What Are Antioxidants, and Why Are They Important for Your Skin?

Introduction

A simple skincare routine determines by cleansing, toning, and moisturizing. Each step is essential and should be followed regularly for the best result. But adding an antioxidant to the skincare routine is more fruitful for our skin. As a part of the skincare regime, antioxidants are the practice of preventing oxidative stress and aging signs from our skin.

1. Definition of Antioxidants

Antioxidants are molecules found in fresh fruits and veggies in the form of vitamins like C, A, and E that fight against free radicals in our bodies. It can delay or prevent cell damage by neutralizing free radicals and oxidative stress.

2. Overview of the importance of antioxidants for skin health

Unfortunately, free radical damage can lead to inflammation, which inhibits the skins regularly scheduled self-regeneration procedures. Eventually, this leads to hyperpigmentation, acne, wrinkles, and cell damage.

Free radicals are produced naturally in our bodies. However, pollution, stress, UV rays, and environmental toxins create free radicals. Here, antioxidants work as a healer to the cell damage and prevent oxidative stress.

What are Antioxidants?

According to a 2021 review trusted source, antioxidants help protect the skin from harmful UV radiation, which can accelerate skin aging.

1. The Role of Free Radicals

Free radicals are an unstable molecule that contains unpaired electrons, and this structure makes the molecules highly reactive and prone to oxidation.

It is responsible for inhibiting collagen and elastin production, resulting in unflattering skin imperfections like wrinkling, dark spots, fine lines, and loose, saggy skin.

2. Types of Antioxidants

Skincare products contain many types of antioxidants, some more potent than others. The following are some of the most popular antioxidants you will find in the skincare product gallery.

Vitamin C

The most popular vitamin C, known as Ascorbic acid, is found naturally in many vegetables and fruits like Kakadu Plum, Red and Green Peppers, Oranges, Grapefruits, Broccoli, Strawberries, and Tomatoes.

Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant needed to fight oxidative stress, regenerate other antioxidants, like vitamin E, and make collagen. Our body has various connecting tissues that contain collagen, a structural protein responsible for the strength and elasticity of the skin. As we age, our collagen levels deplete, and our skin loses its firmness. Conversely, it is known to increase collagen production and improve skin elasticity.

Vitamin E

The proper function of many organs in the body, including the skin, depends on vitamin E. It can accelerate skin healing, which is available in moisturizers, creams, and serums to treat dry skin, scarring, and stretch marks.

Vitamin E is rich in Beta, Gamma, and Delta Tocopherol and is an effective antioxidant.

Green Tea

“Green tea filled with polyphenols that not only scavenge free radicals but also work as an anti-inflammatory to accelerate wound healing,” says dermatologist Melissa Kanchanapoomi Levin, MD, clinical attending at NYU Langone and Mount Sinai Hospital.

Benefits of Antioxidants for Skin Care

1. Protection from Sun Damage

Antioxidants are anti-inflammatory by nature, preventing the inflammatory effect of UV rays. Thus, it helps in providing proper protection against sun damage and photoaging.

2. Reducing the Appearance of Fine Lines and Wrinkles (Decreased Signs of Aging)

Oxidative stress breaks down collagen synthesis, slowing the skin's natural repair process. As a result, we may face fine lines, wrinkles, loose skin, and acne breakouts. By scavenging free radicals, antioxidant improves elasticity, reduces wrinkles, and keeps skin youthful. In addition, it protects our skin from oxidative damage from free radicals and delays age spots.

3. Improved Skin Tone and Texture

Frequent sun exposure and free radicals can speed up melanin production, which tends to cause uneven skin tone and dark spots.

Antioxidants can help prevent skin pigmentation by reducing photodamage. Some antioxidants, like vitamin C, also stop the enzyme tyrosinase, which makes melanin.

Tips to Incorporate Antioxidants into Your Skin Care Routine

1. Choose the Right Products (Read Labels)

Antioxidants are not only the ingredients that make your skin 100% healthy. On the Caring Compounds website, to help you decide which formulation best matches your skin, we have listed the features and functions of all our products on our website.

There are many anti-aging ingredients that you can take in your CTM skin care products that can improve your skin texture and external barrier.

For a quick tip

We can use hyaluronic acid for the hydrating purpose of dry skin. In addition, we can take licorice as plant extracts that brighten the complexion and help remove excess melanin pigments.

2.  Incorporate a Serum or Moisturizer with Antioxidants

Studies suggest that skincare products containing several different antioxidant ingredients are more effective because they have higher antioxidant activity.

So, you can choose an organic serum or organic moisturizer based on the antioxidants to give you a better result for the skin.

3. Use a Sunscreen with Antioxidants

The antioxidant is also one of the best ingredients for protecting against UV damage and is included in “SPF” creams. So, choose a sunscreen with antioxidants that work as a sun blocker for your skin.

Conclusion

Antioxidants are molecules that help to protect your skin from the damaging effects of free radicals by neutralizing them. These molecules are essential for skin health as they help to reduce inflammation, prevent premature aging, and protect against environmental damage.