Free Radical Damage and How to Fight it

One of the biggest concerns when it comes to skin care is fighting free radical damage. After all, free radicals are the main cause of skin aging. And while most people focus on free radicals caused by sun exposure, it’s important to know that the sun isn’t the only culprit when it comes to free radical damage.

What is a “free radical?”

The human body is made up of many different types of cells, with each cell composed of different molecules. These molecules are formed from chemical bonds between atoms.

A little refresher from your high school chemistry class: protons, neutrons and electrons comprise an atom, and he number of protons determines the number of electrons. The electrons are the parts of the atoms that form the chemical bonds with other atoms – by sharing electrons between atoms. When chemical bonds “split” because they become damaged and weak, atoms can be left with an odd, “unpaired” electron. This is a free radical. This free radical then looks to attach to another atom to pair up that electron, “stealing” an electron, and causing a chain reaction of damage.

Free radicals can be caused by everyday pollution and other common environmental and lifestyle stressors, such as:

•     Air pollutants
•     Smog
•     UV rays (Approximately 80% of free radical damage is caused by the sun)
•     Inadequate sleep
•     Lack of exercise
•     Stress
•     Illness
•     Poor Diet
•     Overindulgence in Alcohol or Tobacco
•     Pesticide exposure

Combatting free radicals

Skin care companies have been infusing their products with antioxidants for many years to help consumers combat free radical damage. Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and CoQ10 are just some of the traditional antioxidants that help neutralize what are known as “oxygen free radicals” – free radicals that are the result of sun exposure and the like.

In the past few years, it has been discovered that pollution – auto exhaust, soot, and polluted air – produce a different type of free radical; the “nitrogen free radical,” which requires a little more than traditional antioxidants to combat its effects.

In Ultra-Potency Vitamin C+ Antioxidant Serum, Reviva Labs has combined high potency Vitamin C with supporting antioxidants Vitamin E and CoQ10 to combat the oxygen free radicals produced by the sun. But the ingredient that makes this serum a standout is Emblica.

From the Indian Gooseberry plant, Emblica has a unique power to scavenge the nitrogen free radicals caused by pollutants. Emblica, combined with traditional free radicals Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and CoQ10 provides an antioxidant powerhouse that makes Ultra-Potency Vitamin C+ Antioxidant Serum a unique product in the fight against free radical damage and premature aging.