Prevention is always better than cure.
And the best way to keep your skin looking younger?
Preventing the damage that causes skin to age in the first place.
Now we’re not suggesting you can hold back time, but you can neutralise the environmental stresses that damage your skin’s collagen - and cause fine lines and wrinkles to appear.
With that in mind, we present …
Antioxidants.
Your skin’s best defence against the environmental damage caused by pollution, UV light and free radicals which cause signs of aging.
Pomegranates contain a powerful mix of antioxidants that reduce signs of aging and leave your skin glowing
What is an antioxidant?
Essentially antioxidants block the damage to your skin caused by free radicals and reactive oxygen species.
And what are free radicals?
These are molecules generated by daily environmental damage - such as UV radiation from the sun and air pollution. They cause destructive changes to your cells and tissues, accelerating skin aging.
How can antioxidants keep your skin looking younger?
Antioxidants provide a natural shield from the daily environmental damage of free radicals that your skin is exposed to. It’s this cellular damage that causes signs of aging like fine lines and wrinkles to appear, and for skin to start to sag.
Antioxidants also encourage collagen production, giving your skin a healthy, smooth appearance.
This keeps it looking firmer.
Why are antioxidants so important for a man's skin?
Along with their anti-aging properties, antioxidants help to strengthen and repair the barrier function of your skin, which can be badly affected by shaving.
And they stimulate your skin’s natural repair mechanism too. Particularly important when you’re dragging a blade across your face most days!
So what’s the best way of getting hold of antioxidants?
Firstly, you can apply them directly in your skincare.
Skincare products which include a variety of antioxidants give you a healthy, glowing complexion - as well as keeping your skin looking younger.
And secondly you can include antioxidants in your diet.
We’ve listed the richest food sources of antioxidants below.
Antioxidants in your skincare
Because we’re exposed to environmental factors such as UV radiation and pollution every day it’s a good idea to increase your antioxidant levels through your daily skin care.
As well as protecting your skin from this damage some antioxidants also brighten your skin, calm irritation and strengthen and repair.
We’ve included four different antioxidants in our skincare range.
Different because antioxidants have different roles.
In our Daily Face Wash we’ve added:
Black Tea Extract: It contains polyphenols that neutralize free radicals and help prevent environmental damage to your skin.
Black Tea Extract is also effective at reducing irritation. Super important when you're about to shave.
Exfoliating Face Wash for Glowing Skin
Our Protective Shave Cream contains:
Apricot Stone Oil: Nourishing, soothing and anti-aging, it contains antioxidant Vitamins A and E and acts as a rich emollient.
Lubricating Apricot Stone Oil allows the razor to glide easily and softens your beard so it’s easier to cut.
Shave Cream for the Smoothest Shave
And in our Hydrating Daily Moisturizer we’ve included:
Vitamin E not only fights off the damage caused by free radicals to stop signs of aging from appearing, it also encourages collagen production.
Collagen forms the structural support for your skin. So it helps stop any signs of sagging, as well as improves the texture of your skin, minimizing pores to give you a healthy even-toned complexion.
Jojoba Oil is a protective anti-oxidant that helps prevent the breakdown of elastin, making sure that your skin bounces back and stops expression lines from forming.
Jojoba Oil also evens out skin tone and brightens your complexion.
The result? A reduction in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, firmer looking skin and improvements in your skin texture and tone.
Hydrating Moisturizer for Firmer Skin
Antioxidants in your diet
Choosing foods from the list below is the healthiest way to include antioxidants in your diet.
And eating a diet rich in antioxidants does more than just improve your skin.
It helps increase your blood antioxidant levels to fight oxidative stress, reduce the risk of disease and is important for longevity.
As well as stimulating your skin’s natural repair mechanism and encouraging collagen production.
Here are the top 17 foods that are the richest sources of antioxidants:
Almond Milk: an excellent source of the powerful antioxidant Vitamin E, which helps to prevent long term damage such as wrinkles.
Beans: Soybeans, black beans, any type of bean – they’re all blessed with anti-aging properties.
Beans contain the age-defying compounds anthocyanins and isoflavones. Both of which prevent damage caused by UV rays, inflammation, and ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species) - and therefore delay the signs of aging.
Blueberries: Blueberries have the highest antioxidant levels of all fruit and vegetables!
Making them super-efficient at protecting your skin from environmental damage, stress, and pollution – while at the same time preventing collagen loss.
Rich in vitamins A and C, they contain the antioxidant, Anthocyanin, which prevents the cell-structure damage that can lead to loss of firmness, fine lines, and wrinkles.
Broccoli: An anti-aging powerhouse, broccoli is rich in vitamins C and K, fiber, potassium, iron and calcium. Its high antioxidant content makes it one of the best foods to help fight the signs of aging.
