When it comes to protecting your skin and maintaining its healthy appearance, antioxidants go the distance. Antioxidants are compounds typically found in your foods and skincare products. Studies have found that they can prevent inflammation and halt oxidative stress, which can help your skin look and feel its best. [1]
So, how do antioxidants work and what are some antioxidant benefits for skin? In this article, we’ll take a look at this nutritional powerhouse and help you understand how topical antioxidants can help you revamp your skincare routine.
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Understanding Antioxidants and Oxidative Stress
To understand the benefits of antioxidants, it’s helpful to study the relationship between free radicals and oxidative stress. Free radicals are unstable molecules that occur naturally in the human body and in man-made products and toxins [2].
For example, your body may produce these molecules during normal processes like digestion, or from exposure to pollution, radiation, or the sun. These free radicals then cause oxidative stress, since the unstable structure of these molecules makes them more prone to oxidation (this is the same process that causes a cut apple to turn brown) [3].
Antioxidants can prevent and reverse the damage caused by free radicals by lending these unstable molecules an electron. Simply put, this helpful addition makes it harder for a free radical to continue to damage your skin cells.
By incorporating antioxidants into your skincare regimen, then, you’re protecting your skin cells from the damage caused by oxidative stress—which helps you maintain healthy skin.
What Are the Benefits of Antioxidants for Your Skin?
By fighting the effects of free radicals and exposure to oxidative stress, antioxidants can benefit your skin in a number of ways.
From reducing the signs of aging to maintaining a smooth, uniform complexion, integrating this powerful component into your skincare routine can help your skin look and feel its best. Here are five key antioxidant benefits for the skin.
#1 Reducing Inflammation and Brightening the Skin
Antioxidants can soothe the skin and combat inflammation by defending against the effects of free radicals in the body, working to reduce the photodamage that occurs when ultraviolet (UV) rays meet unprotected skin. As a result, antioxidants have the potential ability to quell inflammatory symptoms like skin redness to facilitate an overall more even skin tone.
#2 Improving Signs of Premature Aging
Fortunately, antioxidants can halt and reverse these processes, helping the skin regain its glow by protecting against factors that cause extrinsic again, like sun exposure, pollution, and smoking, or vaping [5].
#3 Protecting Skin from Sun Damage
Since antioxidants contain anti-inflammatory properties, they help calm the skin and protect against UV rays when used alongside sunscreen. Products like a daily moisturizer with SPF with other topical creams that contain antioxidants can protect your skin from sun damage and premature aging.
#4 Helping the Skin to Repair Existing Damage
Besides combating inflammation, some antioxidants, like vitamin C, can also boost collagen production. Collagen is a protein that the body produces naturally, but oxidative stress can halt its production, which can negatively impact the elasticity and appearance of the skin [6]. Learning how to increase collagen in your skin can aid your anti-aging efforts, regardless of your age.
Eating foods high in antioxidants and applying products topically that contain them can help to restore the appearance of the skin by reversing the damage caused by sun exposure and free radicals.
#5 Preventing the Development of Skin Conditions
Other conditions, like psoriasis, are a result of oxidative stress, meaning that compounds like antioxidants may help to rid the body of free radicals and stop the development of new ones [8].
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Antioxidants in Food and Skincare
The good news is, you can find antioxidants in a lot of the delicious foods and drinks you consume on a weekly basis. Antioxidants are naturally occurring compounds found in many fruits, vegetables, and legumes, including [9]:
- Blueberries
- Black beans
- Gala apples
- Leafy greens
- Sweet cherries
- Blackberries
You can also find antioxidants in the form of supplements. Some of the most common antioxidants include beta-carotene and vitamin E [10].
That said, the world of antioxidants spans far beyond those you can find in supplements, fruits, and vegetables. There’s also a world of antioxidants available in skincare that you can apply right to the source of your skin:
- Retinol – Retinol is a type of vitamin A included in many skincare products, primarily for the purpose of smoothing fine lines and wrinkles. Studies have found that this ingredient can increase the skin’s elasticity and thickness and minimize or prevent inflammation [11].
- Vitamin C – Vitamin C is a well-studied and popular antioxidant you’ll find in a variety of skincare products. Dermatologists recommend vitamin C for dark spots to help brighten the skin and stimulate collagen production that keeps your skin looking supple and smooth [12].
- Ginseng – Believe it or not, ginseng is good for more than flavoring your food. Ginseng contains high amounts of an antioxidant called polysaccharides [13]. Skincare products that include ginseng extract or ginseng oil can help you take advantage of this all-natural antioxidant for potential anti-aging effects.
- Mandelic acid – Speaking of natural antioxidants, mandelic acid is actually extracted from almonds. The very same snack you munch on to promote other health benefits between meals can be used in your skincare to help fight free radicals in your skin.
- Curcumin extract – If you’ve ever seen the beautiful orange hue of turmeric, you can thank curcumin extract. But it doesn’t just lend bright color. Curcumin is an antioxidant that has been shown, in clinical studies, to reduce the oxidative stress [14] that can lead to signs of skin aging and dullness.
When you want to update your skincare regime, look out for these antioxidants in the ingredients of your products. Creating a personalized skincare routine with PROVEN can help you incorporate products full of beneficial antioxidants that serve your skin’s unique needs.
Incorporating Antioxidants Into Your Skincare Routine
With so many benefits, integrating antioxidants into your skincare routine seems like a no-brainer. Fortunately, as long as there’s no irritation, you’re able to combine and use several products that contain antioxidants simultaneously.
In some instances, combining antioxidants, like vitamin E or ferulic acid with vitamin C, can enhance their anti-inflammatory abilities and stabilize the compounds, allowing them to yield even better results.
However, when mixed, some antioxidants may irritate your skin, which is why it’s essential to have a skincare regimen that’s customized to your unique lifestyle and needs. Here are some things to consider when you’re searching for the right skincare products:
- Consider your lifestyle – Your skin’s needs can vary depending on how much exposure you have to free radicals and subsequent oxidative stress. For example, if you spend a lot of time outside or you live at a high altitude, you’ll want to focus on ingredients that help combat the effects of frequent sun exposure.
- Keep an eye out for products with multiple antioxidants – While combining antioxidants may lead to irritation, you may have better luck using products where the ingredients, such as our personalized eye cream, are already safely combined. Skincare product formulas typically include ingredients that support each other to achieve the best results for your skin.
- Review the other ingredients in a product – When you’re looking for a new skincare product, consider the antioxidants and the other ingredients it includes. Besides antioxidants, there’s an array of other important compounds that can hydrate your skin and reverse the signs of premature aging, including hyaluronic acid and lactic acid [15].
Find Personalized Antioxidant-Enriched Skincare from PROVEN
Integrating a skin care product that contains antioxidants can make your skin look clearer, brighter, and more vibrant. To incorporate the right antioxidants into your skincare routine, find products tailored to your skin.
The key to effective skincare formulas is personalization. At PROVEN, we offer customized products to provide your skin with the nourishment, protection, and anti-inflammatory properties of antioxidants. From curcumin extract to ginseng, our products are dermatologically-tested, dye-free, cruelty-free, and non-toxic, so you can rest easy knowing that you’re giving your skin the very best.
Whether you’re looking for a moisturizing night cream for dry skin in the summer, or a gentle facial cleanser, PROVEN can help you support your skin and restore your radiant glow.
