Holistic tips for glowing skin with antioxidants

 

Once again, nature is the star as we look at how to get that coveted skin glow through natural antioxidants. 

Let's take a quick look at what the skin is, what it does, and what it needs for optimal health. Simply put, skin provides a protective covering for our organs and is, in fact, our largest organ.

The many functions our skin performs are incredible. To name a few:

• absorption
• excretion
• protection against UV rays and other harmful substances
• temperature regulation
• prevents moisture loss
• acts as a sensory organ
• assists with detecting infections

Healthy skin that is unbroken and well maintained is the first line of defence for protection against many elements. So, ensuring we feed our skin with the correct nutrients is vital and will differentiate between dull, tired skin or a glowing, healthy complexion.

We are exposed to free radical damage on a daily basis; this is where our skin breaks down and ages prematurely before it should. The cause of free radical damage is when we're exposed to certain environmental and lifestyle factors. Primarily, free radical damage is accelerated by overuse and exposure to caffeine, alcohol, cigarettes, air conditioning, pollution, device screens, sun and certain medications. A few of these factors are out of our control. For instance, we can reduce our caffeine intake (for some, this may be easier than others *sips flat white) but reducing medication or exposure to pollution and our screens is harder to correct. 

That's when antioxidants come in. 

Antioxidants – what are they?

Antioxidants are found naturally in many foods. They protect our cells by neutralising the harmful effects of free radicals, the leading cause of premature ageing. Plus, when our body cells are affected by these free radicals, they may even cause illness. 

Skin cells, in particular, are affected by free radical damage as our skin will show signs of accelerated ageing such as loss of elasticity, lines and wrinkles and pigmentation. Think of the antioxidant ingredients wrapping themselves around our skin cells in a protective form.

 

Where can you get the antioxidants?

Antioxidants are found in natural sources such as fruits, vegetables, plants, certain foods such as some nuts, wine, green tea, dark chocolate (thank goodness for that). These are the ingestible sources. Antioxidants are also found in skincare products to provide the skin with a topical application. 

Antioxidant-Rich Ingredients

At organicspa, our skincare products are full of antioxidant-rich ingredients. Here are some of our favourites:

• Seabuckthorn Fruit Oil - Complete with Vitamins A, C, E, plus fatty acids and omegas. Found in antioxidant face oil, a.c.e serum, eye treat, lactic gel cleanser, moisture rich and night renewal treatment.
• Bakuchiol - Known as the natural alternative to synthetic Retinol, Bakuchiol helps deliver visible improvements to wrinkle depth, elasticity, pigmentation and more, all without irritating the skin. Find it in our antioxidant face oil.
• Rosehip Oil - A naturally occurring Vitamin A, C, E and Lycopene. Experience the benefits with our rosehip oil, eye treat, moisture rich and nourish oil.
• Kakadu Plum Extract - Did you know that Vitamin C is the only collagen booster that is also an antioxidant? This native fruit delivers 100 times more Vitamin C than an orange, and we use it in pro renewal cream and a.c.e serum.
• Finger Lime Extract - A powerful source of Vitamins A and C, it supports collagen production and skin hydration. We have recently added this antioxidant to our gel mask.
• Green Tea - Famous for its anti-inflammatory properties, it supports your skin by reducing redness or irritation and helps restore vitality. We harness this ancient ingredient to help reduce the visible signs of ageing in our Age Vita Renewal and Multi Detox Clay treatments, as well as clay mask.

 We love creating formulas that provide the skin with a myriad of antioxidants, but we also ensure our diet is complete with antioxidant-rich foods like:

• Treats: dark chocolate and pecans
• Berries: blueberries, strawberries, raspberries
• Greens: artichokes, spinach, broccoli
• Red and purple vegetables: red cabbage, beets
• Orange vegetables: sweet potato, carrot, squash