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What is Antioxidant Cream?

Jan Hill
Jan Hill

An antioxidant cream may be used to protect the skin from damage. It may also reduce the effects of stress, smoke, and pollution. Some skin experts believe that direct application of antioxidant cream to the skin might slow down the aging process. Antioxidant cream may also reduce the appearance of wrinkles and shield the skin against damage from the sun and the environment. Some antioxidant creams contain essential oils that are believed to have natural antioxidant properties.

Antioxidant creams can repair damaged skin and respond to the presence of "free radicals." Functions of the body sometimes strip oxygen molecules of their electrons. When this happens, they "steal" electrons from other nearby molecules, creating free radicals. Free radicals may be naturally produced by the body, but an oversupply of them can cause damage to all areas of the body, including the skin. Some experts theorize that stress might cause the body to generate hormones that encourage the production of free radicals.

Antioxidants in moisturizers can protect skin from cigarette smoke.
Antioxidants in moisturizers can protect skin from cigarette smoke.

Other factors that negatively affect the skin are over-exposure to the sun and stress. Environmental factors, such as pollution and cigarette smoke, may also damage the skin and cause it to age prematurely. Antioxidant creams may help bring a youthful appearance back to the skin and repair some of its damage. They might be effective in reducing under-eye puffiness, dark circles, and fine lines. Antioxidant cream may hydrate the skin and make it appear more smooth and healthy-looking, and many use it in the neck area as well as on the face.

Turmeric has antioxidant properties and can be used in home remedies.
Turmeric has antioxidant properties and can be used in home remedies.

Some antioxidant creams contain essential oils like thyme, eucalyptus, and cinnamon. These oils might have natural antioxidant properties. Prepared antioxidant creams containing essential oils may be available for purchase, or a person can also make their own by adding a few drops of an essential oil into their face cream. Vitamin E oil is commonly considered to be a powerful antioxidant.

Antioxidant creams may help reduce dark circles under the eyes.
Antioxidant creams may help reduce dark circles under the eyes.

While antioxidant cream is important, people may also be able to get some of its benefits through food and dietary supplements. Certain foods such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds are sometimes rich in antioxidants. These foods may not only help reduce the signs of aging, but can also lower the risk of cancer and heart disease. Some people take vitamin supplements containing antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin B2, and cysteine, an amino acid. Certain herbs, such as grape seed, green tea, and turmeric, might also contain valuable antioxidant properties.

Discussion Comments

indigomoth

Generally I think that antioxidant creams are too expensive and you are better off making it yourself. There are plenty of tutorials on how to do so online.

But, if you are going to buy one, I would also check online to see what other people have to say about it. Remember that sometimes they might be taken in by the placebo effect, so they might think something has improved, when it really hasn't (or maybe it has, but not because of the cream).

These creams can be very expensive, so if you can, try to get a free sample before you use them. Often the more expensive the cream, the more likely they will send you a free sample so you can try before you buy.

lluviaporos

@umbra21 - Actually, there's no firm evidence that antioxidants do fight cancer and heart disease and wrinkles and so forth.

We know that people who eat lots of fruits and vegetables tend to have lower rates of these problems, but if antioxidants are given alone to patients, they don't seem to make much difference, so it's thought that there is some other kind of benefit in the food that helps you to resist disease.

You are right about having a wide range of different kinds of vegetables though. The flavonoids in different colors of vegetables have been proven to prevent diseases, so even if they aren't doing good through antioxidants, they might be doing it in other ways.

umbra21

I'm a firm believer in getting your antioxidants from the food you eat. Generally they are contained in food which is really good for you anyway, like fresh fruits and vegetables, so you might as well be eating them.

One way that I think is a clever method of figuring out what to eat each day is to try and get a "rainbow" of foods.

If you manage to eat fruits and vegetables that are red, orange/yellow, green and blue/purple (blue foods, like blueberries and blue corn are particularly rich in antioxidants) every day, you'll be providing yourself with a range of vitamins and antioxidants.

I know it can be expensive to buy these kinds of foods, but your skin will thank you for it one day and so will the rest of you, since antioxidants are really good at fighting cancer and heart disease as well.

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    • Antioxidants in moisturizers can protect skin from cigarette smoke.
      By: Mr Korn Flakes
      Antioxidants in moisturizers can protect skin from cigarette smoke.
    • Turmeric has antioxidant properties and can be used in home remedies.
      By: Photographee.eu
      Turmeric has antioxidant properties and can be used in home remedies.
    • Antioxidant creams may help reduce dark circles under the eyes.
      By: WONG SZE FEI
      Antioxidant creams may help reduce dark circles under the eyes.