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Written by Katie Davis.
You always hear about antioxidants. Fruits and vegetables are rich in them. Your skincare products boast just how many antioxidants they contain. There are even rejuvenating antioxidant facial treatments. But what are they, really?
Antioxidants are a supergroup of substances that will do a lot of good for your skin, so it’s worth learning about them. Before we get to the antioxidants that will give you that youthful glow, let’s first dive into what they do for you.
The Lowdown on Antioxidants & Free Radicals.
Not to get too technical about it, but the free radicals you’ll often hear being uttered by skincare professionals are unstable molecules with one or more unpaired electrons. To boost stability, they react with other molecules, generating a chain reaction that kills healthy cells.
Free radicals are produced naturally in our bodies. However, they may also come from exposure to environmental factors such as UV radiation, pollution, cigarette smoke, and other chemicals and substances.
An overload of this in your system causes oxidative stress. In simpler terms, there’s an imbalance between free radical production and the body’s ability to counteract or detoxify their damaging effects.
The reason why antioxidants are so good at protecting your skin is because of their inherent function to limit the production of these free radicals. They can help minimise sun spots, counteract visible signs of ageing, promote pimple-free skin, and calm inflammation when used on a regular basis.
Most antioxidants also have the ability to hydrate your skin and promote moisture retention to help revive its supple appearance.
Anti-Aging Antioxidants.
There are a variety of antioxidants available on the market today, some more potent than others. Topical skin care treatments containing them can protect cells from UV radiation, pollution, and other environmental conditions that might cause free radical damage.
The following are some of the most common antioxidants found in skincare products, which you’ve probably already encountered.
Vitamin C.
As one of the most studied antioxidants out there, Vitamin C is a dermatologist’s favourite. Well-known for its brightening properties, this antioxidant helps to level skin tone by decreasing and lightening hyperpigmentation.
Vitamin C is essential if you want to have both good skin and overall body health. A lack of this vitamin may cause scurvy and skin problems.
This antioxidant can help the body heal wounds by reducing inflammation, reducing skin damage caused by free radicals, hydrating the skin, and assisting in wound healing. Topical vitamin C serums can also help to decrease wrinkles and diminish the appearance of enlarged pores.
Vitamin A or Retinol.
A powerhouse antioxidant, Vitamin A has a slew of skincare advantages. This antioxidant boosts collagen formation, resulting in smoother skin with fewer fine lines and wrinkles. This vitamin also helps the skin shed old, dead skin cells and regenerate new ones by increasing cellular turnover.
You can look into retinoids like tretinoin, as well as over-the-counter retinol, as they are effective at giving you a more youthful glow by improving your skin tone and discoloration.
Vitamin E
If there’s any antioxidant you’re probably most familiar with, it’s this one. There are natural and synthetic versions of this fat-soluble vitamin available. Both give considerable antioxidant benefits to the skin, although natural variants are more effective and persist longer in the skin than synthetic equivalents.
This antioxidant is a frequent component in many moisturisers and serums for good reason. It helps in healing UV damage, decreasing inflammation, hydrating your skin, and preventing sunburn.
Resveratrol
If you’re currently using coconut oil as part of your skincare routine, then you’re more than likely to know what resveratrol is. This antioxidant is called a “longevity molecule” because of its amazing anti-aging abilities.
It’s an antioxidant found mostly in the skins of fruits such as grapes and berries, where it acts as a plant’s protective armour. When applied to skincare products, it has that sane reparative effect.
Resveratrol has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antifungal properties that aid in skin relaxation, anti-aging, and infection prevention.
Niacinamide
Niacinamide, also known as nicotinamide, is a kind of vitamin B that protects the skin from environmental damage, smoothens fine lines, shrinks enlarged pores, and brightens the skin for a fresher and more youthful appearance.
This antioxidant pairs nicely with retinol, vitamin C, and hyaluronic acid in skincare. When used with a moisturising hyaluronic acid serum, it will help your skin retain moisture and treat wrinkles with a plumping effect.
Niacinamide is great for sensitive skin as it helps in calming inflammation, soothing breakouts, enhancing your skin’s barrier function, and reducing redness.
Co Enzyme Q 10 (CoQ10)
Our bodies naturally produce CoQ10, but production slows down as we age, making us more prone to wrinkles and photo-ageing.
Increased topical use of this antioxidant helps combat free radical damage and keeps your skin cells healthy. CoQ10 is easily absorbed by the skin and aids in the formation of collagen, which improves skin suppleness and texture.
Curcumin
Found in turmeric root, curcumin reduces inflammation, speeds wound healing, wards off oily skin and acne, fights free radicals, and is photo-protective, anti-aging, and antimicrobial.
On top of all that, this antioxidant has also been found to help people with dermatological conditions, including psoriasis and scleroderma, by acting as a potent anti-inflammatory.
Stay Youthful & Glowing with Antioxidants
With more and more products naturally incorporating antioxidants, there’s no reason not to add them to your skincare routine. The best thing about this is that there’s an antioxidant for everyone! Whether you’re looking to reduce the appearance of ageing, soothe inflammation, or remove acne outbreaks, one of the antioxidants listed above has got you and your skin covered.
