Antioxidants for skin have been thoroughly researched and proven beneficial. Skincare products containing antioxidants can be beneficial in almost anyone’s personal care routine.
Continue reading to learn how antioxidants can support the health of your skin and which to look for in skincare products.
What Are Antioxidants?
Antioxidants are potent compounds found primarily in fruits and vegetables. The main way they promote skin health, is by helping to fight the effects of free radicals.
Free radicals are natural molecules created by the process of oxidation which can damage skin cells and tissues if left unchecked.
While the body actually needs a certain number of free radicals, too many can contribute to certain health problems and to the visible signs of aging.
Antioxidants help to neutralize free radicals, in an effort to reduce the cell damage and other problems they may cause.1
The Benefits Of Antioxidants For All Skin Types
Now, the skin is the largest organ in your body. And over time, it can lose elasticity and develop fine lines, wrinkles, and other age-related issues, including a lack of moisture. As you get older, you might find yourself needing to use more moisturizer than before due to dry skin.
Your skin has to deal with a lot of stress – much of it from your daily environment. Pollution, the sun’s ultraviolet rays, and poor nutrition can lead to cell damage. If you smoke or deal with a stressful job, that may make the damage even worse.
Antioxidants help the body and skin protect themselves from stress. Anthocyanins are particularly powerful antioxidants. You’ll find them in berries and other fruits as well as many vegetables. Anthocyanins may not only support the health of your skin but also your heart.2
Antioxidants For Skin Care And Skin Health
To support the health of your skin, look for skincare products that are specially formulated with these powerful vitamin antioxidants.
Vitamin A Retinol
Also known as retinol, this vitamin is a potent antioxidant that can help fight some of the environmental factors that may make your skin look older than it should.
Vitamin A can help reduce the effects of ultraviolet rays by supporting your body’s natural production of collagen. This is a protein that gives the skin elasticity and strength.
In one study, participants who received a topical serum containing vitamin A saw fewer effects after ultraviolet exposure than those who did not.3
Vitamin C Ascorbic Acid
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is another powerful antioxidant that is great for skin cells. Like other antioxidants, it helps to protect the skin from damage due to ultraviolet light. It also appears the vitamin may have moisturizing and skin-brightening properties.4
For an additional benefit, you can also get vitamin C through certain foods. Citrus fruits are some of the best sources of vitamin C, as you may already know. But there are several other excellent sources as well. These include watermelon, mango, cantaloupe, strawberries, and raspberries.5
Resveratrol
Resveratrol is one of the most powerful antioxidants. In fact, it has been shown to not only protect the skin from damage due to environmental irritants, but also help to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.6
Green tea extract is a very good source of resveratrol. It promotes the production of an enzyme known as superoxide dismutase. This enzyme helps to inhibit free radicals that can make skin age prematurely.7
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is not a single vitamin. It’s actually a group of molecules that have similar structures. One of these molecules, tocopherol, helps protect the skin from ultraviolet damage.8
Harness The Power of Antioxidants
Antioxidants and vitamins are important for skin and your overall health, no matter what stage of life you’re in. But they’re even more critical as you get older.
If you have concerns about the health of your skin or want to incorporate antioxidants into your skincare routine or diet, speak with your dermatologist. They may recommend using products containing one or a combination of the antioxidants listed above. They may even recommend taking a dietary supplement in either capsule or powder form.
Learn More:
Fall Skin Care: How To Maintain Moisture With The Weather Change
The Importance of Sunscreen Even After Summer’s End
Benefits Of Moisturizing The Face For Sensitive Skin
Sources
1 https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/antioxidants
2 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780815520290500181
3 https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/health-disease/skin-health/vitamin-A
4 https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/health-disease/skin-health/vitamin-C
5 https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002404.htm
6 http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.1033.5381&rep=rep1&type=pdf
7 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3679539/
8 https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/health-disease/skin-health/vitamin-E
Antioxidants for skin have been thoroughly researched and proven beneficial. Skincare products containing antioxidants can be beneficial in almost anyone’s personal care routine.
