In the quest for healthy skin, topical antioxidants are a skincare essential, acting as a shield against environmental aggressors like UV rays and pollution.
Understanding Antioxidants and Skin Health
Let's start with the basics to understand the crucial role antioxidants play in daily skin health.
Free radicals are unstable molecules that can be created by various external and internal factors, including UV radiation, pollution, and the body's natural metabolic processes. The instability of free radicals is due to their unpaired electrons, making them highly reactive. They seek to stabilise themselves by taking electrons from other molecules, such as those in healthy skin cells. This process can lead to oxidative stress, which is known to accelerate ageing, contribute to fine lines, wrinkles, and can even lead to skin disorders. It acts as a persistent force that degrades collagen, harms DNA, and makes the skin prone to damage.
Antioxidants intervene in this process, offering crucial protection against these harmful effects. They counteract free radicals by giving away an electron but remain stable themselves. This unique action allows them to protect cells, especially skin cells, from the damaging effects of oxidative stress. In doing so, antioxidants safeguard skin cells, maintaining their health, and are essential in defending the skin against environmental factors and ageing.
The Super Six: Top Antioxidants for Your Skin
Vitamin C: A skincare powerhouse, Vitamin C brightens dull skin and defends against oxidative damage. It neutralises free radicals and aids in collagen production.
Vitamin E: This natural skin-conditioning agent protects against environmental pollution and UV radiation, neutralising harmful free radicals and preventing skin cell damage.
Ferulic Acid: Enhancing the efficacy and stability of Vitamins C and E, Ferulic Acid forms a powerful trio for protection, reducing ageing signs and improving skin tone and texture.
Ectoin: Known for its protective and repairing properties, Ectoin helps skin cells withstand UV radiation and pollution, preventing premature skin ageing.
Retinol (Vitamin A): An anti-aging classic, Retinol stimulates skin cell turnover and collagen production, reducing fine lines and wrinkles and improving skin texture.
Green Tea: Rich in polyphenols, Green Tea reduces inflammation, protects against sun damage, and enhances the complexion with its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
The Best Time to Apply Antioxidants
Timing and SPF combination are key to maximizing antioxidant benefits. Apply Vitamin C, E, and Ferulic Acid in the morning to combat environmental free radicals and enhance sunscreen efficacy. Use Retinol in the evening, to align with the skin's repair cycle and prevent sun sensitivity. Ectoin can be applied both morning and evening, offering protective and reparative benefits.
Antioxidants and SPF - A Love Match
While antioxidants provide a robust defense against free radicals, they don't block UV rays. This is where SPF comes into play. Sunscreen acts as a physical barrier, protecting the skin from UV damage. When used together, antioxidants and SPF offer an incredible shield, preventing both immediate and long-term skin damage and repairing existing damage.
Consistent use of antioxidants, as seen in products like Sekkeizu’s AM Serum, which combines Vitamin C, E, Ferulic acid, and Ectoin, is vital for noticeable results. The lightweight formula allows an ample application of SPF on top without feeling heavy.