Everything You Need to Know About Antioxidants in Skincare
In the world of good-for-skin ingredients, antioxidants work like a team of healthy-skin superheroes on a mission to take down their archnemesis, free radicals. More than just a buzzworthy skincare ingredient, antioxidants work tirelessly to turn back the clock on skin damage caused by free radicals while also preventing future damage caused by exposure to free radicals. So what are free radicals and what kind of damage are we talking about? “Free radicals are unstable molecules that both occur naturally and are introduced from environmental aggressors like pollution and UV rays. Lifestyle triggers like stress, smoking, and alcohol consumption can also trigger free radicals in the body. The damage that free radicals do on the skin is break down collagen and damage skin cells (this damage is linked to many visible skin issues such as wrinkles, hyperpigmentation and vascular broken capillaries), says Deanne Mraz, MD, FAAD, a dermatologist in Connecticut. Basically, free radicals are not our friends. But luckily, we’ve got antioxidants and we know how to use ’em. We talked to two top dermatologists to serve up everything you need to know about antioxidants and why they’re a worthy addition to your skincare routine.
Meet the Expert
Deanne Mraz, MD, FAAD, is a board-certified dermatologist who is president and founder of DMRResearch, president and co-founder of Modern Dermatology, and assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Yale New Haven Hospital in Connecticut.
Marisa Garshick, MD, FAAD, is an NYC- and New Jersey–based board-certified dermatologist.
What Are Antioxidants?
Let’s take a little trip back to high school chemistry (sorry if this is triggering). “Antioxidants are molecules that protect healthy cells from free radicals, which can damage cells and lead to disease. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals and interrupt the damage they can cause by donating an electron to them. They essentially hunt down the free radicals and balance them out!” Dr. Mraz tells. They do this to help keep free radical damage at bay by helping find and reverse damage from exposure to environmental aggressors. “Free radicals are unstable molecules that damage skin cells, cause premature aging, and cause dullness, wrinkles, and inflammation,” adds Marisa Garshick, MD, FAAD, a dermatologist in NYC.
How Do Antioxidants Work?
“Antioxidants stabilize free radicals, reduce oxidative stress (aka oxidative damage), and strengthen the skin barrier,” says Dr. Garshick. Oxidative stress occurs when there is an imbalance of antioxidants and free radicals in the body (basically your body not having enough antioxidant supply to annihilate the free radicals). All of this can not only damage DNA and cause a host of health issues (like skin cancer), but can also manifest as dull, dry skin, uneven skin tone, uneven skin texture, photodamage, pigmentation, fine lines, wrinkles, and more signs of skin aging.
The Benefits of Antioxidants in Skincare
They’re Anti-Inflammatory
Antioxidants help calm inflammation, in turn reducing redness and irritation (which includes skin conditions like rosacea).
They’re Anti-Aging
Both Dr. Mraz and Dr. Garshick tell us that antioxidants help boost collagen production and elasticity and reduce wrinkles by protecting the skin against free radical damage.
They Boost Each Other’s Benefits
Many antioxidants (like ferulic acid), help to enhance how well other antioxidants work when you use them in your skincare.
They Play Nice With Other Ingredients
“Antioxidants pair well with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and peptides for enhanced benefits,” adds Dr. Garshick. So incorporating topical antioxidants like a hydrating antioxidant moisturizer or antioxidant serum (we’re currently loving KYPRIS BEAUTY Antioxidant Dew) into your routine is always a plus. “Antioxidants are an important part of a skincare routine and work well alongside other skincare,” Dr. Mraz also tells us.
They Brighten and Smooth Skin
“Antioxidants in skincare are both preventative, protective, and reparative,’” according to Dr. Mraz. If brightening skin tone and smoothing skin texture are on your list of skin goals, antioxidants are your friend. They help fade dark spots and pigmentation, smooth rough skin caused by dryness and irritation, and help protect your skin from sun damage that can also cause uneven skin tone and texture.
The Best Antioxidants for Your Skin
1. Vitamin C
“Vitamin C is the fan favorite antioxidant for skincare. Its most celebrated benefit is skin brightening and lightening of hyperpigmentation; however, it has also been shown to support the body’s own ability to produce collagen,” says Dr. Mraz.
2. Resveratrol
This powerful antioxidant “calms inflammation, protects from UV damage, and has anti-aging effects,” according to Dr. Garshick.
3. Niacinamide
Got sensitive skin? Want tighter pores? Look no further. “Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3 and is very soothing and nourishing to the skin barrier. It works to reduce transepidermal water loss and support the skin’s ability to regulate hydration. It is calming and known for reducing redness and inflammation, promoting more hydrated and even-toned skin,” Dr. Mraz adds. Looking for something to soothe and brighten dark under eyes? FIRST AID BEAUTY Eye Duty Niacinamide Brightening Cream is a treat for tired eyes and is an Ipster fave.
4. Ferulic Acid
We like to call this one “friendly ferulic” because it works so well with others. According to Dr. Mraz, ferulic acid “protects against free radicals and provides overall skin rejuvenation benefits. This antioxidant is known as the best friend of many other antioxidants because it enhances the benefits of other antioxidants. Specifically, ferulic acid can stabilize vitamin C to prevent it from degrading over time and boost its efficacy.” It’s also known to boost the benefits of vitamin E.
5. Green Tea
According to our dermatologists, green tea has anti-inflammatory properties which can help reduce redness, and it has been shown to reduce the production of sebum (good to know if your skin type is acne prone).
6. Bakuchiol
We know that bakuchiol is known as “nature’s alternative to retinol,” which is why we love it for our sensitive skin and fighting signs of aging. “Known for similar benefits to a retinol, without the irritation, bakuchiol reduces fine lines and wrinkles, rejuvenates skin texture, and evens out skin tone. It also pairs well with a retinol or AHA to soothe skin while those actives work,” Dr. Mraz advises. So if you’re looking for skincare products that are an alternative to retinol, or if you’re already using retinoids and want something to ease the transition period, consider bakuchiol an option.
7. Vitamin E
Besides being besties with ferulic acid, vitamin E works magic on dry skin. “It combats free-radical damage and acts as both a humectant and emollient to hydrate and soften the skin,” Dr. Mraz shares.
Can You Use Antioxidants With Other Skincare Products?
Absolutely—just be mindful of which ones. “Overall, antioxidants play well with other actives; however, if you have sensitive skin that is prone to irritation you can and should ease into using new products, including antioxidants. When in doubt, stick to antioxidants in the a.m. when they won’t interact with AHAs and retinols at night,” advises Dr. Mraz. Also, avoid combining potent antioxidants with retinol and benzoyl peroxide because this can reduce their efficacy.
Final Thoughts
Antioxidant-rich skincare is a great option if you’re looking to improve your overall skin health while preventing and reversing signs of aging caused by UV radiation, free radicals, and environmental stressors. And what makes it so easy to incorporate them into your routine is the fact that they come in so many different types and formulations that can benefit your skin in their own unique ways. From cleansers to lotions to SPF, serums, supplements, and more, there’s an option to help every skin type win the fight against free radicals.