Astaxanthin: The New Best Skincare Ingredient Out There

What is Astaxanthin and What Does It Do?

“Astaxanthin” 

Like me, it might’ve taken you a couple tries to say that, but its functions aren’t as complicated as the word itself is to say. Astaxanthin is a type of carotenoid which make up the orangish pigmentation in shrimp, lobster, salmon, and other marine life. When we apply astaxanthin to our skin, the carotenoid acts as an antioxidant in our bodies, protecting our cells from oxidation(decay). Astaxanthin’s strength as an antioxidant has coined its name, “king of carotenoids” as its efficiency in protecting cells from oxidation exceeds the average antioxidant mineral or vitamin. 

The antioxidant effect becomes very important when it comes to our skin’s health. One main factor in the expedited aging of our skin is cellular oxidation (toxins and pollutants in our blood stream), something the “king of carotenoids” is superior at combating. The topical application and consumption of astaxanthin have been proven to fight cellular oxidation, alleviating cell damage that could cause wrinkles and creases in your skin. Therefore, astaxanthin keeps your skin tight and elastic so your skin can look and feel healthy.

Why Use Astaxanthin?

Astaxanthin is quickly rising in the skincare industry as more and more evidence of its positive effects on the skin seem to mount. Researchers have found astaxanthin’s strength in fighting free radicals--the cause of oxidation--to be 6,000x stronger than Vitamin C, 800x stronger than CoQ10, 550x stronger than Vitamin E, 75x stronger than Alpha Lipoic Acid, and 40x stronger than beta-carotene in fighting free radicals (oxidation). Further, experimentation and clinical studies have shown that astaxanthin can lessen the harmful effects of UV rays on your skin. Although it isn’t a substitute for sunblock, astaxanthin has shown to help your skin defend itself against UV rays more effectively. Clinical studies also show that carotenoid increases skin moisture and moisture retention. Overall, it’s been evident that astaxanthin promotes healthy skin, making it a key ingredient in many skincare products.

Because astaxanthin is found in the orange pigmentation of select marine life, it isn’t consumed through food all that often. Therefore, instead of eating shrimp and lobsters every other day, astaxanthin creams and supplements allow for a much more viable and cost-efficient method in getting the “king of carotenoids” consistently in your body, treating your skin to a much longer and sustainable youthful state.

Isaac & Robert