Your skin deals with a lot on a daily basis—pollution, UV rays, and stress, all of which can slowly take a toll on its health and glow. One of the lesser-known reasons behind skin damage are free radicals. But what are they, how do they impact your skin, and most importantly, how can you protect your skin against them?
What Are Free Radicals?
Free radicals are unstable molecules that form in your body as a natural byproduct of processes like metabolism or from external sources like pollution, UV rays, and cigarette smoke. Since free radicals are missing an electron, this makes them highly reactive because “they can abstract electrons from other compounds to attain stability. Thus the attacked molecule loses its electron and becomes a free radical itself, beginning a chain reaction cascade which finally damages the living cell.”
Free Radicals & Skin
Your skin bears the brunt of free radical damage, and that damage manifests as dull skin, fine lines, wrinkles, and uneven skin tone. Over time, oxidative stress can break down key components of your skin like collagen and elastin. These proteins are what keep your skin firm, smooth, and youthful.
Free radical damage doesn’t happen overnight, but it accelerates with prolonged exposure to pollutants, sun exposure, and unhealthy habits. Here’s a breakdown of how free radicals impact skin health.
Collagen Breakdown
Collagen is the building block of plump, firm skin. Free radicals attack collagen, breaking it down and causing skin to sag and fine lines.
Hyperpigmentation
Oxidative stress can stimulate your skin to produce excess melanin, resulting in dark spots and uneven skin tone.
Weakened Skin Barrier
Your skin’s protective barrier keeps hydration in and irritants out. Free radicals degrade the skin's barrier, leaving your skin dry, irritated, and more prone to damage.
Inflamed Skin
Free radicals can activate inflammatory pathways, leading to redness and skin conditions like eczema or rosacea.
Accelerated Aging
Free radicals speed up visible signs of aging like fine lines, wrinkles, sagging skin, and loss of elasticity. While aging is natural, oxidative stress accelerates the timeline, making antioxidant support essential.
Understanding the impact of free radicals and skin helps understand why tackling them head-on is so important for maintaining skin wellness.
How To Combat Free Radicals
The good news is you can protect your skin from free radicals. With the right skincare products, and healthy lifestyle choices, you can support your skin’s ability to stay protected and radiant.
Use Antioxidant Skincare Products
Antioxidants are your skin’s warriors against free radicals. They give up electrons to neutralize free radicals, stopping them from damaging your skin cells.
BioBerry Infusion™
HPPY’s BioBerry Infusion™ is a broad-spectrum free radical protection using whole-berry nutrients powered by HPP technology, and stops 91% of free radicals.
Vitamin E
Often used in combination with Vitamin C to enhance its effectiveness, it moisturizes, soothes inflamed skin, and helps repair skin damage.
Vitamin C
This powerhouse antioxidant brightens the skin, stimulates collagen production, and fights oxidative stress.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E helps calm inflammation and strengthens the skin barrier, locking in moisture while shielding your skin from environmental stressors.
Niacinamide
This antioxidant strengthens the skin barrier, minimizes pores and reduces inflammation.
Ferulic Acid
Stabilizes other antioxidants (especially Vitamin C & E), and protects against sun damage.
Protect Skin From Sun Damage
Sunscreen isn’t just for beach days or sunny vacations, but something your skin needs every day. Even when it’s cloudy, raining, or you’re mostly indoors, UV rays can still reach your skin and cause long-term damage as well as triggering free radical production in your skin.
Prioritize Sleep
Getting quality sleep is one of your body’s most powerful tools for repairing and protecting itself, including from the effects of free radicals. During deep sleep, your body increases its natural antioxidant production and cellular repair processes, which helps neutralize free radicals and reduces oxidative stress. Sleep is like a built-in reset button that plays a crucial role in keeping your skin healthy.
Skincare Products That Neutralize Free Radicals
HPPY skincare products neutralize free radicals so that your skin stays glowing and healthy all day, and night long. Shop our collection of cleansers, serums, and moisturizers, packed with powerful antioxidants.
