Why we love antioxidants in skincare.
Big, big fan of their work.
Skincare is a game of ingredients and I really love this part of the industry. Treatments are fun (so. much. fun.), but the effectiveness of any treatment still hinges on — say it with me — ingredients!
We’ve already covered AHAs and BHAs; today, we’re getting into antioxidants. Hopefully you already know why things like blueberries and strawberries and dark chocolate are good to consume. Turns out antioxidants do amazing work when applied to your skin, too.
To be so general about it, antioxidants are some of the most effective ingredients for all skin types and conditions. Many are known for their work in neutralizing free radicals (unstable molecules attempting to damage healthy skin cells). But, antioxidants also help protect our skin against damage from stress, UV rays, pollution, and even blue light. That kind of work also prevents additional inflammation and signs of premature aging. We love!
One thing to know – antioxidants unleash their power in many forms. There’s a cast of characters holding up this film.
The list of options under the antioxidant umbrella is for sure overwhelming. Today, we’ll stick to a handful of the heavy hitters that are safe for all skin types, conditions and tones.
Alpha-lipoic acid – a universal antioxidant that is already found in the body … in every cell, to be exact. Alpha-lipoic acid helps convert glucose into energy. When used in skincare, and like so many of its relatives, it can reduce inflammation and slow signs of aging. Why we really love her, though: alpha-lipoic acid enhances the skin’s natural exfoliation process and can minimize the appearance of pores. One formula riding on alpha-lipoic acid that I currently use (ignore the price, ignore the price, IGNORE IT) is skinbetter science’s Mystro Active Balance Serum.
Green tea – another that’s great for all skin types, but especially the acne-prone girlies. If mandelic acid is running point, green tea is the shooting guard with a quick release. We love it for its soothing, antibacterial, wound-healing properties. Not only will green tea help acne lesions heal, but it also reduces swelling. Something like this innisfree moisturizer would be a winning combo with a little mandelic serum at night.
Niacinamide – Inside the body, niacinamide (a form of vitamin B3) helps with energy production, cell health and DNA repair. This may also be why we’ve seen a surge in niacinamide as a supplement (including in the form of NAD+). Topically, what can it do for our skin? Boost barrier function by reducing transepidermal water loss, even texture, and brighten the skin’s appearance. I’ve used this Naturium niacinamide serum before and the 12% concentration can help with discoloration over time.
Vitamin A – aka our queen for cell turnover, i.e. slowing signs of aging. If you’re thinking, “Wait, I thought that was what retinol or tretinoin were for?!,” you’re exactly right. Both of those things are retinoids, which is the active form of vitamin A. I have a future post planned to help break down retinol vs. retinaldehyde vs. tretinoin, so submit any questions now. But if you’re in the market for a form of A to work into your routine, I’m really liking Medik8’s formulas!
Vitamin C – you (hopefully) already know and use her because she is a potent little powerhouse. C is usually credited for fighting free radicals, but it also helps stimulate collagen production, even skin tone, smooth texture, reduce inflammation, and protect against UV damage. She is booked and busy, honey! Not all vitamin Cs are created equal, though; we’ll get into that in the future, too. One of thee most important things with vitamin C is very dark or opaque packaging – you don’t want any sunlight destabilizing your formula. I currently use SkinCeuticals, have my eyes on skinbetter, but have also used and like Prequel, Obagi and Vetted.
Guys, I’m not kidding when I said the list of great antioxidants for the skin is very, very long — this is a tiny ripple on the surface. But if there’s ever an ingredient you want me to dive into and source some products for, this Substack lives to serve you.
One more thing … I missed posting last week because it was an actual 7-day period from hell itself. The writing was just not writing. I’ll make it up with a double feature very soon. Ok, that’s it, happy weekend!
did you use procreate for this... if so... awesome
your handwriting <3