

Definitely not a good thing, in other words.

Grape seed extract benefits skin#
The radiation which makes up UV light is essentially a beam of free radicals, which over time can result in the DNA of your skin cells becoming damaged. In fact, sunburn arises with ultraviolet light from the sun's rays begins to damage your cells. We've all managed to get sunburned before in either cool or cloudy weather, so we know that sunburn isn't just a result of heat. In brief, therefore, grape seed extract certainly isn't a fad, and has proven health benefits in protecting your body against signs of ageing, which can include keeping your skin in great condition. This is particularly noteworthy as these other ingredients have been staples of skin creams for decades, yet may not be anywhere near as effective as this new kid on the block. Scientists measuring the protection afforded by grape seed extract concluded that it “provides significantly greater protection. Some fascinating studies have been carried out in recent years on the antioxidant properties of proanthocyanidins. While there are many, many different plant-derived antioxidants known to scientists (which is one reason why you should eat lots of fruit and vegetables) grape seed extract is special because it contains unique compounds known as “proanthocyanidins”. They do this by donating their own electrons to unstable molecules, essentially neutralising the risk that they pose. Many plants contain antioxidants, which can counteract the effects of free radicals. This process is considered “of primary importance in driving the ageing process”, as more and more cells become damaged thanks to the action of free radicals. The end result is that even a single free radical can impact a huge number of otherwise healthy molecules - including those that make up the cells of your body. If successful, the donor molecule then itself becomes unstable, and attempts to steal electrons from others, and so on through what experts call a “cascade”. To try and counteract this, free radicals attempt to “steal” electrons from other molecules. The problem with free radicals is that they aren't properly balanced, because they're missing an electron. So long as these molecules have the right number of electrons spinning around them, they're perfectly stable and safe. Think of them rather like a solar system in miniature, with planets spinning around the sun.

As you may remember from your school chemistry classes, molecules consist of a central nucleus, with electrons spinning around them.

Just as importantly, is there any science behind the use of grape seeds, or is it simply the next “fad” nutrient that we'll all have forgotten about by next year? Let's take a look and find out. But what do the contents of grape seeds have to offer the beauty-conscious individual? Many other ingredients in skin creams and anti-ageing remedies seem to make logical sense nobody is surprised, for example, that the thick gel of the aloe vera plant can keep your skin hydrated. Grape seed extract is one of the more unusual beauty treatments to hit the mainstream in recent years.
