Antioxidants are the superheroes of the skincare world – they protect our skin from harmful free radicals and other environmental pollutants, helping reduce photodamage and boosting your sunscreen’s effectiveness. Keep reading to find out how antioxidants work and why including an antioxidant product is a must in your skincare lineup.
What Are Antioxidants?
Antioxidants are molecules that counter the effects of oxidation caused by free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules that damage healthy cells in order to survive. If left unchecked, free radicals will create inflammation and cause damage to cellular DNA, which equates to signs of aging like wrinkles, fine lines, hyperpigmentation, and loss of collagen and elastin.
Antioxidants neutralize free radicals, stopping them in their tracks before they can cause damage to healthy skin cells and preserving skin’s health and youthfulness. Antioxidants are essential to maintaining healthy skin!
Best Antioxidants for Skin
One of the best things about antioxidants is that there are so many different ones for you to choose from. There’s an antioxidant for every skin type and a variety of skin concerns. Here are some of the most potent antioxidants for the skin:
Vitamin C (L-ascorbic Acid) for Skin Brightening
Vitamin C, aka L-ascorbic Acid, excels at decreasing hyperpigmentation, aka dark spots, and boosting collagen production. It’s ideal to use Vitamin C in the morning, before your SPF, as this can help boost the effectiveness of your sunscreen!
Vitamin C Moisturizer: ÂN-BALM Radiant Hydra-Balm
ÂN-BALM is full of nutrients for your skin to soak up while it provides gentle exfoliation. Bask in the luxury of this antioxidant-rich balm as a final step in your nighttime routine. (Always use sunscreen in the AM.)
Vitamin C Serum: Revision C+ Correcting Complex 30%
C+ Correcting Complex contains a high concentration of Vitamin C (30%) to correct existing UV damage and help protect against future damage.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E supports a healthy skin barrier by keeping skin moist and soothed. Vitamin E helps in healing and supports Vitamin C in boosting SPF effectiveness.
Vitamin E Night Cream: ISDIN Age Contour Night
Age Contour Night is a silky night cream that helps calm skin from the stress of the day, smooths skin texture, and reduces visible signs of aging.
Vitamin E Eye Cream: One Love Organics Vitamin E Eye Balm
Vitamin E Eye Balm smoothes and plumps the undereye area while deeply hydrating and toning.
Vitamin A (Retinol)
Vitamin A, aka retinol, is widely known for stimulating skin cell turnover and collagen production, which equals major anti-aging benefits. Vitamin A is appropriate for all skin types except those with extremely sensitive skin, as it can cause redness and/or flaking in the first few weeks of use. Always use an SPF with retinol, and only use retinol products in the PM.
Best Vitamin A Serum: ALASTIN Renewal Retinol
Renewal Retinol is available in 0.25 and 0.5 strengths so that you can customize your retinol to your sensitivity level. With silver mushroom and oat extract added to hydrate and soothe, this retinol is perfect for those with sensitive skin or retinol beginners.
Final Thoughts on Antioxidants
Antioxidants are some of the most potent ingredients that can benefit your skin. Adding an antioxidant product into your skincare regimen can have major benefits, so give one of the products above a try and watch your skin thank you.
Resources
Addor, Flavia Alvim. “Antioxidants in Dermatology.” Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia, vol. 92, no. 3, 2017, pp. 356–362, https://doi.org/10.1590/abd1806-4841.20175697.
Al-Niaimi, Firas, and Nicole Yi Zhen Chiang. “Topical Vitamin C and the Skin: Mechanisms of Action and Clinical Applications.” The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology , vol. 10, no. 7, July 2017, pp. 14–17.
“Antioxidants for Skin: Benefits, Drawbacks, and Sources.” Medical News Today, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/antioxidants-for-skin#best-for-skin.
Azevedo Martins, Tércio Elyan, et al. “Contribution of Topical Antioxidants to Maintain Healthy Skin—a Review.” Scientia Pharmaceutica, vol. 88, no. 2, 2020, p. 27, https://doi.org/10.3390/scipharm88020027.
Pham-Huy, Lien Ai, et al. “Free Radicals, Antioxidants in Disease and Health.” International Journal of Biomedical Science , vol. 4, no. 2, June 2008, pp. 89–96.
