Have you ever wondered what it means when something is “rich in antioxidants?” What is an antioxidant anyway?

First, it is important to understand a little more about what antioxidants help defend us from – free radicals. Free radicals are unstable, highly reactive molecules that can cause chain reactions that damage millions of cells. They are created both in the environment and in our bodies, and the damage they cause leads to both internal and external aging.

Every day our young, healthy skin is exposed to trillions of free radicals from a variety of sources, such as the sun’s ultraviolet rays, pollution, smoke, internal processes, and external stress. Our skin cells, over time, will work less efficiently to produce the collagen and elastin necessary for skin smoothness, firmness, and elasticity. This decrease in collagen and elastin production becomes visible sometime in our late twenties or early thirties when we look in the mirror and discover our first wrinkle.

Antioxidants are nature’s defense to guard cellular structures and genetic material against the damaging effects of free radicals. A continuous supply of antioxidants is critical to counteract these free radicals for internal and external health.

Nu Skin’s skin care products can offer antioxidant benefits directly to the skin with antioxidant-rich vitamins and extracts in our formulations. For example, ageLOC Tru Face Essence Ultra is formulated with an antioxidant network comprised of colorless carotenoids, coenzyme Q10, vitamin C, vitamin E, and green tea (TeGreen 97). This network of antioxidants helps protect the skin from free radical assault that can impact the firmness and contour of the skin.

Through a greater understanding of free radicals we can better equip ourselves with the tools needed to defend against the signs of aging.