Antioxidants and Oil Properties
We refer to Fatty Acids, Oils Properties and Antioxidants a fair bit on our website, here is a little information on what they are and why they are beneficial in a skincare product.
Linoleic acid is also important for maintaining healthy skin. It helps strengthen the skin's natural barrier function, prevents moisture loss, and promotes skin elasticity.
Oleic acid is valued for its moisturising and emollient properties, helping to soften and hydrate the skin.
Vitamin A helps maintain overall skin health by supporting the skin's natural barrier function, improving texture and helping to alleviate symptoms of eczema and psoriasis
Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that helps protect the skin from free radical damage caused by environmental stressors such as UV radiation, pollution, and cigarette smoke. It helps hydrate the skin, making it softer and smoother and has anti-inflammatory properties that can help soothe irritated or inflamed skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.
When used together, vitamin A and E complement each other's benefits and provide comprehensive skincare support.
Squalene is very similar to the skin's sebum and has an ability to enhance the penetration of other active ingredients into the skin, making it an effective carrier for delivering skincare ingredients deeper into the epidermis. It helps hydrate the skin by preventing water loss, improves skin elasticity and leaves skin feeling nourished and supple.
What are antioxidants?
In skincare, antioxidants play a crucial role in protecting the skin from the damaging effects of free radicals and oxidative stress.
Free radicals are molecules with unpaired electrons, which make them highly reactive. They seek to stabilize themselves by taking electrons from other molecules, thereby causing damage to those molecules in the process. They are produced in response to environmental stressors such as UV radiation, pollution, cigarette smoke, and certain chemicals.
When free radicals steal electrons from nearby molecules, they create a chain reaction that can result in oxidative stress. Oxidative stress damages cellular structures such as DNA, proteins, and lipids, leading to cellular dysfunction and contributing to various skin concerns, including wrinkles, fine lines, sagging, hyperpigmentation, and dullness
Free radicals play a significant role in the aging process, particularly in premature aging. The accumulation of oxidative damage over time contributes to the breakdown of collagen and elastin fibers, which are essential for maintaining skin firmness and elasticity.In summary, free radicals are highly reactive molecules that can cause oxidative damage to skin cells, contributing to premature aging and other skin concerns. Protecting the skin from free radical damage through the use of antioxidants and sun protection is essential for maintaining healthy, youthful-looking skin.
I must stress that we are not about turning the clock back but just to make our skin as healthy as it can be taking into account our age, genes and lifstyle. The ingredients we use together with their properties will help your skin to look and feel healthy.