Assessing the effectiveness of antioxidants
A recent study by a group of researchers developed the first-ever protocol to compare the relative protection offered by different topical antioxidants, rating them with a classification called Environmental Protection Factor (EPF). The study was published in January 2005 in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology.

Measured results
Because free radical damage is a complex process, the study used a five-step test that measured five distinct protective capacities in commonly known antioxidants. Each test was given a value of 20, for a total of 100 points—or EPF 100.

In this study, Idebenone, the active antioxidant in PREVAGE™, received an Environmental Protection Factor of 95, higher than all other antioxidants tested, including alpha lipoic acid, kinetin, vitamin C, vitamin E and coenzyme Q10.