The Benefits of Antioxidants in Skincare

When it comes to achieving the smoothest, healthiest skin possible, antioxidants are a major player. You should ensure you get a good supply of a broad spectrum of antioxidants from your food intake and also your skincare products.

The first step to great skin is committing to keep to a regular, established skincare routine, and the second step is making sure that the products you pick for that routine are the most suitable for your face and your specific needs.

Anything that contains a healthy amount of antioxidants is going to be of benefit to you, as antioxidants have a role to play in everything from complexion to texture to reducing the signs of aging to calming inflammation and much more.

Here is some information about what antioxidants are, what their biggest benefits are, and then some recommendations for products that you should be including in your skincare routine.

What Are Antioxidants?

Antioxidants are powerful substances that can help to free radicals in the body. Free radicals are unstable atoms that can damage cells and they are linked to aging, inflammation, and a host of diseases. Free radicals are produced when your body is doing things like breaking down food or when it is exposed to harmful irritants like pollution, smoke and radiation.

Antioxidants like vitamin C, beta-carotene and vitamin A are all able to be applied to the skin to reduce the damage that free radicals can cause.

Benefits of Antioxidants

Some of the biggest benefits of antioxidants are:

• They offer sun protection: Using a sunscreen with a high SPF that is packed full of antioxidants will have an even bigger and better effect when it comes to protecting your skin from the harshest harm of the sun’s UV rays. They can protect your skin from the inside out by acting as a guard for your cells.
• They help to firm up skin: Antioxidants are used in many anti-aging products because they can have a powerful firming effect when applied directly to target areas. Antioxidants work on toning the skin and rejuvenating its appearance to provide a much more youthful and glowing look overall.
• They reduce fine lines and wrinkles: The firming effect that we have already mentioned also makes antioxidant-rich products suitable for reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles on the face. The vitamin C and vitamin E in these products, in particular, can make dull and sagging areas look much plumper and firmer.
• They assist in scar treatment: A healthy dose of antioxidants in your skincare products can have the effect of reducing the appearance of any scars that you might have that you want to be less prominent. Scar tissue has a different structure to ‘normal’ skin, needing a little more intensive work to get to it. Antioxidants can increase the blood flow in these areas and begin to minimize the look of the scar as well as develop new skin.
• They can help repair sun damage: If you have sun damage to your skin, then antioxidant-rich products can help to put a lot of moisture and promote blood flow into the affected areas to try to encourage the growth of new, healthy cells. Something like an antioxidant-packed moisturizer is perfect for this.

Here are some of our favorite skincare products that boast plenty of the antioxidant goodness your skin needs:

Dr. Suzan Obagi Foaming Cleanser 200mL, formulated with powerful antioxidants, this gentle Foaming Cleanser purifies the skin, removes impurities and protects the skin against harmful environmental aggressors.

Neostrata Correct Antioxidant Defense Serum 30mL, a Facial Serum that repairs damage caused by oxidative stress and pollution. Its lightweight formula fights against skin aging and lack of elasticity, while improving the overall skin texture.

Dermalogica Biolumin-C Gel Moisturizer, a daily, weightless moisturizer that hydrates, brightens, firms the skin and grants it a radiance boost for healthy-looking skin.

Heliocare 360º Gel Oil-Free SPF50 50mL, a Mattifying Sunscreen that protects the skin from UV rays. Thanks to its antioxidant properties, it also helps boost the skin's natural defenses against free radicals and external aggressors.