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Your skin is the largest organ on your body. And just like your internal organs, your skin craves nutrients. This is why “skin food” has become such a popular term in natural skincare. Because it’s not enough to make you pretty and glowy if the skin you showoff is starving. And that’s where mega-antioxidant, Astaxanthin and its seemingly boundless skin benefits come into play.
What is Astaxanthin?
Astaxanthin is a carotenoid. It naturally occurs in seafood and algae, creating a bright and beautiful reddish-orange pigment. However, the Astaxanthin used in skincare is a bioavailable synthesis sourced from bacteria, microalgae, and yeasts.
Astaxanthin benefits are topical and internal. Upon research, scientists label the beneficial compounds to be antioxidative. Research also suggests that it helps promote the effectiveness and absorption of vitamins and minerals that may be ingested or applied at the same time.
Astaxanthin Skin Benefits
Astaxanthin skin benefits come from its antioxidant properties that treat skin at the cellular level. Astaxanthin exerts a balancing effect on the skin, returning it to homeostasis. The results of this balancing act appear in the following benefits.
UV + UVB Protection
The most potent and potential life-saving astaxanthin skin benefit is its ability to reduce the effects of UVB-induced inflammation. Significant damage can occur at the cellular level when UVB burns or scars skin tissue. UVB can lead to an overproduction of melanin resulting in dark spots or potentially modified DNA that can cause cancer.
As mentioned earlier, the original and non-synthetic source of Astaxanthin or ASX is found in sea life especially crustaceans and fish (oh, not to mention-the pink in Flamingos!)… ASX protects marine life from the strong UV rays they are exposed to on land and near the surface of the water.
Fights Free Radicals
ASX produces greater light tolerance and reduces the stress caused by the sun, environment, and pollutants by protecting skin against the oxidation of macromolecules. When your skin has potent free-radical protection it:
- Ages slower
- Reduces inflammation & redness
- Becomes less sensitive
- Less like to be sunburned
- Prevents dark spots
So many of us are excited about lotions, potions, serums, and sprays we forget to consider antioxidant treatments. If you don’t have this as a regular step in your skincare routine, Astaxanthin-based formulas are a great place to start.
Anti-Aging + Hydration Cure-all
Oxidants are dangerous for the skin. They take over the cell structure, impact DNA, and can cause cancer. However, more often than not, and with the use of SPF that won’t happen to most people. But what does occur is the breakdown of collagen caused by free-radicals. This results in a loss of elasticity, the skin becomes thin and sensitive, and wrinkles and fine lines appear.
Hydration and decreased signs of aging go hand in hand, so I tend to discuss them in tandem. Astaxanthin’s ability to ward off free radicals gets your skin ahead in the race against wrinkles and fine lines. But it’s the antioxidant’s ability to create a gentle protective barrier that keeps sun-damage out and water in.
It’s not just the sun’s rays that produce a threat to your skin, but the dry heat that absorbs its moisture. ASX responds to, balances, and mimics the lipids in your skin giving you an almost “second skin”. This means double the moisture-lock and doubles the protection. ASX penetrates all layers of the skin making it your internal sunscreen and SPF your top layer.
Address Hyperpigmentation
Research suggests that the restorative and protective antioxidant Astaxanthin skin benefits can take up to four weeks of consistent use to show up. All but one.
The brightening effects come much sooner. Serums and oils containing Astaxanthin skin benefits reduce dullness, even complexion, balance sebum production, boost collagen creation, and add plump to the skin only takes a few consistent application before the results start to appear.
Shop Astaxanthin-Containing Favorites
Marie Veronique Vitamins C+E+Ferulic Serum
A bestseller, this all-day+night facial serum is crushing the antioxidant game. Fueled by the protective power of Astaxanthin, the Marie Veronique Serum formula contains Vitamins and minerals that are pulled deep beneath the skin’s surface to restore the damage and protect at a cellular level. The results are a more radiant, youthful, and healthy complexion.
Maya Chia The Super Blend Pressed Serum Brightening Moisture Concentrate
Drenched in botanicals and high-potency antioxidants, this beauty balm creates a cushion of hydration for your skin. Melting beautifully, this proprietary complex tightens skin, restores plumpness, elasticity, vitality, and brightness.
Suntegrit5-in-1 Tinted Moisturizing Face Sunscreen
Relieve oxidative stress and sun protection-but make it fashion. Want to skip a few extra steps in your skincare and makeup routine? This tinted moisturizer is the best of both worlds. Enjoy Astaxanthin skin benefits while adding sheer pigment. Immediate beauty benefits inside and outside of your skin.
Marie Veronique Eye Repair Serum
Your eyes need just as much if not more love than the rest of your face. Marie Veronique has our back again with this collagen-boosting eye serum. Made with Astaxanthin, Vitamin C, and L-carnosine to help fight the aging process at the cellular and subcellular level-this serum significantly reduces the onset of the dreaded crows-feet, forehead wrinkles, and smile lines. Use this serum on the most delicate areas on your face that require a little extra antioxidant, antiaging love.
Astaxanthin; The Skin-Saving Ingredient You never Heard Of…
…until now. 6,000x more potent than Vitamin C and 110x more than Vitamin E and more brightening than that fancy cream you paid way too much for-Astaxanthin skin benefits are the full package. The best part, it’s gentle enough for all skin types-yes, even you with the softest most sensitive skin. Astaxanthin benefits can be experienced through consistent application and via supplements.
Do you know of a powerhouse antioxidant that the world seems to be sleeping on? We want to know your beauty secrets! So go ahead, drop a comment below letting us all know how you keep that glow, and I may just have to feature it in my next blog post.
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