We probably all know how important vitamin C is in your diet, but did you know that as a skincare ingredient vitamin C is also considered an effective antioxidant. It helps boost collagen levels, which is significant for wrinkle reduction, reduce the appearance of skin discolorations, strengthen the skin’s barrier response, enhance the skin’s repair process, reduce inflammation, and help skin better withstand exposure to sunlight.^3,4

Vitamin E is also a very popular antioxidant ingredient in skincare products. Some of the things vitamin E is known to do as a skincare ingredient include reducing the formation of free radicals, as well as preventing and improving UV induced redness.⁵ Vitamin E also increases skin elasticity  and helps improve the skin’s barrier function. It also helps reduce the symptoms associated with sensitive skin such as redness, irritation, swelling and itching,⁶ as well as reducing a wide range of inflammatory symptoms.⁵

So the next time you shop for a skincare product like a moisturiser or any anti-ageing product, look out for these 2 vitamins and show your skin some love.

“The process of oxidation in the human body damages cell membranes and other structures, including cellular proteins, lipids and DNA. When oxygen is metabolised, it creates unstable molecules called ‘free radicals’, which steal electrons from other molecules, causing damage to DNA and other cells.”¹ Whether it is ageing, illness, disease, or wrinkles, free-radical damage can play a role. Antioxidants are one of the major ways to reduce or help prevent free-radical damage. To put it in simpler terms, if we think of free radical damage as rust, then antioxidants would be the equivalent to anti-rust.

“Antioxidants are found in certain foods and may prevent some of the damage caused by free radicals by neutralising them.”¹  These include the nutrient antioxidants, vitamins A, C and E, and minerals such as copper, zinc and selenium.¹

When it comes to wrinkles, free-radical damage causes collagen to break down. A good skincare product should contain   antioxidants to reduce free-radical damage and help keep it from  harming your skin.

There isn’t one single antioxidant (oranges form the Jerusalem or some rare flower from Kakadu) that works the best for your skin. Instead, there are many effective antioxidants for skin, ranging from familiar ones like green tea or vitamin C, to names you may not be familiar with such as lycopene or allium sulphur compounds. What counts is that the skincare product you use contains antioxidants.

1. Better Health Channel. Antioxidants [online]. 2011 [cited 11 April 2013]. Available from URL: http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Antioxidants

Since most fungal skin infections affect only the surface of the skin, anti-fungal treatments are usually applied directly on the skin.

Anti-fungal treatments stop the spread of infection by interfering with the growth and development of the fungal cell wall. Anti-fungal agents work in two ways:

• Firstly, they attack parts of the fungal cell wall, causing holes to form in it. This causes the contents of the cell to leak out, resulting in cell death.

• Secondly, they block the production of cell wall material, without which the cell wall cannot grow properly. The cell grows, but is leaky. Again, the cell’s contents leak out, causing it to die.

Both mechanisms stop the infection from spreading. Anti-fungal agents work best on growing cells, as they are more susceptible to damage.

The Resolve range of anti-fungal products are specifically formulated to eliminate the infection and effectively relieve the associated symptoms.

“Tinea is the most common type of fungal infection. In fact, 10 to 20% of people will suffer from tinea at some point in their lives and most of these people will suffer from it more than once. Tinea can affect skin on any part of the body – from the scalp to the feet. It can also affect the hair and nails. This is because fungi live off keratin, a protein that makes up skin, hair and nails,” says Dr. Greive.

Dr. Greive continues: “The fungi causing tinea grow best in moist, humid places, so tinea is often found in areas of the body prone to sweat, such as the feet and under the arms. People tend to refer to tinea by different names depending on where it is on the body. For example, tinea affecting the feet is commonly called ‘athlete’s foot’.”

Whilst talking about types of fungal infections, Dr. Greive also said: “Yeast infections are the other major group of fungal infections. They are caused by a different group of fungi to tinea, the most common of which is a yeast called Candida albicans. This is why you may also hear thrush or yeast infections referred to as ‘Candida infections’.”

