What are antioxidants?
Antioxidants are ingredients that work to counteract the damage caused by free radicals, which result from excess oxidation within the skin. They help to prevent skin damage, and resulting concerns such as premature ageing, from occurring.
If you think about other common skincare ingredients, such as retinoids or acids, these address existing skin concerns, whereas antioxidants help to prevent them from occurring in the first place.
What are free radicals?
Free radicals are a type of oxidant. Oxidants are molecules that have lost an electron, meaning they have an unpaired electron, making them unstable.
Exposure to environmental aggressors such as UV rays, pollution and cigarette smoke will increase oxidation and, therefore, the production of free radicals. This in turn can then lead to further oxidation – it is a chain reaction! Free radicals are constantly searching for a spare electron to complete their set, which they can take from molecules within your cells, damaging them in the process and resulting in premature ageing – this is known as oxidative stress.
It’s important to note that a base level of oxidation is a normal part of our metabolism, and the skin’s natural antioxidant reserves work to keep the balance between oxidants and antioxidants. However, it is when the number of oxidants outweighs the skin’s natural defence system that oxidative stress occurs.
How do antioxidants work?
Antioxidants give up one of their own electrons to stabilise the free radical, preventing it from stealing the electron from molecules within your cells and damaging them. This helps to boost the skin’s natural defences and restores the balance between oxidants and antioxidants to help prevent oxidative stress.
However, in the process of neutralising a free radical, the antioxidant is now left with an unpaired electron, meaning it has now itself become a free radical (albeit a weak one). As you can imagine, this is a chain reaction, which will keep occurring. This is why it’s always best for products to contain blends of different antioxidants, to help to prevent this chain reaction.
How does this affect our skin?
The damage caused by free radicals can result in dull, uneven, lacklustre skin and accelerated ageing, specifically accelerated extrinsic photoageing (premature skin ageing resulting from prolonged and repeated sun exposure). Since antioxidants help to prevent this damage, they help to promote a brighter, healthier complexion and improve the overall appearance of the skin whilst reducing signs of ageing such as fine lines and wrinkles.
When should you use antioxidants?
Antioxidants can be used every day, morning and/or evening. You may wish to use your antioxidant product in the morning, as your skin will benefit from the protection during the day (when paired with sunscreen, of course) since this is when you are exposed to the most aggressors. However, antioxidants have also been shown to be particularly beneficial when used at night, where they can aid the skin repair process. Ultimately, it is whatever works best for you and fits in with the rest of your routine.
Antioxidants are perfect to pair with your sunscreen. Whilst antioxidants will not offer UV protection themselves (and are not a replacement for sunscreen by any means), it’s important to note that your skin is still susceptible to oxidative stress from various environmental factors. So, using an antioxidant alongside your SPF can help to prevent this damage from occurring.
Antioxidant ingredients to look out for:
- Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) and its derivatives – specifically, newer, more sophisticated variants such as tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate
- Green Tea Extract
- Resveratrol
- Coenzyme Q10
Want to add antioxidants into your routine? Try The Antioxidant — Skin Rocks by Caroline Hirons
Words by Ceyda Faik-Yildirim MSci – Team Skin Rocks
Qualifications – MSci Chemistry (Hons), VTCT Level 2 Facial Massage and Skincare
All Think Science™ content published by Skin Rocks is researched, written and reviewed by qualified scientists.
