Why are Antioxidants important for our skin?
Antioxidants are our first line of defense in anti-ageing as it prevents first signs of pigmentation, dark spots, fine lines and textural changes in skin. Just when we think sunscreen is enough for that, think again. We are constantly exposed to not only UV radiation, but also pollution, ozone, and other harmful visible and non-visible forms of radiation. The role of Antioxidants is a powerful one - they neutralize the damaging effects of free radical reactions that transpire under the surface of our skin.
The problem for me and many others is that until now, it has been challenging finding a comprehensive topical antioxidant solution without dealing with redness, skin irritation which typically comes with a good antioxidant - until now. Having tried many Vitamin C, E serums, I think I might have found the one in SkinBetter Science's Alto Defense Serum.
Here's why:
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Complete: Alto is a 360 holistic, complete antioxidant solution packed with Vitamin C, Vitamin E, coenzyme Q, coffee, and turmeric, that offers incredible protection against environmental triggers our naked eyes can see and even those we cannot see. 19 water soluble, enzymatic and lipid soluble antioxidants provide comprehensive protection at all cellular levels of the skin.
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Texture: a lovely light-weight "gel / creme serum" which, thanks to its air-less, air tight opaque bottle, does not get oxidised. This is unlike most Vitamin C serums which become oxidised by air contact and tend to darken over time / exposure to air.
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Anti-redness: synergistic effects of the actives, when blended together have also clinically proven to reduce skin redness (erythema), which I had the recent pleasure of experiencing - having woken up one morning with some mild red patches (the usual hormonal skin woes). 5 minutes after application of Alto, redness abated, itch completely gone. Definitely a wow moment for me - because Vitamin C formulations usually give me the redness, not remove them!
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Multiplier effect: with Alto, there is no talk about the concentration of Vitamin C or any of the ingredients. Instead, every of the 19 antioxidant ingredients are there to support each other resulting in a multiplier effect (where each antioxidant supports the efficacy of each other, which has the power to multiply the effects of the other antioxidants).
- Clinically proven: backed by clinical studies that demonstrate Alto's ability to quench free radicals, reduce fine lines (37%), erythema (18%), skin tone degration (17%) etc.
Paired with a good antioxidant supplement like Crystal Tomato, I think I've got most bases covered. For those of you who have not tried Crystal Tomato, this supplement contains 100% pure white tomatoes (carotenoids) which are part of the antioxidant defense system in our body and play a major role in protecting plants against photo-oxidative stress. Taken over an extended period, skin is not just more protected, healthier, radiant but with the added benefit of deactivating free radicals and boosting our immune system levels. One notable advantage being on this is falling sick less often.
So yes, hopefully you are now as convinced as I am on the crucial role of antioxidants (both inside and outside) - with a diet rich in antioxidant-rich foods like:
- allium sulphur compounds – leeks, onions and garlic.
- anthocyanins – eggplant, grapes and berries.
- beta-carotene – pumpkin, mangoes, apricots, carrots, spinach and parsley.
- catechins – red wine and tea.
- copper – seafood, lean meat, milk and nuts.
... one should be on the way to an overall healthier body (including our skin; which happens to be just the largest organ and not the liver)!