7 Reasons Why You Need an Antioxidant in Your Skincare Routine

 

With the erratic weather that has been the centre of attention during the summer months, our skin can be lacking in nutrients and balance. It can leave our skin looking dull and lacklustre, but there is a solution to that! Antioxidants are like the magic serum to take our skincare to a whole new level. They are some of the best ingredients in your skincare products that lead to an improvement in the overall health and look of your complexion in many ways. On a scientific level, antioxidants are molecules that prevent the oxidisation of other molecules by neutralising free radicals. But they do so much more than just that.

 

1. They brighten your complexion

Antioxidants can work to improve your complexion, by brightening your skin. It can improve dull and uneven skin tone to rectify some of the most common skin complaints. The best antioxidant to brighten skin is of course vitamin C. It has been found through extensive studies that vitamin C interacts positively with the metabolism of melanin, which is the dark pigment in the skin mostly associated with skin tanning. It is in this way that it helps to lift dullness and uneven skin tone.

 

2. They soothe skin inflammation

 

If you have an issue with redness and inflammation then antioxidants can help with this as well. They can soothe red and inflamed skin. This is because, in general, inflammation can be a direct result of reactive oxygen and free radicals. So, if you add antioxidants into your skincare regime through certain products you may be able to see a reduction in inflammation and redness as they will help to soothe the skin on a molecular level. Any type of antioxidant may assist in this common skin problem that is faced by thousands of people worldwide.

 

3. They have anti-ageing properties

 

Yet another bonus of using antioxidants in skincare is that they help to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. The primary side effect of boosted amounts of free radicals is premature ageing. So this is where antioxidants come into play! Free radicals act to degrade the elastin and the collagen fibres in the skin. As a result, fine lines and wrinkles will appear. The benefit of antioxidants in this regard is directly linked to the effect that they have on inflammation. They soothe inflamed skin and in turn, this prevents the degradation of the collagen and elastin fibres in the skin. It is of course important to know that although antioxidants prevent future fine lines and wrinkles they generally do not reverse pre-existing wrinkles.

 

4. They protect against free radicals

 

The skin is the main barrier between the outside world and our essential organs. So, it is going to come into contact with all of the pollution, dirt and grime that we come across every single day. It will of course experience a vast amount of environmental damage. This can result in dullness and premature ageing, as mentioned above. Although the body has adapted to protect itself, it does need some additional help sometimes. This can be in the form of external antioxidants.

 

They can protect the body from free radicals. A free radical has an odd number of electrons. An antioxidant can donate an electron to the free radicals and stabilise them. Free radicals can cause cellular damage, so it is important to counteract them.

 

5. They are beneficial for self-repair

 

Self-repair is a very important part of skin regeneration and antioxidants are a key part of this process. Self-repair is the process of the body constantly trying to combat damage that is caused in our daily life. This can be inclusive of cuts, bruises, grazes and burns. Although you will notice that this can result over time with no help at all, assistance through antioxidants can help to speed up the process immensely. Using skin care products that include antioxidants will help to boost the self-repair of the skin. You should note however that most products should not be applied to open wounds so be mindful of this.

 

6. They prevent sun damage

 

Sun damage is a real problem that we all face, no matter how much time you spend outside. One thing that can help with preventing sun damage and all of the issues that come along with it is using antioxidant products in your skincare routine. This is again because they react positively with free radicals, like those from direct sunlight. Sun damage can cause fine lines and wrinkles and uneven skin tone due to the impact of melanin and how it reacts with the sun. It is almost like having sunscreen that protects you from the inside.

 

7. They improve skin texture

 

In the same way that antioxidants improve your skin tone, they have a similar effect on skin texture. As well as fine lines and wrinkles, they can improve roughness and smooth out your skin all over. This again is because of the way that they impact collagen and elastin production. If you feel that your skin has rough or unevenness about it then antioxidants may help to improve this skin concern.