) so they must rely exclusively on internal chemical processes to develop their own self-defense, which occurs mainly in the peel.

This is also why we have decided to choose as allies, apart from the best known antioxidants such as aloe, olive, flavonoids, polyphenols, carotenoids and vitamins C and E:

• the pomegranate (INCI: PUNICA GRANATUM FRUIT EXTRACT)
• the cherry (INCI: PRUNUS AVIUM - SWEET CHERRY - FRUIT EXTRACT
• the dog rose (INCI: ROSA CANINA FRUIT EXTRACT)
• the orange (INCI: HYDROLYZED AURANTIUM DULCIS FRUIT EXTRACT)

In the Beautilicious Delights first wrinkle face cream for combination skin, you will find organic extracts of cherry and pomegranate, a concentrated antioxidant enzyme extract, obtained thanks to an innovative, patented and certified eco-sustainable extraction method characterized by:

• a high concentration of vitamins, minerals, such as potassium and magnesium
• a strong presence of 2 classes of polyphenols : anthocyanins and tannins . In particular the gallic phenols , known natural antioxidants help to counteract the loss of skin tone, wrinkles and dehydration.

Click HERE to discover the product. Enlarge the photo by clicking on it.

The cream is also available on the site in a version for dry skin.

The anthocyanins that give the characteristic red color to pomegranate and cherry are very powerful allies against the negative effects of atmospheric agents and UV rays, carrying out a marked antioxidant and anti-radical activity in synergy with the combination of vitamin C and vitamin E.

Instead, in the Skin Aging Face Cream for dry skin , you will find the organic rosehip fruit extract and the organic orange hydrolyzate which, in synergy with the face cream:

• gives dry, tired and aged skin new light and vitality,
• restores skin tone and elasticity,
• counteracts and delays the natural cellular aging process .

Click HERE to discover the product. Enlarge the photo by clicking on it.

The cream is also available on the site in the version for combination skin.

• Rosehip fruits are rich in minerals, tannins, carotenoids and flavonoids which enhance the effectiveness of the " radical scavenger " of vitamin C , present in very high quantities, which not only strengthens the skin's immune defenses, but also stimulates the activity of fibroblasts and the synthesis of collagen , performing a strong firming and redensifying action.
• The organic orange extract, rich in bioflavonoids, vitamin C and polyphenols , also carries out a moisturizing activity thanks to the presence of amino acids and in particular of sugars which prevent the loss of water from the skin layers, improving the elasticity of the skin.

The antioxidant content introduced in the cream formula with the addition of organic argan oil, lipophilic organic calendula flower extract and bisabolol , the active molecule found in chamomile flowers, acts in depth on the skin aging giving mature and aged skin a brighter and healthier appearance, restoring tone and elasticity.

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I hope that now it will be a little easier for you to identify if there are ingredients with an antioxidant action necessary to counteract and slow down premature aging in the face cream you have chosen.

Remember that only:

• with the constant use of an anti-aging face cream
• responding to your skin needs
• learning to observe and listen to your own skin
• maintaining excellent skin hydration

you will be able to prevent the signs of premature aging of the skin . Dry skin is even less protected than oily skin, so it needs daily attention if you don't want it to age prematurely..but we'll talk about this in this blog post .

© Beautiful Delights

In the online shop you will find everything you need to take care of your skin and hair in a conscious way. Click HERE to visit it!

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