Chia Seeds: For starters, chia seeds are packed full of the antioxidants which help your cells defend against free radicals and slow down the aging process. One serving packs an antioxidant punch that's even three times stronger than blueberries.
They’re also an excellent source of Omega-3 fatty acids. Better than salmon, in fact.
Loaded with antioxidants, consuming dark chocolate maintains skin elasticity and hydration levels
Dark Chocolate: Good quality dark chocolate with a high cocoa content is loaded with organic antioxidants - including polyphenols, flavanols and catechins, among others.
Studies show that consuming dark chocolate maintains skin elasticity and hydration levels, as well as helping to prevent wrinkles.
Figs: Rich in polyphenols and flavonoids which give them their antioxidant properties.
The flavonoids in figs help prevent oxidative stress, so keeping your skin healthy and young-looking.
Green Tea: There are many kinds of green tea, and they all contain polyphenols (antioxidants that combat free-radical damage and reduce the effects of aging) and catechins (molecules that help prevent sun damage like hyperpigmentation).
Green tea also has anti-inflammatory properties that prevent antioxidant depletion on your skin.
Lemons and Limes: Lemons and limes are both excellent sources of vitamin C that helps keep your skin healthy and glowing.
Vitamin C is not only an important antioxidant that protects your skin from the effects of free radicals, but it also stimulates collagen production, keeping your skin supple and smooth.
Lemons are also an important source of flavonoids that counteract the effects of UV-induced photodamage of the skin.
Oatmeal: Oatmeal is full of antioxidants that do battle against skin cell damage.
It also contains avenanthramide. This natural compound is only found in oats and is a powerful antioxidant helping to soothe any skin irritation, particularly from shaving.
It also has anti-inflammatory properties that help in slowing down skin aging.
Olive Oil: One of the best anti-aging foods, olive oil is chock full of polyphenol antioxidants, as well as heart-healthy Omega-3 fatty acids. So it helps you look and feel much younger.
Papaya: Full of antioxidants - including vitamins A, C, K, and E, potassium and magnesium – Papaya helps to guard against environmental damage, reduce signs of aging and leave your skin glowing.
Pomegranates: Pomegranates contain a powerful variety of antioxidants - vitamins C, D, E, and K, as well as magnesium and selenium. With studies showing pomegranate juice to have an antioxidant activity three times higher than those of red wine or green tea.
Red Wine: The high levels of antioxidants found in red wine not only help prevent damage to your skin that can contribute to aging, they’re also important for longevity.
The mountainous island of Sardinia in the Mediterranean is home to some of the oldest men in the world.
And they drink a lot of red wine!
Sardinia produces a type of wine that’s rich in polyphenols—antioxidant-rich micronutrients that scientists have linked with many health benefits.
You can find out more here: "Blue Zones: 9 Secrets of the World’s Healthiest People".
Spinach: Spinach is packed with antioxidants - an excellent source of vitamin A, C, E and K, along with magnesium, folic acid and iron - promoting collagen production, fighting free radicals, improving cell function and keeping skin smooth and firm.
It also offers a rich supply of beta-carotene, which guards against damage caused by the sun, and a phytonutrient called lutein, which helps to maintain skin’s elasticity.
Sweet Potatoes: And it’s the beta-carotene that gives sweet potato its orange colour. This antioxidant, which is converted by the body into Vitamin A, restores skin elasticity, promotes cell turnover and contributes to healthy, youthful skin.
This delicious root vegetable is also a great source of vitamins C and E, protecting skin from harmful free radicals and promoting a smooth, healthy complexion.
Watercress: Leafy green watercress is nutrient-rich.
A great source of Vitamins A, C and K, magnesium, potassium, calcium and phosphorus, watercress packs an impressive antioxidant punch for such a low calorie food.
You can find more excellent anti aging food choices here: "An A-Z of the Best Anti Aging Foods for Men".
And here: "Get Healthy, Glowing Skin With These 9 Plant Based Foods".
The Takeaway
Antioxidants are your skin’s best defence against signs of aging.
They guard against the environmental damage caused by pollution, UV light and free radicals which cause your skin to sag, and fine lines and wrinkles to appear.
You can harness the benefits of antioxidants by using skincare every day that includes a variety of different antioxidants.
As well as protecting from damage this will brighten your skin, calm irritation and strengthen and repair.
And double up by eating a diet full of rich sources of antioxidants: like blueberries, dark chocolate, pomegranates, sweet potatoes and red wine.
Keeping your skin looking younger – and giving you a healthy, glowing complexion!
SHOP THE ROUTINE.
All you need to stay looking handsome.
PRESTIGE SKINCARE FOR MEN.
MADE IN FRANCE.
