We have all heard of antioxidants and the importance of them in our daily lives through diet, but with a million different products being advertised for helping the skin it is hard to know where to start.

Does my skin need antioxidants?

In our daily lives we are often exposed to alcohol, passive smoking, sunlight, toxins and pollution. These elements all contain free radicals which cause destruction in the body and on the skin. Free radicals break down collagen and healthy tissue by a process called oxidation. The process of oxidation happens throughout nature and examples of this would be the way metal rusts over time or an apple that has been cut, starts to brown if left out. The free radicals and oxidation process also cause dehydration, fine lines and volume loss in our skin. This in turn makes the skin feel tired, dull, discoloured and look aged. Antioxidants in skin care play a part in stopping this destruction and when used daily in your skin care regime will protect and help repair free radical damage from the past.

What are antioxidants?

Some examples of potent antioxidants are vitamins C, A, E, copper, zinc, green tea, resveratrol, CQ10, grapeseed and niacinamide. These ingredients all stop the free radical causing damage to your skin. Some skin care products combine some of these hero ingredients to boost your antioxidant intake.

Can antioxidants reduce inflammation?

One of the biggest roles antioxidants play is that they calm inflammation. Antioxidant ingredients such as Zinc, green tea and grapeseed all help with this as they increase circulation and cell metabolism. As you reduce inflammation in your skin you improve conditions such as acne, pigmentation and rosacea. As well as helping with skin conditions, antioxidants improve fine lines, collagen and elastin production. Synergie Uberzinc is a must have in your morning routine. A sunscreen, moisturiser and primer all in one. It is suitable for all skin types. Offering broad spectrum protection in a light natural base with added pure green tea to neutralise free radicals. This sheer Zinc Oxide sun block is termed a physical sunscreen as it sits on top of the skin and reflects UVA and UVB rays.

Skin firming with antioxidants

Skin firming is another benefit when using antioxidants in your skin care regime. This occurs as antioxidants speed up the skin’s rejuvenation process and have been shown to reverse the signs of ageing. A great example of this is found in Cosmedix Affirm. Supercharged with over ten skin-specific antioxidants, this peptide serum is a must for the correction and prevention of photodamage. Affirm’s chirally correct formula actively reduces visible signs of environmental and sun damage for a healthy, firmer-looking complexion. It is recommended to be applied to a clean, dry skin in the AM and/or PM .

Antioxidants as a supplement

Another avenue you can choose to boost your antioxidant content is via the way of a traditional supplement. A powerful antioxidant support is Miss Vitality Co-enzyme Q10 as it helps maintain healthy cell membranes, cell integrity, and function. Using the most advanced delivery system for superior absorption, efficacy and stability, this key nutrient builds Vitamin E production to assist the skin in repair and reduce signs of ageing. It is recommended to take 1 tablet daily or as recommended by your healthcare professional.

Can antioxidants reduce my wrinkles?

Reducing the appearance of wrinkles is a difficult without the help of antioxidants. Vitamins A, C and E have been proven to help protect the skin against free radicals and speed up the skin resurfacing process, which in turn gives the appearance of healthy, younger looking skin. There are many products that contain either one or all of these supercharged ingredients. Synergie Pure C Crystals is most active on the skin to promote positive changes within the skin. It also helps with improvement in collagen and elastin production, fine line reduction, increase in healing and skin immunity, brightening of skin tone and protects the skin from free radical damage. The best way to incorporate these powerful crystals is to combine 2 shakes with with Synergie Hydrogel to a clean, dry skin in the AM.  

Make-up containing antioxidants

Make up is an extension of your skin care as it sits on your skin for many hours a day. There are several brands of mineral makeup which are a great extension of your skin care and contain no questionable, harmful ingredients. An example of one of our best selling brands is Glo Minerals.

Glo Minerals infuse their formulations with the powerful antioxidant blend of vitamins C, A, K, E and green tea extract.Their liquid and finely pressed mineral-powder can deliver coverage from sheer to full, depending on the application. It gives a matte coverage, which means there is no sheen or shine on the face. On your skin, this blend provides nutrients that are vital to maintaining the health of your skin while protecting it from further damage.

There are multiple ways of making sure your skin gets its daily dose of antioxidants, especially with the advanced technology of today’s skincare. As a Skin Therapist, in a busy cosmetic clinic I am very lucky to be surrounded by clinical skin care products, supplements and make up that change the way skin behaves and give my patient’s amazing results. I have shared with you some of my favourite products and ways to incorporate them to make sure we can keep your skin healthy and protected. If you are still unsure which antioxidant is best for your skin our highly trained Skin Therapists in all Victorian Cosmetic Institute locations can assess and tailor a skin care plan and treatment plan best suited to your skin. Our skin assessment involves the use of our skinscope, dermal analysis machine called the Dermograph and an in-depth consultation with the Skin Therapist. The equipment available to us will show all we need to know to specifically tailor a plan for you, as no two skin’s are identical. To book a consultation phone 1300 863 824.

Written by Danielle Feiam, Skin Therapist.

Danielle Feiam is a Skin Therapist with 9 years of experience. Danielle’s years of industry experience have equipped her with a sound knowledge of the skin and its many conditions, enabling her to assist our patients with multiple options for solving them.