Have you been researching skincare ingredients for your next skincare product? If so, you’ve probably come across something called antioxidants. Well, what’s so exciting about antioxidants, and why are they everywhere nowadays? In this blog, we’re going to give you the run-down on the different types of antioxidants in skincare products, the benefits of antioxidants, and answer a common question: “what do antioxidants do for skin?”
What Are Antioxidants?
You’ve probably heard this buzzword in other areas, such as fitness, dieting, food storage, and healthy eating. However, when we talk about antioxidants in skincare, are they the same? Are they any different?
Antioxidants are essentially compounds that inhibit free radicals from building up and causing damage in our bodies. Left unchecked, free radicals cause oxidative stress, a condition that can lead to systemic inflammation, quicker aging, and even male infertility! For these reasons, our bodies naturally produce antioxidants. However, sometimes our bodies aren’t able to keep up with environmental sources of free radicals, like:
- Cigarette smoke
- Pollution
- Pesticides and fungicides
- Radiation
- UVA & UVB radiation
What Are the Benefits of Antioxidants for the Skin?
So, what do antioxidants do for skin?
Now, obviously, antioxidants have an important role to play in the body on the whole. However, they are also an important component in our skin’s role in the body. The skin is one of our first lines of defense when it comes to things like pollution, radiation, and ultraviolet light. By providing our skin with extra antioxidants, we can ensure that the skin is well-equipped to do its part in protecting us!
Are Antioxidants Anti-Aging, Too?
As shown in many studies and review articles, like this one, antioxidants can help us reduce premature aging. This is because “intracellular and extracellular oxidative stress initiated by reactive oxygen species (ROS [or free radicals]) advance skin aging.” By providing our skin with additional antioxidants, we can proactively prevent aging that is caused by free radicals.
It should be noted that applying antioxidants to the skin after the damage has already occurred is not effective. Antioxidants are a preventative and immediate-use option for fighting free radicals.
What Types of Antioxidants Are Found in Skincare Products?
If you’ve ever taken a look at the ingredients in your facial cleanser, sunscreen, or moisturizer, you may have noticed some of the following ingredients. These are all antioxidants and may be included in different skincare products to help your skin stay healthy and fight off free radicals:
- Cymbopogon Flexus Oil (Lemongrass)
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin E
- Retinoids (Vitamin A)
- Niacinamide (Vitamin B3)
- Lycopene
- Green Tea Extract
Do Rejuvaskin Products Have Antioxidants?
Unfortunately, free radical activity can be found all around us, leaving ample room for damage within our skin. That’s why we’ve made sure to include antioxidants in many of our products, such as our Anti-Pollution Facial Cleanser, ReVita-D Moisturizer, and Retinoid Duo. Using antioxidant-rich skincare products in multiple steps of your routine can help you both cleanse and protect your skin from environmental damage we encounter everyday.
Does your skincare routine contain antioxidants? It might be time to add them to the shelf!