Do You Need Antioxidants in Your Skincare? Here’s What Experts Say

Share the love!

Main Image – Dina/Adobe

The term ‘antioxidants’ crops up in the topic of skincare so often that it’s almost become the norm to just see it written down and not ask any questions. A bit like when you’ve known someone for ages, but you still don’t know their surname and it would be far too awkward now to ask.

But this is a safe space and we’re all friends here. Do you know what ‘antioxidants’ actually are? Because guess what? It’s ok if you don’t. The term gets thrown around as if everyone knows exactly what it means but in reality, *whispers*, not everyone does.

So now we’ve got that out in the open we can all take a deep, non-judgmental breath and get into what antioxidants are, how they benefit the skin, which ones are best and how to include them in your routine.

With expert tips from Dr Tiina Meder, Dr Sonia Khorana and Nevada Norris, here is your guide to finally being in the know about antioxidants and saying goodbye to antioxidant FOMO.

What are antioxidants?

Think of them as the great skin protectors. “Antioxidants are natural or synthesized substances able to protect cells from damage caused by free radicals,” explains Dr Meder.

So, if you’re looking to protect your skin’s barrier from daily aggressors like pollution or UV, you should think about including an antioxidant in your regime (however, an antioxidant does not act as an SPF).

Antioxidants you may have already heard of are things like vitamin C, vitamin E and niacinamide.

Image – Anastasiapokliatska/Adobe

How they can help your skin

How much time have you got? Because antioxidants are serious multi-taskers. “Antioxidants prevent and reduce cell damage and are very helpful in the prevention of sun damage to the skin,” Dr Meder says.

“Antioxidants also help to prevent accelerated skin ageing and protect skin from air pollution. They play a crucial role in role in regeneration, helping to restore the skin’s ability to repair itself, which is reduced with age.”

Dr Khorana adds, “They slow down the deterioration process in the skin as we age so can soften the appearance of wrinkles.”

They can even be effective on problematic skin conditions too. “Antioxidants can help to control acne and reduce inflammatory skin conditions,” Dr Meder continues. “They reduce sun damage, help to restore healthy pigment synthesis and brighten skin.”

Are there any downsides?

Whilst most antioxidants are non-irritating and perfectly safe to use, “a few antioxidant compounds such as retinol and its derivatives are known to be potentially irritating and sensitizing while used topically,” Dr Meder explains.

Image – Dina/Adobe

The best antioxidants for skin

Some antioxidants you will recognise on the list of a product’s ingredients, and some you won’t. This is because they go by a few different names (yes, just to confuse things further). Here is Dr Khorana’s comprehensive list of antioxidants, along with their alternative names.

Vitamin C: It may be listed as L-ascorbic acid, vitamin C ester, ascorbyl palmitate, sodium ascorbyl phosphate, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate or lipophilic vitamin C.
Niacinamide: This can be listed as Vitamin B3.
Resveratrol
Vitamin E: This can appear as tocopherol or tocopheryl acetate.
Coenzyme Q10 or coQ10
Polyphenols: There are thousands of types of polyphenols (resveratrol is one) which are found in fruits, vegetables, green or black tea (also called flavonoids) and other botanicals.

How to include antioxidants in your skincare routine

I always recommend using antioxidants in serum form as serums penetrate deeper into the skin than any other product. “Start your day with a gentle cleanser to remove any impurities, then apply an antioxidant serum that contains ingredients such as vitamin C or green tea extract,” explains Norris. “Follow up with a moisturiser and sunscreen to hydrate and protect your skin.”

During the evening, the need for protection from things like UV and pollution is obviously not as crucial but Norris says there is no harm in continuing with the same serum. “While not necessary in the evening, you can continue using an antioxidant serum and then apply any treatment products like retinoids or acne treatments that you’re using,” she says.

“Finish off your evening routine with a moisturiser to hydrate and nourish the skin as it repairs overnight.”

Image – Kirsten D/peopleimages.com/Adobe

The takeaway

So now you know. Antioxidants are the ingredients in skincare that help to form a barrier between your skin and things like free radicals and sun damage. They also help to repair the skin, slow down the skin’s weakening process as we age, fading the look of wrinkles, and they can even help to control skin conditions like acne.

As if skincare isn’t confusing enough, some of the better-known antioxidants like vitamin C and niacinamide manifest in completely different names on the label. I recommend you take a screenshot of Dr Khorana’s list of antioxidants and their alternative names so you can refer back to it when you’re shopping.

Try to include an antioxidant in your morning serum so that your skin has the best chance of protection when you enter the elements and don’t forget to always apply sunscreen as antioxidants do not work in the same way as a broad-spectrum SPF.

Meet the experts

Dr Tiina Meder began her medical career in 1995 as a cardiologist specialising in treating pregnant women with heart conditions. Later on she switched to dermatology and in 2009 she launched her own brand, Meder Beauty, from her clinic in Antibes, France.

Dr Sonia Khorana is an Aesthetic Doctor and Laser Specialist who is also a GP with a special interest in dermatology, offering laser and dermatology consultations at UK-based clinics, MediZen and Kat & Co.

Nevada Norris is a NCCPA Certified Physician Assistant at Aventura Dermatology in Aventura, FL. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Health Sciences from the University of South Florida in Tampa, FL and a Master’s Degree in Physician Assistant Studies.