What are Antioxidants?

Antioxidants in skincare do the same thing as rust prevention in cars, for example, they protect the skin from environmental damage caused by pollution, exposure to chemicals in the air and our day to day lives. When our skin has an exposure to a chemical like smoke, these microscopic cells called free radicals begin to multiply faster than regular cells.

Antioxidants! You hear it everywhere! This is an antioxidant and that has antioxidant ingredients and somehow it's good for you, but why? What exactly are antioxidants and what do they do?

For years this went through my head, what are antioxidants? Are they vitamins? Are they cells? Are they chemicals?

Well, I'm here to give you the quick (and rusty) version of these pesky little things that are invading our bodies...right now.

Let's take a moment and think about RUST. Yes that brown caked up stuff on your car or shed or tools or wherever it is (can you already see it's everywhere?) Well rust is oxidation. It's the break down of the metal molecules due to environmental factors which form rust as a bi-product. In skincare you will hear about anti-oxidant rich ingredients with virtually every product on the shelf. Why? Well your skin of course is the largest organ on your body and protects every single aspect of your health and your body's systems. You wouldn't want that to become compromised right? Antioxidants in skincare do the same thing as rust prevention in cars, for example, they protect the skin from environmental damage caused by pollution, exposure to chemicals in the air and our day to day lives. When our skin has an exposure to a chemical like smoke, these microscopic cells called free radicals begin to multiply faster than regular cells. These free radicals damage our skins tissues creating inflammation, leading to redness, irritation, dryness, itchiness. By introducing anti-oxidant rich products like serums, lotions, creams to our skincare routine, we can prevent some of these free radicals from multiplying and causing damage.

Where are antioxidants found? Great question! Antioxidants are rich in fruits and berries and many skincare products include things like citrus, pomegranate, davidson plum. You can also find antioxidants in grape seed oil, bearberry extract and vitamin e just to name a few! There are so many the list could go on.

No one wants a rusty car or a rusty set of tools! And no one want pre-mature aging in their skin either! Using antioxidant rich products like the ones found in Mud & Lotus Skincare products will help prevent those nasty little free radicals from taking over your healthy skin cells and causing this oxidative damage.

So there you have it! Now you know what antioxidants are and why everyone talks about them in both skincare and health and wellness.