Continue reading to learn how antioxidants can support the health of your skin and which to look for in skincare products.
What Are Antioxidants?
Antioxidants are potent compounds found primarily in fruits and vegetables. The main way they promote skin health, is by helping to fight the effects of free radicals.
Free radicals are natural molecules created by the process of oxidation which can damage skin cells and tissues if left unchecked.
While the body actually needs a certain number of free radicals, too many can contribute to certain health problems and to the visible signs of aging.
Antioxidants help to neutralize free radicals, in an effort to reduce the cell damage and other problems they may cause.1
The Benefits Of Antioxidants For All Skin Types
Now, the skin is the largest organ in your body. And over time, it can lose elasticity and develop fine lines, wrinkles, and other age-related issues, including a lack of moisture. As you get older, you might find yourself needing to use more moisturizer than before due to dry skin.
Your skin has to deal with a lot of stress – much of it from your daily environment. Pollution, the sun’s ultraviolet rays, and poor nutrition can lead to cell damage. If you smoke or deal with a stressful job, that may make the damage even worse.
Antioxidants help the body and skin protect themselves from stress. Anthocyanins are particularly powerful antioxidants. You’ll find them in berries and other fruits as well as many vegetables. Anthocyanins may not only support the health of your skin but also your heart.2
Antioxidants For Skin Care And Skin Health
To support the health of your skin, look for skincare products that are specially formulated with these powerful vitamin antioxidants.
Vitamin A Retinol
Also known as retinol, this vitamin is a potent antioxidant that can help fight some of the environmental factors that may make your skin look older than it should.
Vitamin A can help reduce the effects of ultraviolet rays by supporting your body’s natural production of collagen. This is a protein that gives the skin elasticity and strength.
In one study, participants who received a topical serum containing vitamin A saw fewer effects after ultraviolet exposure than those who did not.3
Vitamin C Ascorbic Acid
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is another powerful antioxidant that is great for skin cells. Like other antioxidants, it helps to protect the skin from damage due to ultraviolet light. It also appears the vitamin may have moisturizing and skin-brightening properties.4
For an additional benefit, you can also get vitamin C through certain foods. Citrus fruits are some of the best sources of vitamin C, as you may already know. But there are several other excellent sources as well. These include watermelon, mango, cantaloupe, strawberries, and raspberries.5
Resveratrol
Resveratrol is one of the most powerful antioxidants. In fact, it has been shown to not only protect the skin from damage due to environmental irritants, but also help to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.6
Green tea extract is a very good source of resveratrol. It promotes the production of an enzyme known as superoxide dismutase. This enzyme helps to inhibit free radicals that can make skin age prematurely.7
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is not a single vitamin. It’s actually a group of molecules that have similar structures. One of these molecules, tocopherol, helps protect the skin from ultraviolet damage.8
Harness The Power of Antioxidants
Antioxidants and vitamins are important for skin and your overall health, no matter what stage of life you’re in. But they’re even more critical as you get older.
If you have concerns about the health of your skin or want to incorporate antioxidants into your skincare routine or diet, speak with your dermatologist. They may recommend using products containing one or a combination of the antioxidants listed above. They may even recommend taking a dietary supplement in either capsule or powder form.
Learn More:
Fall Skin Care: How To Maintain Moisture With The Weather Change
The Importance of Sunscreen Even After Summer’s End
Benefits Of Moisturizing The Face For Sensitive Skin
Sources
1 https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/antioxidants
2 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780815520290500181
3 https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/health-disease/skin-health/vitamin-A
4 https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/health-disease/skin-health/vitamin-C
5 https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002404.htm
6 http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.1033.5381&rep=rep1&type=pdf
7 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3679539/
8 https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/health-disease/skin-health/vitamin-E