Sun radiation and pollution are important sources of free radicals and even though you can shield yourself against UV radiation and other contaminants you can't protect yourself 24/7. Free radical forming elements are ever-present, as a matter of fact, the very same oxygen we require to live is a potent source of free-radical damage. That is why antioxidants are state-of-the-art ingredients to look for when shopping for skin-care solutions, and there are dozens available (with no clear-cut "best" choice among them).

A variety of different ingredients found in Nature contain antioxidant powers that contribute to repair damaged cells and protect our organism against free radicals. Among them are glycerin and seaweed, mentioned below.

Natural Ingredients Help Fight Free Radicals

Glycerin is a humectant. This implies it has the capability to draw water right from the air bringing it closer to your skin and facilitates the retention of water. It helps improve the skin's defences by reinforcing the intercellular matrix and keeps just the right amount of water to keep the skin's homeostasis whilst helping the other skin lipids work better. Glycerin is a by-product of the saponification process of vegetable fatty acids.

A wide range of compounds help skin hold water (moisture). Glycerin is one of the more typical and effective water-binding agents used in cosmetics. Some water-binding agents can mimic the skin's actual structure and can be of benefit in a formulation; these include sodium hyaluronate, cholesterol, ceramide, amino acids, glycerine, sodium PCA, elastin, collagen, glycogen, phospholipids, polysaccharides, mucopolysaccharides, lecithin, proteins, glucose, hyaluronic acid, fructose, glycosphingolipids, sucrose, and glycosaminoglycans. No single one of these is preferred over the other because even though they are all effective, none of them can perpetually change the actual structure of skin.

Seaweed is the name normally used for various types of sea algae. Seaweed extracts contain cellular glyconutrients and trace minerals. They facilitate skin hydration as well as tightening the skin. Seaweed also has anti-inflammatory properties, firming, re-mineralising and rejuvenating actions.

Algae, in its hundreds of varying species, are well-known antioxidant ingredients and have been around for a long time. Algae show anti-free radicals or antioxidant properties (Sources: Journal of Agricultural Food Chemistry, February 2002, pages 840-845; and Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 2004, pages 219-222).

Furthermore seaweed extract is odorless, non-irritating and anti-allergic. It promotes the softness and moisture of both hair and skin. More concretely it inhibits oxidative degeneration of collagen and hyaluronic acid, which in turn can collaborate in fading out wrinkles and fine lines: a nice anti-aging property.

An interesting element in algae is Fucoidan, a type of glyconutrient that is being researched as a especial type of nutraceutical. The main effective component in Fucoidan is the fucose, one of the eight basic biological sugars. It has been included in the diet of Okinawa islanders for centuries and is believed as one of the reasons why the region has one of the world's highest rates of longevity.