Antioxidants, Vitamins and Peptides, Oh My!

Antioxidants – Your Protection Against Premature Aging

Is your skin exposed to pollution, UV rays, smoke, harsh winds, or is your everyday diet set perfectly so you are getting all the nutrients you need with the food pyramid, with no alcohol consumption, no smoking and even no stress? All the things just mentioned are examples of what are called “free radicals”, also known as “oxidative stresses”. To fight off these oxidative stresses, antioxidants act like your skin’s bodyguard neutralizing them, so the harmful effects of these villains aren’t obvious on your skin. Oxidative stresses are incredibly bad for your skin because they lead to premature aging, dark spots and other skin damage. Antioxidants, our fighters against these oxidative stresses, are some of your powerhouse vitamins, which we’ll talk about shortly, but include Vitamin C, green tea, minerals such as zinc and copper ,and Vitamin E, to name a few. They are your defense against harmful environmental stresses and lifestyle choices that negatively impact how well your skin ages. Great examples of skincare that uses antioxidants to brighten complexions and reduce dark spots or hyperpigmentation on your skin, include the Cranberry Rose Skin Refiner, which is a gentle exfoliating mask, that you can leave on your face for up to 10 minutes or, to maximize the anti-aging benefits of this mask, you can leave this on your face for up to 20-30 minutes, provided your skin is agreeable.   Additionally, the Super Antioxidant Night Cream is a lightweight moisturizer to use before going to bed so that it can repair and restore your skin as you sleep, and it also helps repair damage to your skin caused from the sun.

Vitamins: The Multivitamin Boost for Your Skin

So, we just discussed that some of your favorite vitamins are antioxidants, but they are also multi-functional for your skin! We all know that vitamins keep your body healthy. Well, they do the same for your skin. Vitamins like A, B, C, D and E play different roles in keeping your skin happy and glowing. Vitamin A, which comes from Beta Carotene, works wonderfully against wrinkles and fine lines. Vitamin B (niacinamide) soothes and hydrates, while vitamin C brightens and evens out your skin tone. Vitamin D has shown to have significant inflammation properties, aiding those with eczema, rosacea and other inflammatory skin conditions as well as, preventing signs of aging, by acting as a blocker from the sun’s UV rays. Let’s not forget about vitamin E – which also has great inflammatory properties, and is the queen of locking in moisture. These vitamins are like the nutrients your skin needs to thrive, making your skincare routine feel like a well-balanced meal for your face.

Peptides: The Foundational Building Blocks

Peptides might sound like a fancy term, but think of them as workers on your skin. These workers are tiny protein fragments, called amino acids, who work behind the scenes, encouraging collagen and elastin to produce more, helping your skin stay firm, plump and smooth. They’re like little cheerleaders, urging your skin to be its best self. Collagen starts decreasing in your 20’s by 1 – 1.5% a year.  Once we get to menopausal age, collagen and elastin lose about a whopping 30% within the first 5 years of menopause. After the first 5 years of menopause, the rate slows down but at a rate that is still faster than when it was before menopause, losing approximately 2% a year. All this loss of collagen and elastin leads to wrinkles and sagging skin. That’s why peptides are so important to use. So, when you’re in the market for that plump, youthful look, peptides are going to be your best friend in skincare.  With that said, I think one of the best peptide products is the Natural Peptide Mask that can be used as a mask that you wash off or it can be applied as your night cream.  I actually alternate each night between the Super Antioxidant Night Cream and the Natural Peptide Mask.  The Ambra Lift Elixir is a great serum (or moisturizer if you don’t need as much moisture to the skin as I do) that also contains marine collage peptides.  I use this at night just before my night cream.  My daytime serum is the Mermaid Elixir, another great serum (or day moisturizer if you don’t need as much hydration) that has both marine collagen peptides and copper peptides.  Lastly, we are now carrying Elina Organic’s Rescue Hydration Mist, which is a toner that contains silk peptides!  Can you say looooove!?  It’s not on the website yet, but that is only because of the work being done on the new site, but by September 22nd, it will be loaded on our website.

Let’s Work Together

Now, that you have a better understanding of these skincare essentials, and why they are so important, there is one more thing to discuss. These fabulous ingredients work better together than they do alone. By working together, they create a harmonious symphony, each playing its part to keep your skin healthy, youthful, and radiant. To recap, antioxidants protect your skin, peptides build its resilience by boosting collagen and elastin production, and vitamins nourish it from within. When you combine these three incredible ingredients, you’re not just treating your skin – you are feeding it with the nutrients needed for a healthy, youthful and radiant appearance. You glow girl!