Antioxidants are molecular substances in skincare ingredients that fight environmental stressors like blue light from our electronics, pollution and UV rays which damage the skin over time. These stressors are also known as free radicals. Free radicals are basically that unstable person you know who tries to suck the soul out of you every day so they can feel better about themselves. This is what’s happening to our skin on a daily basis, it getting bombarded with free radicals from all directions that cause it oxidative stress. The impact of oxidative stress can trigger acne, compromise the skin barrier and lead to fine lines and wrinkles.  

Why is it important to include antioxidants your skincare routine?

Antioxidants neutralize these free radicals that are harmful to the skin and keep it looking younger and healthier. By using antioxidants in your routine, you’re not only in protecting your skin from additional oxidative damage they also repair some of the damage that’s already been done. If you’re looking to transform your skin for the better overtime, antioxidants are the way to go!

Ok, you sold me! Which antioxidants products should I use?

Antioxidants are found in a variety of skincare products from cleansers, toners, moisturizers, etc.  Personally, I think the easiest way to incorporate antioxidants and get the maximum benefits without disrupting your core skincare routine is by adding in a serum.  Serums typically contain a higher concentration of the key ingredients compare to what can be found in a cleanser or moisturizer.

While there are many antioxidants to choose from, the four below that I’m going to discuss in a sec are unmatched!  They’re the A, B, Cs of antioxidants and overall skin superstars.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A is the Beyoncé of antioxidants and hands-down my personal favorite. As someone who has struggled with acne and congested skin for most of my life, retinol has been the most transformative ingredient that I have applied topically. It’s also the gold standard for dermatologist because it’s a well-researched and has been proven to help with stimulating collagen production and increasing cellular turnover. Using Vitamin A in my routine for the last 6 years has gotten my acne under control and smoothed out all the texture I had developed.

Vitamin A is very potent and can cause irritation to the skin when its first introduced but if you can power through the initial 4 – 6 week adjustment period, you won’t remember how you lived without it before. I personally use a prescription tretinoin but you can get your Vitamin A kick from over the counter products that contain retinol, retinoids or retinaldehyde which are all forms of Vitamin A.

Finally, Vitamin A products can cause skin to become more sensitive to the sun so make sure you’re using Vitamin A based products at night and always use a sunscreen in the day time.

Vitamin B3

Niacinamide also known as Vitamin B3 is another superstar ingredient. It helps strengthen the skin barrier, its anti-inflammatory and improves overall skin tone which is great for managing skin conditions such as acne and rosacea.  The best part about Niacinamide is that it is tolerated by most people and does not cause irritation unlike Vitamin A.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is an ingredient that I loved from afar for years. Its very popular for its brightening and anti-inflammatory properties. Vitamin C which is commonly found in products as ascorbic acid, is a great addition in your morning routine because it’s very potent and combats the free radicals caused by UV rays and pollutants. Also, when you pair Vitamin C with Vitamin E and ferulic acid, you have the holy trinity of antioxidant goodness!

I unfortunately was one of the people whose skin could not tolerate Vitamin C. I tried many formulations and varying levels of potency but they would all cause a reaction on my skin. That was until I started using Azelaic acid and my holiest of holy grails Modulating Glucosides which did wonders for my skin barrier. After using those products for about a year I dipped my toe back into testing Vitamin C starting with a water-soluble formula – to my shock I stopped getting reactions!

Vitamin C is can be unstable so make sure you follow the brands instructions on how to properly store it to get the maximum shelf life and benefits.

Until next time! Xo – Marsha