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

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

Ingredients Found in Nature Protect Against Free Radicals

Glycerin is a humectant. This implies it has the capability to draw water right from the air bringing it next to your skin and promotes the retention of water. It helps enhance the skin's defences by filling the intercellular matrix and keeps just the right amount of water to maintain 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 retain water (moisture). Glycerin is one of the more typical and efficient water-binding elements used in cosmetics. Some water-binding elements can mimic the skin's actual structure and can be of benefit in a formulation; these include hyaluronic acid, lecithin, sodium hyaluronate, glycerine, phospholipids, polysaccharides, sodium PCA, ceramide, proteins, amino acids, cholesterol, glucose, mucopolysaccharides, elastin, fructose, collagen, glycogen, sucrose, glycosphingolipids, and glycosaminoglycans. No single one of these is chosen over the other because even though they are all efficient, none of them can perpetually change the actual structure of skin.

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

Algae, in its hundreds of existing species, are well-known antioxidant ingredients 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 boosts the softness and moisture of both hair and skin. More specifically it inhibits oxidative degradation of collagen and hyaluronic acid, which in turn can collaborate in fading out wrinkles and fine lines: a nice anti-aging ability.

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