You’ve heard all about the goodness of antioxidant-powered skincare, like our brand-new Vitamin C serum. But how do antioxidants actually brighten and tone our skin? Let’s unpack the science.
There’s one universal ingredient that’s good for every skin type. Can you guess?
It’s antioxidants — tiny molecules found in nature that protect and reboot the cell.
It doesn’t matter if the question is dry, oily, balanced, mature, or acne-prone skin; antioxidants are always the answer.
Let’s talk about them…
Antioxidants vs. Free Radicals: What’s Happening Under Your Skin
Antioxidants protect and defend the cells against free radicals. But what are they? Free radicals are oxygen molecules in the body that have become unstable. If that sounds too textbook, just think of them as compounds that contribute to disease across the board.
When free radicals put oxidative stress on the body (and the skin), it damages cell membranes and speeds up the aging process. While it’s impossible to remove free radicals entirely, reducing our exposure to them is a science-approved way to improve our health from the inside out.
That’s where antioxidants come in. Found in plants and animals, they’re nature’s response to free radical stress — and the driving factor behind your mom’s obsession with cooked spinach in the '80s.
Antioxidants donate electrons to the unstable oxygen molecule, restoring it to balance. They also protect healthy cells from the potential of free radical damage. The more veggies you eat, the more your body is powered by antioxidants. And the more antioxidant-powered skincare you use, the less you’ll notice oxidative stress on your face.
In Simple Terms, Here’s How Antioxidants Supercharge Your Skincare
Pollution, environmental toxins, hormone disruptors, stress, and UV rays all contribute to free radical exposure. And sure, we can clean up our environment, but we can’t avoid these factors entirely. That’s where antioxidants come in. They make our skin a lot more resilient to outside stressors, addressing aging and dullness at the root.
Here are just a few ways antioxidants power healthy skin:
-
Reverse sun damage that’s already happened.
-
Boost collagen production for skin that bounces back.
-
Reduce inflammation for less redness and breakouts.
-
Nature’s defense against premature aging.
-
Brighten skin that’s uneven and prone to dullness.
3 Powerhouse Antioxidants for Skincare
Antioxidants are all around us. Found in plants and animals, each antioxidant plays a different role in skin cell regeneration. Some brighten and soothe, while others repair and boost collagen production. That’s why we handpick specific antioxidants for skin health. These are our favorites.
-
Vitamin E
A natural emollient, vitamin E helps lock in moisture when skin is dry and imbalanced. Its antioxidant properties have been used for centuries as a natural remedy for wound healing and scars. Vitamin E is great for spot treating hyperpigmentation, fading acne scars, and firming mature skin that’s low on collagen.
-
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is famous for its antioxidant properties. It’s so versatile, safe for sensitive skin, and easily transforms any skin type. Vitamin C serum is the best morning skincare to brighten and depuff the skin, and it works throughout the day to fight free radicals and cellular stress. We prefer to source our vitamin C from whole foods (not ascorbic acid) because it tends to be more bioavailable that way. That’s a fancy way of saying your skin recognizes and uses whole food vitamin C better than ascorbic acid.
-
Niacinamide (Vitamin B3)
The most effective skincare ingredients usually aren’t fancy. Niacinamide is the perfect example. A form of vitamin B3, it’s used to improve the skin barrier and reduce inflammatory concerns like acne, rosacea, and redness. It’s well tolerated by sensitive skin, too, and generally safe even if your skin barrier is disrupted. Like other antioxidants, you can get niacinamide through food sources as well as skincare. But if you’re looking for a skincare version, it’s a versatile ingredient you’ll find in toners, moisturizers, serums, and even face masks.
New: Your Skin’s Morning Pick-Me-Up Just Launched
Finally, a high-potency vitamin C serum you can trust. There are no toxins, no chemicals, and no synthetic preservatives, just pure whole food vitamin C from Kakadu plum and camu camu. Our long-awaited vitamin C serum is full of potent antioxidants, like niacinamide and vitamin E. It’s lightweight, quick to absorb, and seamlessly glides under makeup. Consider it your skin’s morning pick-me-up for a bright and refreshed complexion.