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Antioxidants are present in many foods, and they are, in simple words, substances that prevent the oxidation process. They are used to keep stored food from going bad, and in the body, they help protect you against heart disease, eye diseases, cancer, and various other illnesses. Pomegranate juice has been found to be the strongest source of antioxidants.
Antioxidants protect the skin against sun damage – age spots, suntan, and even skin cancer. Applied topically, antioxidants also help soothe dermatitis, help the skin heal faster, promote collagen production, reduce inflammation and redness, and reduce hyperpigmentation. They work their magic by neutralizing free radicals, thus preventing the oxidation process.
Studies have found that antioxidants may prevent skin healing and regeneration in young people. Furthermore, at high concentrations, antioxidant supplements can have the opposite effect, and start to act as pro-oxidants instead. They can protect cancerous cells, reduce the benefits of exercise, and have unpleasant side-effects on the body.
Oily skin occurs when the sebaceous glands in the pores are producing more oil, or sebum, than necessary. Sebum is natural in all skin as it keeps the skin moist and healthy. Over production of sebum can be caused by hormones, genetics or could even be a result of dry skin over-compensating by producing extra oil, in order to retain some measure of moisture.
Oily skin can also be caused by using the wrong products for your skin type. For example, if you are using overly drying soaps and astringents for your skin type, your skin may respond by over producing oil to compensate, as mentioned above. This can create an unfortunate cycle of using harsh soaps to eliminate oils, but instead exacerbating the problem.
On the other hand, overly oily makeup and products can also cause oily skin.
Ingredients that help exfoliate dead skin cells to keep pores unclogged and increase new skin cell production, such as Vitamin A/Retinol, glycolic acid, and salicylic acid, are good for treating acne as well. Benzoyl peroxide is a topical agent for fighting bacteria and unclogging pores. It is one of the longest-used medications to keep oily pores clean and healthy. Jojoba oil is also good for fighting bacteria trapped in oily skin and maintaining a moisture barrier to prevent over-production of sebum.
antioxidants may be effective for oily skin, but there are many other factors that may affect whether this ingredient would work on your skin or if there are better ingredients that may work for you. Take this skin quiz to find the best ingredients for your skin and build your skincare routine.
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