You’ve likely heard of antioxidants in skincare.
But those are just to protect against environmental elements, right?
Like the sun and pollution?
Well, yes and no. Antioxidants are protective, but they can do much more for your skin than that.
Antioxidants in SkinCare—What Are They?
Antioxidants are manmade or natural substances that can prevent or delay some types of cell damage. To understand them well, it helps to delve into basic chemistry just a little bit.
The cells in our bodies are regularly facing potential threats. One of the most constant comes from chemicals called free radicals.
These are unstable molecules that are missing an electron. Because they’re missing one, they go careening about trying to steal them from other molecules. When they do that, the victim molecule is damaged and may no longer function as it should.
Free radical damage can alter DNA, increase the risk of fatty buildup in our arteries, and alter a cell’s membrane. When there is a lot of free radical damage, it causes a condition called “oxidative stress,” which can further damage cells and lead to disease.
Where do these free radicals come from? They are naturally formed in the body as a result of metabolism. They are also formed after exercising or exposure to air pollution, sunlight, and cigarette smoke.
Fortunately, we have powerful defenses against free radical damage: antioxidants. These are molecules that happily donate electrons to free radicals without becoming damaged themselves. They also help repair the damage free radicals cause.
The body makes some of these antioxidants on its own. We also get them from food. Examples of common antioxidants include vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, selenium, manganese, coenzyme Q10, flavonoids, and polyphenols (plant chemicals).
Why Antioxidants in Skincare?
It makes sense that we’d want to consume antioxidants in our diet to help prevent and repair free-radical damage inside us.
But why would we want antioxidants in our skincare products?
First, it helps to understand how free radicals damage the skin.
According to the National Institutes of Health, the skin is constantly exposed to the air, solar radiation, environmental pollution, and other insults that are capable of generating free radicals. The sun alone can cause oxidative stress in the skin, which can then develop into skin damage.
This damage shows up as:
- Wrinkles
- Sagging
- Dryness
- Dullness
- Unwanted pigmentation (age spots)
- Broken blood vessels
The researchers suggest that to protect the skin from these damage-inducing molecules, people should limit sun exposure, use sunscreen, and use antioxidants both orally and topically. In other words, eat foods that are rich in antioxidants and apply skincare products that include antioxidants.
How Do Antioxidants in Skincare Help the Skin?
Just as antioxidants can protect the cells inside the body, so can they protect the cells in the various layers of the skin.
When you have antioxidants in your skincare products, you are supplying the skin with the nutrients it needs to help fight off free-radical damage.
Scientists are already discovering the many ways that topical antioxidants can help the skin. Studies have shown, for example, that they can help improve the symptoms of psoriasis, decrease the risk of skin cancer, preserve collagen, and delay the appearance of aging.
In a 2021 review, researchers found that antioxidants helped protect the skin from harmful UV radiation. They suggested supplying the skin with these nutrients both through food and skincare products.
Overall, antioxidants may improve the skin by:
- Reducing DNA damage
- Improving hydration
- Reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
- Fading or preventing hyperpigmentation
- Stimulating the production of collagen and elastin
- Reducing inflammation
- Moisturizing and softening
So as you can see, antioxidants in skin care do more than just protect. They are anti-aging tools that you can use to enjoy younger-looking, healthier skin. That’s why we made sure to include some powerful ones in our CV Skinlabs formulas.
Antioxidants in Skincare—What to Look For
Now that you know how helpful antioxidants can be, you may be wondering how to find them.
What do you look for in skincare products?
We list some of the most common and helpful antioxidants below.
Vitamin C
By far one of the most popular antioxidants in skin care, vitamin C protects your skin from UV radiation. It also helps fade hyperpigmentation and boost collagen production to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Vitamin A
You’ll find vitamin A in your skincare products by looking for “retinol” or “retinoids.” These are vitamin-A-based products that improve uneven skin tone, fade hyperpigmentation, stimulate collagen production, and in some people, help reduce acne breakouts.
Vitamin E
This antioxidant works well in combination with other antioxidants like vitamin C. It helps to stabilize them and improve their effectiveness. It also accelerates healing and treats dry skin.
Resveratrol
This antioxidant—found naturally in the skins of fruits like grapes and berries—helps reduce inflammation, calm the skin, and prevent premature aging.
Niacinamide
Known as vitamin B3, niacinamide improves skin’s texture and tone. It also helps reduce fine lines and wrinkles, calms inflammation, and makes fine lines and wrinkles less noticeable.
Coenzyme Q10
Applying this antioxidant to your skin can help stimulate collagen production, reduce the appearance of wrinkles, and prevent photoaging.
Turmeric
Turmeric—and especially its active compound, curcumin—is a potent antioxidant that helps reduce inflammation, deter acne, and restore a healthy glow.
Polyphenols
This is a group of antioxidants that come from fruits, vegetables, green or black tea, and other botanicals. They help reduce inflammation, prevent UV-induced skin damage, repair DNA damage, and delay the signs of aging on the skin. Examples include resveratrol, proanthocyanidins, genistein, quercetin, ellagic acid, catechins, and more.
Beta-glucan
Extracted from oats, beta-glucan has a powerful antioxidant effect. It can help protect the skin’s barrier, prevent cell damage, and soothe redness and irritation. It also helps hydrate the skin.
We Have Antioxidants Too!
At CV Skinlabs, we’ve included many different types of antioxidants in our products to ensure you get all the benefits. The ones we selected help hydrate, protect, tame inflammation, calm the skin, reduce redness and irritation, and delay the signs of aging.
Whatever skincare products you use, start checking the ingredient list to see if they contain antioxidants. With all we know, it’s the wise thing to do to preserve the health of your skin!
Do you make sure that your skincare products contain antioxidants?
Featured photo courtesy Moose Photos via Pexels.
