ABSTRACT
In recent years, more and more cosmetic products have been formulated with antioxidants.
These new products claim to “moisturize,” “protect,” and “rejuvenate” the skin.
The skin naturally uses nutritional antioxidants to protect itself from free-radical
damage. Indeed, many antioxidants-most prominently vitamins C and E, the trace
mineral selenium (Se), the soy extract genistein and ubiquinone-have been proven
effective in protecting against ultraviolet (UV) damage to the skin and in actually
reversing the appearance of aging by decreasing solar hyperpigmentation and small
wrinkles when applied to the skin. Also, a-lipoic acid and ubiquinone may retard and reverse intrinsic as well as photoaging. Topical application of these antioxidants can give
far higher concentrations in the skin than even maximal oral intake. However, the correct
formulation is of utmost importance to attain eficacy. The challenge is to use the correct
form of the antioxidant molecule, to keep the antioxidant active to attain a reasonable
shelf-life for the product, and to achieve effective transcutaneous absorption that delivers
effectively high concentrations of the active antioxidant to the dermis as well as the
epidermis.