So how do people pick up tinea, thrush and other fungal infections? Dr. Greive says: “The fungi that cause all these infections thrive in warm, moist environments so they are typically found living in shoes, socks, swimming pools, locker rooms and the floors of public showers – All places with humid conditions. Fungi can be ‘picked up and passed on’ whenever our skin comes into contact with fungi living in any of these places.”

Dr. Greive advises: “It is important that anti-fungal treatments be continued for the recommended time period.  As the treatment regimen for each product can be different it is very important to read the instructions on the pack each time it is used. Even if the symptoms have disappeared the fungal infection can still be present. If treatment is stopped too early the fungal infection may come back.  So remember to read the directions on the pack and follow them carefully.”

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Oranges were already cultivated in China as far back as 2500 BC. Between the late 15th century and the beginnings of the 16th century, Italian and Portuguese merchants brought orange trees in the Mediterranean area. The Spanish introduced the sweet orange to the American continent in the mid 1500s. As oranges are rich in vitamin C, during the Age of Discovery, Portuguese, Spanish and Dutch sailors planted citrus trees along trade routes to prevent scurvy.

Oranges, especially mandarin oranges are auspicious Chinese New Year symbols, and through the play of words, the Chinese associate the gift of oranges with having an abundance of happiness and prosperity.

The bright orange color of the fruits also symbolises ‘gold’, hence it has an auspicious meaning to bring in good luck and wealth. That’s why you will find oranges being displayed in houses, offices and shops as they believe it will usher in good fortune for the occupants. They are also served to guests that come visiting and given as gifts, to family members and friends.

Gold in symbolism, gold in nutrition.

The humble orange is not only a good source of Vitamin C, but also great for antioxidants.

Citrus fruits have a high Vitamin C content, which is an anti-oxidant.¹ One orange has 62mg of Vitamin C, which is almost twice your recommended daily intake. ¹ Being an antioxidant Vitamin C boosts your immune system, and may protect against cancer, heart disease, cataracts and infection. ¹ It also helps the absorption of iron and zinc in other foods.¹

“Citrus fruits generally have the highest antioxidant activity of all fruits. They boost the immune system and may protect against cancer, heart disease, infections, cataracts and degeneration of the macular area of eyes.”¹

Citrus fruits also contain minimal amounts of fats and cholesterol. ¹ The total fat in one orange is equal to 0.12g. ¹ “All fats are energy dense and should be eaten in moderation. High intakes of saturated fat and cholesterol increase the risk of heart disease.”¹

One orange contains 2.4g of dietary fibre; which is 8 percent of your recommended daily intake. ¹ Dietary fibre reduces the transit time of food in your gut and improves gut microflora. ¹ Plus certain fibres help lower your blood fats. ¹

Source: 1. Baghurst K. CSIRO Health Sciences & Nutrition Report. The Health Benefits of Citrus Fruits: June 2003.

So who is Nat? Natalie is your friendly skincare consultant and she’s more than happy to help with any questions about how to look after your skin. “Ask Nat” is a complimentary service provided by Elucent and Ego Pharmaceuticals, set up to help ensure you get the most from your skincare regime. Ask Nat started in November 2012, and has answered questions every day since.

Ask Nat was set up to be one of the first skincare advice portals of its kind. Questions posed by women looking for a one-stop place to get good skincare advice, are answered within a day.

We believe that taking care of your skin doesn’t have to be complicated and that’s why every Elucent product has been scientifically formulated to deliver real results. If you are unsure about any of our ingredients or how to use any of the skincare products in the Ego range, or just want to say hi, Nat is only a few clicks away.

To Ask Nat a question, you can go to the Elucent website (elucentskincare.com) or Facebook page (/elucentskincare) and click “Ask Nat”. You can also submit your question by email, Twitter or SMS 0499 444 666.

She’s online 9-5 weekdays to answer your questions. If you like, you can remain anonymous, or just browse questions other women have already asked Nat. Because every woman is different, there are always questions we didn’t anticipate. That’s why we have Nat!