Antioxidants are substances that prevent oxidative stress and pair with free radicals to stop the cycle of cellular damage. Antioxidants can be enzymes, vitamins or other plant-based molecules. Oxidation occurs when energy or electrons from healthy cells split. These electrons like to be in pairs and when they are split, they are referred to as free radicals. Free radicals travel through the body looking for other electrons to steal from healthy cells. This oxidation and free radical scavenging cause a vicious cycle called oxidative stress which damages your cellular DNA, proteins and other vital molecules. This type of damage leads to cell malfunction or cell death… AKA aging, wrinkles, cancer and other skin maladies.