You may have heard about the benefits of antioxidants in your diet, but have you heard about the wonders of antioxidants for skin?
Antioxidants have been the target of enthusiastic attention lately, with everyone from health experts to skincare gurus singing their praises. But are antioxidants all they’re cracked up to be? What can antioxidants really do for you and your skincare routine?
Read on as we unveil the true power of antioxidants, and discover just how much of a difference they can make for the health and appearance of your skin.
The Power of Antioxidants
Before diving into the benefits of antioxidants for skin, it’s helpful to have an understanding of antioxidants in general. Put simply, antioxidants combat oxidative stress in the body. This natural process produces unstable chemicals that can damage the structures of your cell membranes. You may have heard of these unstable chemicals—they’re called free radicals, and they wreak havoc on your skin health and overall system.
Free radicals share links with:
- Heart diseases
- Certain types of cancer
- Premature signs of aging
- Inflammatory joint disease
- Senile dementia
- Asthma
- Diabetes
- Degenerative eye disease
In fact, scientific evidence has begun to suggest that free radical reactions are the major cause of most degenerative diseases. Fortunately, antioxidants are naturally occurring compounds that can combat free radical damage by slowing oxidation. This means antioxidants can potentially reduce your risk of suffering from these degenerative issues, especially as you age.
As far as antioxidant benefits for skin go, you can experience any of the following:
- Increased hydration
- Reduced inflammation
- Encouraged skin repair
- Increased collagen production
- Improvement of skin texture
- Reduced appearance of wrinkles
Simply put, antioxidants are an all-in-one tool that have blanket benefits for the both your overall health and skin health.
Types of Antioxidants for Skin
The skin-protecting and anti-aging qualities of antioxidants make them hugely valuable in skincare. But what’s even more valuable is an understanding of the different types of antioxidants for skin and how they can hone in on specific skin concerns. Let’s take a look:
Vitamin C
Also known as L-ascorbic acid or ester-C, topical vitamin C can fade dark marks, even skin tone, and stimulate collagen production.
Vitamin E
This moisturizing antioxidant speeds up the healing process in damaged skin, especially in cases of UV damage.
Retinol
This form of vitamin A is well known for reducing fine lines and wrinkles by enhancing skin cell turnover rates. Retinol can also help reduce the effects of skin aging.
Phytoextracts
These botanical extracts come from plants like calendula, white or green tea, coffee, rosemary, and more. They can also help soften redness and reduce inflammation.
Coenzyme Q10
This antioxidant improves skin elasticity and texture. Although it’s found naturally in the body, its levels diminish with age.
Ferulic acid
Ferulic acid prevents sun damage and works best when used together with vitamins C and E.
Curcumin
Curcumin is a polyphenol found in turmeric. It has skin-brightening and anti-inflammatory properties that promote bright, glowing skin.
Resveratrol
This powerful antioxidant is also an anti-inflammatory. It’s found in grapes, berries, tea, and red wines.
Niacinamide
Also called vitamin B3, niacinamide improves skin texture, improves uneven skin tone, and also helps to fade any dark marks and scarring.
Incorporating Antioxidants in Skincare
Now that you understand the different antioxidant benefits for skin, it’s time to turn your attention to applying those benefits. How can you take advantage of everything antioxidants have to promote healthy skin?
Ultimately, you can get the antioxidants you need in two main ways: by eating them, or by applying topical antioxidants.
Consumption of Antioxidants
Many foods naturally contain antioxidants, with some of the highest concentrations found in:
- Blueberries
- Red cabbage
- Dark chocolate
- Pecans
- Artichokes
- Beans
Some studies suggest that you may receive higher levels of antioxidants from fresh or frozen ingredients, compared to taking supplements or vitamins. To get the maximum absorption in your skin cells, consider incorporating these foods into a healthy and balanced diet.
Topical Application of Antioxidants
Skincare treatments with added antioxidants can also help protect against free radicals, and Seven:Thirty’s THIRSTY Hydrating Serum is one of the best antioxidant-based products to start with.
This hydrating facial serum is suitable for any skin type, from oily skin to dry or combination skin. Even better? It’s made with natural ingredients that can benefit your skin health in more ways than one:
Marigold
Calms and soothes the skin while protecting it from blue light damage
Saccharomyces ferment filtrate
An anti-inflammatory that supports the skin biome
Centella asiatica
A healing, potent antioxidant that keeps the skin well-hydrated
Together, this powerful antioxidant serum mix works to combat free radicals, hydrate dry skin, and protect against other factors that can cause skin damage (like prolonged blue light exposure from screens).
Add Antioxidants to Your Skincare Routine With Seven:Thirty
If you want your skin to benefit from the power of antioxidants, don’t just add antioxidant-rich foods to your diet—apply topical antioxidants directly to your skin with help from Seven:Thirty skincare products.
At Seven:Thirty, we’re committed to producing top-quality skincare products designed to combat common skin issues like inflammation, redness, loss of collagen, fine lines, and more. Our THIRSTY Hydrating Serum is packed with everything your skin needs to stay supple, hydrated, and protected from damaging free radicals.
No matter your skin concern, we invite you to shop Seven:Thirty today to start your journey toward healthier, better-protected skin.
Sources:
BetterHealth Channel. Antioxidants. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/antioxidants
VeryWell Health. How to Use Antioxidants for Skin Health. https://www.verywellhealth.com/antioxidants-for-skin-health-4587778