Why Antioxidants Are Skin’s Best Friend

Your skin needs antioxidants like a fish needs water. These all-important compounds are vital in supporting healthy cell function and helping skin look more youthful over time. Antioxidants support the appearance of firmer, more elastic skin and help defend against the visible effects of UV exposure. But what exactly are they and how do you get them into your skin?

Oxidative stressors from pollution, UV, and chemicals are bombarding your skin daily. That oxidative stress creates a chemical reaction that produces free radicals and sets off a chain reaction of cell-damaging responses. Over time, this shows up as the appearance of less firmness, more visible wrinkles, and a dulling of tone. Antioxidants, as the name implies, fight this process by inhibiting oxidation and neutralizing free radicals.

While your body has its own antioxidant defense system, it can use some help standing up to the daily free radical offensive. You can and should give your body a protective boost through diet and skin care. However, research shows that topical application of antioxidants has significant advantages over consumption, yielding an antioxidant concentration of up to 40 times more. Additionally, topical application loads the skin with a reservoir of protective antioxidants.

Some of the most potent antioxidant compounds are found in vitamins like A, C, and E, and in the phytochemicals in plants like green tea, or in omega-3 fatty acids.

It’s hard to pick a single superhero because they all have so much to offer. If we were to break it down to our favorites, it would have to be these.

This soothing superhero has all the antioxidant feels. Loaded with bioactive polyphenols, plant micronutrients including catechins (GTC) and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), green tea helps defend cells from free radical damage and supports the look of healthy skin. It’s significantly higher in beneficial catechins than any other type of tea and also rich in vitamins E and C. Among its many other benefits, green tea has potent anti-inflammatory properties, making it an excellent choice for anyone with rosacea, psoriasis, or sensitive skin. It’s also thought to reduce sebum production, a benefit for acne-prone skin.

Find it in our Green Tea Antioxidant Cleanser

REt (RP)™ Retinoid is a potent antioxidant with some serious added benefits. In addition to waging war on free radicals, it helps soften the look of fine lines, smooth the appearance of texture, refine the look of bumps, and improve the appearance of dark marks for a more even-looking tone. It's a favorite for skin showing visible signs of aging or that's prone to breakouts. Used in combination with other AHA brighteners, REt (RP)™ Retinoid helps support even, smooth, youthful-looking skin.

Find it in our multi-tiered collection of Corrective serums and Wink Eye Rejuvenation Cream.

This superhero antioxidant is best known for its brightening powers. It’s an inhibitor of melanin production and helps boost the body’s store of glutathione, another potent antioxidant that regulates tyrosinase activity. But its photoprotective appeal is the real star. Vitamin C is known for helping defend against the visible effects of UV exposure, both from UVB (the shorter rays responsible for sunburns) and UVA (the rays that penetrate deep into the skin and contribute to the look of premature aging). Bonus: vitamin C helps support the appearance of firmer, more resilient skin.

Find it in Pure C + E Antioxidant Serum

Important for healthy-looking skin, vitamin E helps defend against the visible effects of UV exposure and environmental pollutants. Part of its photo-protective appeal comes from its ability to absorb energy from ultraviolet light. Vitamin E helps minimize the visible changes skin can show after time in the sun, supporting a smoother, more even-looking surface. It also helps shield the look of skin from the effects of environmental stressors.

More sidekick than superhero, vitamin E gets a serious status upgrade when combined with vitamin C. Together, they exhibit a synergistic reaction that optimizes their individual strengths for added photoprotective support.