Antioxidants
The science behind antioxidants can get complex quickly, so we're keeping it simple. We'll cover what free radicals are, what oxidative stress can look like on your skin, how antioxidants help, and where you'll find them in Leahlani formulas. Think of this as Antioxidants 101: a simple guide to a complex subject.
A free radical is an unstable molecule with an unpaired electron. Because it's unstable, it can react with other molecules around it, potentially damaging important parts of our cells, including proteins, lipids, and DNA. Here's the simplest way to think about it: imagine a free radical as a tiny troublemaker searching for an electron to steal. In the process, it can destabilize other molecules and set off a chain reaction.
Our bodies naturally produce free radicals, but environmental factors like UV radiation and pollution can increase them. When there are more reactive molecules than our natural antioxidant defenses can manage, oxidative stress occurs.
You can't look at a single wrinkle or dark spot and say, "That's oxidative stress." Skin aging is complex and influenced by everything from genetics and hormones to UV exposure and lifestyle. Over time, oxidative stress can contribute to visible signs of premature skin aging, including:
- Uneven skin tone and hyperpigmentation
- Fine lines and wrinkles
- Rough or uneven texture
- Loss of firmness and elasticity
- Inflammation and a weakened skin barrier
- An overall dull or less vibrant appearance
This damage is often cumulative. Think of all the environmental exposures your skin encounters over years and decades: sunlight, pollution, smoke, and the everyday process of simply being alive. Our skin has its own sophisticated antioxidant defense and repair systems, but sometimes those systems can become overwhelmed. This is where antioxidants enter the conversation.
Antioxidants help neutralize free radicals and interrupt the chain reactions that contribute to oxidative damage. And antioxidants aren't just one ingredient. Vitamin C and vitamin E are antioxidants, as are astaxanthin, CoQ10, carotenoids, polyphenols, and many compounds naturally found in fruits, flowers, algae, and botanicals.
In skincare, antioxidants help support the skin's defenses against oxidative stress caused by environmental exposure. Depending on the specific antioxidant and formulation, they may help protect against oxidative damage, support a brighter and more even-looking complexion, and help defend collagen and other important skin structures.
Antioxidants are not sunscreen and should never replace broad-spectrum sun protection. Instead, think of them as another layer of support in caring for and protecting your skin.
The short answer? Everywhere.
You'll find antioxidants throughout our formulas in ingredients like vitamin C, vitamin E, astaxanthin, CoQ10, sea buckthorn, spirulina, microalgae, Kakadu plum, acerola cherry, guava, and many of our antioxidant-rich botanical oils and extracts.
And this is something we love about antioxidants: they don't always need to be the single hero ingredient on the front of the bottle. Sometimes, antioxidant support is woven throughout the entire formula through a thoughtful combination of vitamins, oils, fruits, algae, flowers, and botanicals.
