All About Antioxidants

By Marji Soofi

Which Antioxidant is Best?
We’re are often asked what are the best antioxidants for skin. Here is a list from our skin experts:

Vitamin E
Vitamin E (often listed as tocopherol or tocotrienols) is one of the most well-known antioxidants. This fat-soluble vitamin is available in both natural and synthetic forms. Research shows that both forms provide significant antioxidant benefits to skin, but the natural forms are more potent and last longer in skin than their synthetic counterparts.

What it does:
Vitamin E works in several ways to protect and defend skin from outside elements that can have a profound negative impact on skin. Vitamin E is often found in sunscreens because of its supporting role in helping defend skin from the stress caused by UV light exposure.

Vitamin E also works in powerful synergy with vitamin C, so a serum or anti-aging product that contains both vitamin C and vitamin E can be doubly beneficial. Look for Vitamin E in serums and moisturizers.

Vitamin C
Vitamin C (listed as ascorbic acid, tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, and various other names) is a potent antioxidant that’s particularly effective in diminishing the look of fine lines, wrinkles, dullness, and uneven skin tone. This well-researched water-soluble vitamin is considered an anti-aging superstar for all skin types.

What it does:
When applied topically, vitamin C has been proven to preserve skin’s resilience so it takes on a firmer feeling and smoother appearance. Research shows that vitamin C also helps improve an uneven skin tone and brighten dull skin so it’s visibly more radiant, just like younger skin.

Like most antioxidants, vitamin C also can calm and help hydrate skin so it’s better able to withstand the rigors of daily life and the environment’s impact on how skin looks and feels.

Resveratrol
Resveratrol is a potent polyphenolic antioxidant that’s found in red grapes, red wine, nuts, and fruits such as blueberries and cranberries. It’s relatively new on the market, but emerging research is showing that resveratrol is another antioxidant superhero for your skin.

What it does:
Applied topically, resveratrol helps protect skin’s surface, interrupts and helps rebuff negative environmental influences, and brightens a tired-looking complexion. It also has significant skin-calming properties that may help minimize the look of redness. Look for resveratrol in moisturizers and eye creams.

Retinol
Retinol (the technical term for vitamin A) has a long-established reputation as one of the most extraordinary ingredients for skin. It’s both a skin-restoring ingredient and an antioxidant, and provides multiple benefits for almost every skin care concern imaginable, from uneven skin tone, bumps, enlarged pores, rough surface texture, fine lines and wrinkles, and improving skin luminosity.

What it does:
Retinol has been shown to improve skin’s resilience, which contributes to its overall feeling of firmness and more youthful, healthy appearance. Due to its anti-aging ability, retinol is a key ingredient to look for if you want to minimize the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, dullness, and uneven skin tone.

As an added benefit, retinol also has been shown to unclog congested pores and soften the appearance of the red areas that many people perceive as surface imperfections.

Green Tea
Green tea is a potent antioxidant when applied topically. A significant amount of research has established that tea—green, black, or white—has many intriguing anti-aging benefits. The key compound in green tea that provides its antioxidant kick is epigallocatechin-3 gallate (EGCG).

What it does:
Current research indicates that EGCG extract, applied topically, can help defend skin’s surface from the environmental factors that have the most pronounced negative effects on skin. Green tea also has a distinct calming effect, making it a great ingredient to visibly soothe red areas. Look for green tea in moisturizers.

Antioxidants Perform Even Better Together
When it comes to your skin and antioxidants, remember the old adage: “There’s strength in numbers.” When the top-notch antioxidants detailed above are combined to work together, and reinforced with daily use of sunscreen with antioxidants and other skin-beneficial ingredients, the visible results can be remarkable!

One thing to keep in mind is that antioxidants break down when exposed to light and air, so it’s important to make sure the products you buy are packaged in opaque and airtight or air-restrictive containers. That means no jar packaging, otherwise these vital, but unstable, ingredients will begin to lose their effectiveness once you open the container.

According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, 90% of visible aging is caused by sun and pollution. Take the initiative to defend your skin from harmful environmental damage with our protection and prevention products. The C E Freulic acid at Tavoos helps prevent environmental damage by replenishing your natural, free radical fighting antioxidants. This boost of antioxidants helps to diminish wrinkles, improve elasticity, and improve skin firmness. Our selection of sunblocks protect your face with broad spectrum coverage.

Internally boost your free radical fighters by eating fresh fruits and berries while they are in season. These foods are packed with antioxidants that neutralize UV and pollution induced free radicals.