During the course of shopping online or at the store for a few new grooming products, you may have heard these words… Free-Radicals. So what are they?

Free-Radicals – also known simply as radicals, are organic molecules responsible for aging, tissue damage, and possibly some diseases.

Free-Radicals are created by environmental pollution, cigarette smoking, and poisons like cleaners and herbicides. Preliminarily, low concentrations of free radicals have been associated with a reduced risk for heart disease and stroke, but more studies are needed to understand their relationship.*

So without a full-on chemistry lesson… what do we do?

Studies have shown that antioxidants such as Vitamins A, C & E will slow the process of aging by preventing free-radicals from oxidizing sensitive biological molecules.

Perhaps the best free-radical avenger of all vitamins (internally and topically) is Vitamin C.  Here are a few suggestions!

• Vitamin C + Pomegranate Vitamins by Slice of Life
• Vitamin C Serum by Anthony Logistics
• Vitacrystal Liquefaction C by Envie De Neuf

*Source: Wisegeek.com

We’ve all popped a pimple, right?  Sometimes there’s even a reminder a day later of where you did it.  You see it, that red or discolored spot on your skin.  I see a lot of clients who have scarring from teenage acne.  A few have even admitted to using their wife’s or girlfriend’s concealer!  A lot of times I hear, “There is nothing you can do about it.”  Trust me – there is ALWAYS something you can do about it.

One way is to pay a visit to an esthetician (a person who specializes in the beautification of the skin).  He/she will evaluate your skin and apply a series of treatments, ranging from facials to peels to microdermabrasion, and even laser treatments if necessary.  But, there is a simpler solution you should try first, Vitamin E.  Available in many forms (vitamins, creams and oils), vitamin E has been proven to work wonders on reducing red spots and acne scars.  I find that the gel caps work the best!   

Vitamin E Gel Caps

Just prick open the gel tab with a pin and squeeze a little on your finger and apply.  A word of warning, it is rather sticky so you will want to blot the excess off with a moist tissue. Do this every night after you have washed your face. If your skin is oily don’t worry – this will not make it worse. Oily skin is actually the result of dehydrated skin that is producing extra oils to compensate, so this can help that situation as well.

If you are hesitant to put the gel directly on your face because you think it is too sticky, you can mix it in with your daily moisturizer. It’s a cost-effective chemical-free treatment. Give it a shot!