Our Favorite Antioxidant Skincare Ingredients. Right Now.
Antioxidants are an essential part of any well-rounded skincare routine. They play a key role in preventing oxidation, a process that contributes to cell damage + skin aging. We’re exposed to oxidation from internal factors that are part of the body’s natural aging process + by a number of things we encounter in daily life, including UV rays + air pollution.
The good news is that it’s easy to protect your skin by making topical antioxidants a staple in your daily routine. The better news - or maybe bad news - is, there are so many options it can be overwhelming to even begin to choose the right ones. We’ve all been there. Lost down the aisle of Target, Ulta or Sephora - looking for just the right skin saviors! So, we’re sharing a few of our favorite antioxidants, what they are + how to choose the right ones.
All antioxidants work in generally the same way—they look for reactive oxygen species (aka free radicals) + try to scavenge them before they have a chance to damage cells through oxidation. So if they all work in a similar way, how do you know which antioxidants to use for your skin?
We like to look for antioxidants that offer additional benefits + compliment the rest of your skin’s needs. Some antioxidants really go above + beyond just the standard function, so why not choose the ones that will get you one step closer to achieving your skin goals?
Here are a few of our favorites!
1. Retinol (Vitamin A)
A lot of people don’t know this, but retinol (also known as vitamin A) is actually an antioxidant. Retinol is a lipophilic (oil-loving) molecule, which means it can penetrate into the skin + work its magic from within. As a part of the medical grade skincare community - we know our products have higher concentrates of active ingredients like retinol in smaller molecule forms, so they can penetrate even deeper into the layers of skin.
If you’re at all interested in preventing aging - or at least visible signs of aging, retinol is for you. In addition to being a great preventative-aging ingredient, retinol also increases the rate of cell turnover to reveal younger-looking skin. This helps build collagen (our favorite kind of plump - skin plump), which retinol also protects by decreasing the activity of enzymes that break collagen down.
One thing to be aware of when it comes to retinol is that you can definitely have too much of a good thing. This is an ingredient you want to use in combination with a hydrating product that works to restore your skin’s barrier.
2. Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (Vitamin C)
We many not be able to pronounce it well, but tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate (THD) is really just a type of Vitamin C. What makes it so special is that it’s a very stable, lipid-based form of Vitamin C, which means it’s way less likely to irritate skin than traditional forms of Vitamin C. And, it’s great for people with sensitive skin or to use in conjunction with retinol products.
THD benefits include building collagen + fighting inflammation but where its super powers lie in improving + preventing hyperpigmentation. This makes it an especially good option if you’re someone who wants to target melasma, age spots or brown spots. Or, if you’re just interested in a brighter-looking complexion. And, who’s not interested in glowing skin?
3. Niacinamide
Niacinamide is one of skincare’s most versatile ingredients + boasts antioxidant properties among its many talents. Niacinamide is unique because, in addition to acting as an antioxidant itself, it also increases the antioxidant potential of the skin. What does that even mean? It supports your skin in a way that allows it to produce more of its own antioxidants. It’s what we like to call - a sustainable antioxidant.
The list of Niacinamide benefits is too long to list. A few of what we consider to be the big ones are - decreasing redness + blotchiness, reduces fine lines + wrinkles, evens out hyperpigmentation + improves skin barrier function by preventing transepidermal water loss.
There are a lot of great antioxidants out there, down those well lit beauty aisles - these three just happen to be some of our favorites. And, ones that we love to use in my skincare product line! We’ve seen the results friends + clients have gotten + we’ve read (oh how we’ve read) the research. Now, we hope we’ve helped you in a small way down those beauty aisles!