Antioxidants are natural substances made up of vitamins and minerals and have an important role in skin aging and face products especially when it comes to African American skin.  Antioxidants can fight off “free radicals”.

There’s that word again “free radicals”.  What the heck are free radicals? Free radicals are damaged cells that can become problematic.  They are missing key molecules that send them on a rampage looking for other molecules to zap them of nutrients.

Here is a list of Antioxidants that have been shown to combat skin problems in African American Skin:

Acai Oil – is cold pressed from the seeds of the Acai berry.  The acai berry boast the highest per unit value of edible fruit in the world.  Acai is a more potent antioxidant than prunes, pomegranates, cranberries and mangosteen.

Alpha lipoic acid is a fatty acid found naturally in every cell of your body.  You need it to produce the energy from your body’s natural functions.  Alpha lipoic acids convert glucose into energy.  Alpha lipoic acid is also an antioxidant that neutralizes potentially harmful chemicals failed free radicals. What makes Alpha lipoic acid so unique is that it functions in water and fat.

Green Tea and its extracts are used to prevent and treat skin diseases, including skin cancer.  Green tea has a high content of polyphenols, and they seem to be responsible for removing free radicals from your skin before they have a chance to attack the DNA of your skin cells.

Green tea helps to rejuvenate your skin cells and protect them against ultraviolet damage.  Many of the benefits that occur with green tea come after drinking it for long periods of time, months/years.

Vitamin C is known to take 10 years off your face.  As your skin ages/matures it loses the nutrient of vitamin c.  Vitamin C is critical in the production of collagen and collagen is the protein that gives your skin its elasticity.

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ-10) is a naturally produced enzyme in your body. Studies have shown that all of the energy produced with your body is actually because of CoQ10 enzyme.

CoQ10 neutralizes the free radicals that are trying to do harm to your body.  Without CoQ10 there would be no healthy growing cells in your body.

As you mature/age, CoQ10 levels decrease in your body, so a good cream or supplement that contains CoQ10 would make a great addition to your daily regimen.

Curcumin has not only proven itself to be a powerful antioxidant but it has anti-inflammatory and anti cancer properties as well.  You’ve all read that free radicals cause oxidation thereby causing you to age prematurely.  Inflammation will do the same thing to your body.

Oxidation and inflammation will cause disease in your body so the key to beautiful skin is to keep your system free of oxidation and inflammation and curcumin can help you do this.

If you love curry, you know that turmeric is the spice that gives curry its vivid color.

Curcumin is responsible for the orange color that you see in turmeric and is considered to be one of the most powerful medicines in the world today.  It’s a compound found in the stem of the turmeric plant that’s underground.  It’s actually part of the ginger family.

Turmeric is a spice well known to India and used in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries. Turmeric is an excellent for exfoliating your skin.  Not only can it help you eliminate signs of aging but it’s great for dry skin, oily skin, removal of pigmentation, dead skin cells and will even help with cracked heels.

Rosemary helps tone and retain your skins natural moisture.  It prevents skin damage as related to aging and is an herb with anti bacterial and antiseptic properties.  Rosemary is known to tone and firm sagging skin that often occurs as you mature.

Rosemary enhances circulation and moisturizes dried out skin cells thereby reducing inflammation.  Rosemary is a natural astringent that high in antioxidants and very beneficial to aging skin.

Pomegranates help protect your skin against premature aging that can be caused by the sun.  Pomegranates are also known to help prevent hyperpigmentation and reduce dark spots.

Pomegranates protect the outer layer of your skin  and help with cell regeneration in the inner layer of your skin.  This increases circulation of your blood and aids tissue repair when needed.

Remember …

This is the short list of antioxidants for African American skin.  The key is to remember that as your skin matures, be sensible with sun exposure, check ingredients and know that you do not need to use as much or as many products as you once did.

Also, cosmetic formulations and some skin care products contain fragrance, fats and oils.  These ingredients are all subject to automatic oxidation because of exposure to air.

As always …

Dedicated To Your Beauty,

Juliette Samuel

Esthetician/Author/Publisher

Nyraju Skin Care