Honey is one of the most revered ingredients in skincare products to various antioxidant compounds that could protect the cells from the harmful action of free radicals. Many of these compounds can potentially strengthen the defenses of the organisms, thereby preventing oxidative stress in the human body.
The antioxidants found in honey include catalase, glucose, oxidase, phenolic acids, ascorbic acid, flavonoids, carotenoid derivatives, amino acids, and proteins.
Catalese
Catalese is an enzyme and can help with skin conditions that might result in epidermal oxidative stress and consequently cause damage to pigment cells resulting in vitiligo. Vitiligo is an acquired hypomelanotic skin disorder characterized by circumscribed depigmented macules resulted from the loss of functional melanocytes from the cutaneous epidermis. Skin conditions like vitiligo.
Oxidase
Oxidase is an enzyme that catalyzes the production of superoxide from oxygen. This enzyme plays a vital role in maintaining skin health. The skin protects the body from dehydration, pathogens, and external mutagen. NADPH oxidases are central components for regulating the cellular redox balance. According to recent studies, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by members of this enzyme family play important roles in the physiology and pathophysiology of the skin. Abnormal NADPH oxidase activity in the skin has been associated with a wide spectrum of diseases including aging, and carcinogenesis.
It is worth noting that too much sunlight exposure can also lead to a reduction in oxidase, which may cause chronic skin diseases, including cancer. This is why the presence of oxidase enzyme in skincare products is extremely important and needed.
Phenolic acids
Phenolic Acids can be found in many plant-based foods. They have significant health protective effects like antimicrobial, anticancer, -inflammatory, and anti-mutagenic. Epidemiology evidence shows that a diet rich in antioxidant fruits and vegetables significantly reduces the risk of many oxidative stress-related diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. Similarly, phenolic acids are extremely beneficial to the skin.
Vitamin C
The antioxidant properties of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) and its role in collagen synthesis make vitamin C a vital molecule for skin health. It has been shown that vitamin C may help prevent and treat ultraviolet (UV) induced photodamage.
The skin produces its own vitamin C. Both the epidermis and the dermis layers of the skin produce vitamin C. The epidermis layer of the skin has a greater concentration of vitamin C than the dermis. As we age, the level of vitamin C found in the epidermis layer of skin gradually declines. Another reason for the decline of vitamin C is excessive exposure to UV light or pollutants.
Vitamin C in the skin is normally transported from the bloodstream. Transport proteins specific for ascorbic acid are found on cells in all layers of the skin (7). Keratinocytes have a high capacity for vitamin C transport, possibly to compensate for limited vascularization of the epidermis.
Flavonoids
Flavonoids are great for the skin. Some flavonoids may protect the skin by absorbing UVB and thus functioning as sunscreen. Flavonoids also inhibit enzymes involved in the inflammatory response, which may counteract UV-induced inflammation in the skin. Green Tea is a great source of flavonoids. Green tea protects the skin’s elasticity and structure such as roughness and reduces transepidermal water loss.
Amino Acids
Amino Acids are the building blocks of all proteins, and they are necessary to the skin’s health. Amino acids contribute to cellular metabolism and act as chemical messengers. The right balance of amino acids in your skincare products helps the stay healthy and glowing. There are over twenty amino acids, and one of the vital amino acids is arginine. Arginine helps to increase cell turnover by increasing the production of collagen. A combination of probiotics and antioxidants such as amino acids gives the skin a glowing look. Amino acids are a great addition to gentle cleansers as they will protect the skin from being stripped of its all-important moisture barrier and unbalance the skin’s pH.
Proteins
Protein is also one of the building blocks of skin tissue. Protein is the source of two amino acids called L-lysine and L-proline that supports the body’s production of collagen. Ingredients like acerola cherry, mushrooms, berries, algae, and rice protein are sources of protein.
In conclusion, honey is loaded with antioxidant properties. Melanin-rich skin can definitely benefit from the use of Honey. It illuminates the skin while simultaneously keeping the skin healthy as well as protecting the skin from UV induced hyperpigmentation.
The three most common honey found in skincare products came from different botanical and geographical regions: Manuka Honey from New Zealand, Acacia Honey from Germany, and Wild Carrot honey from Algeria.
This is why Beautelanin’s Golden Honey Micellar Cleansing Oil is a must skincare product for you to have in your bathroom.
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REFERENCES
Angelo Giana, Ph.D., Flavonoids and Skin Health, LinusPauling Institute, Oregon State University, June 2012. https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/health-disease/skin-health/flavonoids
Kumar, N., & Goel, N. (2019). Phenolic acids: Natural versatile molecules with promising therapeutic applications. Biotechnology reports (Amsterdam, Netherlands), 24, e00370. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.btre.2019.e00370
Kootstra, A. Protection from UV-B-induced DNA damage by flavonoids. Plant Molecular Biology 26.2, 771-774 (1994)
Jana Rudolf, Houssam Raad, Alain Taieb, and Hamid Reza Rezvani, NADPH Oxidases and Their Roles in Skin Homeostasis and Carcinogenesis, Antioxidants & Redox Signaling, Vol, 28, No. 13, Pages 1238-1261, 2018, https://doi.org/10.1089/ars.2017.7282
Nikos G. Gavalas, Samia Akhtar, David J. Gawkrodger, Philip F. Watson, Anthony P. Weetman, E. Helen Kemp, Analysis of allelic variants in the catalase gene in patients with the skin depigmenting disorder vitiligo, Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, Volume 345, Issue 4, 2006, Pages 1586-1591, ISSN 0006-291X.