Sun radiation and pollution are major sources of free radicals and even though you can shield yourself from UV rays 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 need to live is a potent source of free-radical molecules. That is why antioxidants are state-of-the-art components to look for when shopping for skin-care solutions, and there are many available (with no clear-cut "best" choice among them).

Some 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.

Free Radicals Treated with Natural Ingredients

Glycerin is a humectant. This implies it has the capability to capture water right from the air bringing it closer to your skin and promotes the retention of water. It helps improve the skin's defences by filling the intercellular matrix and attracts just the right amount of water to keep the skin's homeostasis whilst aiding the other skin lipids perform better. Glycerin is a derivative of the saponification process of vegetable fatty acids.

A wide range of ingredients help skin retain 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 phospholipids, fructose, ceramide, elastin, glycogen, hyaluronic acid, collagen, sodium hyaluronate, lecithin, cholesterol, polysaccharides, glycosphingolipids, amino acids, glucose, mucopolysaccharides, proteins, sucrose, sodium PCA, glycerine, and glycosaminoglycans. No single one of these is chosen 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 reinforcing the skin. Seaweed also has anti-inflammatory properties, toning, re-mineralizing and rejuvenating properties.

Algae, in its hundreds of existing forms, are well-known antioxidant constituents and have been around for a long time. Algae have 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 component is odorless, non-irritating and non-allergic. It promotes the softness and moisture of both hair and skin. More specifically it impedes oxidative degeneration of collagen and hyaluronic acid, which in turn can help to smoothe out wrinkles and fine lines: a nice anti-aging ability.

An exceptional 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 essential biological sugars. It has been included in the diet of Okinawa inhabitants for centuries and is attributed as one of the reasons why the region has one of the world's highest rates of longevity.