Astaxanthin

What is it and how can it help me?
Astaxanthin (pronounced Asta-xan-thin) is a super-anti-oxidant. It’s in fact a carotenoid, a pigment. We are familiar with carotenoids - and we know that the brighter the food is the better it is for us - for example Beta Carotene in carrots, tomatoes, peppers and sweet potatoes. The molecule is similar to Beta Carotene but is not broken down into Vitamin A in the body. Astaxanthin is a very very dark red pigment which is sourced and found naturally in micro-algae (where OSKIA sources ours from), shrimp, krill and salmon. It is what gives lobsters and flamingos, via the food chain, their beautiful pink colour.

Why is it superior?
Unlike other anti-oxidants including Vitamin C and Beta-Carotene, Astaxanthin does not become pro-oxidant in the body not does it break down into Vitamin A. It is exceptionally stable.
It is 6,000 times stronger than vitamin C, 800 times stronger than CoQ10, 550 times stronger than Green Tea Catechins and 75 times stronger than Alpha Lipoic Acid. 

Astaxanthin on skin health and sun care
Astaxanthin has been proven to have a positive effect on collagen production but also sun protection. It does not shield or absorb UV light, but has amazing photo-protective benefits. Recovery is quicker and pigmentation issues reduced. Fibroblasts are skin cells that act as a skin defence system, providing antioxidant enzymes such as Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT). When skin is exposed to sunlight, ROS formation and its build-up occurs. Astaxanthin can protect and enhance the ability of the fibroblasts to reduce the formation of ROS and also scavenge ROS after its formation.
Sunburn is the formation of erythema (redness and swelling) - an inflammatory process. Due to potent anti-inflammatory properties of Astaxanthin, it can help protect the skin from developing sunburn or to sooth a sunburn after its formation.
Therefore, Astaxanthin provides excellent sun protection within the skin as an internal sunscreen.

Astaxanthin is found in OSKIA’s CityLife I-zone Lip & Eye Balm, CiyLife Booster (where our Astaxanthin is micro-encapsulated with Malachite) and SPF Vitamin Body Milk.