Astaxanthin - Possibly the World's Most Powerful Anti-Oxidant
Statistics of Astaxanthin
6,000 times stronger than Vitamin C
800 times stronger than CoQ10
550 times stronger than Green Tea catechins
550 times stronger than Vitamin E (a-tocopherol)
75 times stronger than Alpha Lipoic Acid
40 times stronger than Beta-Carotene
17 times more potent than Grape Seed Extracts
Astaxanthin is a dark red powder which is insoluble in water but soluble in fat and some organic solvents. This carotenoid is found in microalgae, yeast, salmon, trout, krill, shrimp, crayfish, crustaceans and some wild berries. . But its effects on skin have only recently become known, and its availability in skincare is rather scarce.
Astaxanthin helps to stimulate continuous production of collagen in the skin which is responsible in maintaining skin tone elasticity and firmness. Astaxanthin can inhibit melanogenesis or reduce melanin production (about 40 percent) diminishing age spots, freckles, and dark eye circles gradually.5,6 Its effect is superior to vitamin C. Topical astaxanthin may act as an effective skin whitening agent, which is a tremendously popular trend in Asia.
Even though I've noticed trace amounts in products such as Perricone MD's Firming Neck Therapy, I have only seen astaxanthin prominently marketed in a serum by H. Maloha, a cream by Kenneth Mark MD, and Derma MD's Pink Silk - Face Firming Rejuvenator. More prevalent in nutritional supplements than skincare, astaxanthin is believed to produce a number of actions in the body, providing both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory protection. Once you learn what this unassuming antioxidant is capable of, you might wonder where it's been all your life.
How do antioxidants work. During normal cellular metabolism, environmental stressors such as UV light, smoke, pollution, and even oxygen create damaging by-products, or free radicals, that make the skin appear older than it actually is. A closer examination reveals that these factors cause reactive oxygen species (ROS) to build up in skin and inflict damage at a cellular level. Effectively shielding the skin and slowing down premature signs of aging caused by the environment, antioxidants scavenge free radicals and bind to them before they can do damage.
What's so great about astaxanthin. When ROS get embedded in the skin's surface, they cause lipid peroxidation of the top layer (stratum corneum), which reduces the natural barrier function. An excess of ROS can break down the collagen matrix, leading to wrinkle formation and loss of elasticity. In penetrating the skin and protecting each dermal layer from ROS-related damage, astaxanthin helps reduce moisture loss, promote smoothness, and elicit cellular renewal. Analyses have shown that astaxanthin is also an efficient absorber of specific ultraviolet sunlight rays that may contribute to skin aging and cancer. These properties explain why astaxanthin is included in topical skin care formulations.
6,000 times stronger than Vitamin C
800 times stronger than CoQ10
550 times stronger than Green Tea catechins
550 times stronger than Vitamin E (a-tocopherol)
75 times stronger than Alpha Lipoic Acid
40 times stronger than Beta-Carotene
17 times more potent than Grape Seed Extracts
Astaxanthin is a dark red powder which is insoluble in water but soluble in fat and some organic solvents. This carotenoid is found in microalgae, yeast, salmon, trout, krill, shrimp, crayfish, crustaceans and some wild berries. . But its effects on skin have only recently become known, and its availability in skincare is rather scarce.
Astaxanthin helps to stimulate continuous production of collagen in the skin which is responsible in maintaining skin tone elasticity and firmness. Astaxanthin can inhibit melanogenesis or reduce melanin production (about 40 percent) diminishing age spots, freckles, and dark eye circles gradually.5,6 Its effect is superior to vitamin C. Topical astaxanthin may act as an effective skin whitening agent, which is a tremendously popular trend in Asia.
Even though I've noticed trace amounts in products such as Perricone MD's Firming Neck Therapy, I have only seen astaxanthin prominently marketed in a serum by H. Maloha, a cream by Kenneth Mark MD, and Derma MD's Pink Silk - Face Firming Rejuvenator. More prevalent in nutritional supplements than skincare, astaxanthin is believed to produce a number of actions in the body, providing both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory protection. Once you learn what this unassuming antioxidant is capable of, you might wonder where it's been all your life.
How do antioxidants work. During normal cellular metabolism, environmental stressors such as UV light, smoke, pollution, and even oxygen create damaging by-products, or free radicals, that make the skin appear older than it actually is. A closer examination reveals that these factors cause reactive oxygen species (ROS) to build up in skin and inflict damage at a cellular level. Effectively shielding the skin and slowing down premature signs of aging caused by the environment, antioxidants scavenge free radicals and bind to them before they can do damage.
What's so great about astaxanthin. When ROS get embedded in the skin's surface, they cause lipid peroxidation of the top layer (stratum corneum), which reduces the natural barrier function. An excess of ROS can break down the collagen matrix, leading to wrinkle formation and loss of elasticity. In penetrating the skin and protecting each dermal layer from ROS-related damage, astaxanthin helps reduce moisture loss, promote smoothness, and elicit cellular renewal. Analyses have shown that astaxanthin is also an efficient absorber of specific ultraviolet sunlight rays that may contribute to skin aging and cancer. These properties explain why astaxanthin is included in topical skin care formulations.
