Antioxidants For Your Skin: The 411

I talk a lot about skincare on this blog: my favorite products, tools, tips, and experts. It’s one of my favorite topics! But in addition to giving you my honest opinions about products and advice about how to care for your skin, I want to be a source of skincare education for you. I’ve spent a lot of time trying new products, researching ingredients, and speaking to experts who are at the forefront of skincare. Ideally, I want you to leave the blog a) knowing something you didn’t know before, and b) feeling empowered to make a change and show yourself some love. 

With that in mind, I want to teach you about antioxidants—what they are, what they do, and how you can incorporate them into your skincare routine. 

Let’s get started. 

What are antioxidants? 

Put simply, antioxidants are naturally occurring vitamins and minerals that are often found in skincare products. Their primary function is to protect your skin from damage (think sun damage, environmental toxins, free radicals, etc.), but they can also help your skin repair itself, calm skin inflammation, and stimulate collagen production. Many of them can be found in anti-aging products, but each antioxidant has a different skill set. They all address different concerns, which makes choosing one a little confusing. A few common ones you’ve probably heard of or seen on product labels are: 

• Vitamin C

• Vitamin A (and Retinol)

• Vitamin E

• Niacinamide

These antioxidants have numerous applications and benefits, but below I briefly explain what each antioxidant does and where you can find it (as well as give some product recommendations for the curious ones among you). 

Vitamin C 

WHAT does it do: 

• Vitamin C is known for its anti-aging properties, specifically its ability to slow early skin aging, prevent sun damage, reduce hyperpigmentation, and improve the appearance of wrinkles, dark spots, and acne. It also helps with collagen and elastin production, both of which keep our skin supple and plump. 

WHERE you can find it:

• Vitamin C serums are all over the place—walk into any store that sells skincare and you’ll see hundreds of them. Look for ones in dark bottles and keep your serum in a dark place—exposure to light can cause it to become unstable and oxidize. Some of my favorite vitamin C serums are the RoC Multi Correxion Revive + Glow Vitamin C Serum and the Drunk Elephant C-Firma Fresh Day Serum. 

Vitamin A (and Retinol)

WHAT does it do: 

• Vitamin A is an extremely potent antioxidant. It can speed up skin healing, combat breakouts, improves skin texture and tone, and promotes natural moisturizing. Retinol, which we hear about a lot, is a gentler derivative of vitamin A. Retinol is praised for its anti-aging properties, as it exfoliates the skin, increases skin cell turnover, and stimulates collagen production. 

WHERE you can find it:

• To reap the benefits of vitamin A, your best bet is a retinol cream or serum. CeraVe has a great retinol serum for acne marks and skin texture, and the Olay Regenerist 24 Hour Night Moisturizer is a fan favorite. Retinol doesn’t need to be used every day (2 to 3 times a week could be enough, and it’s best to start slowly; start by using it once a week and build up over time), and you always need to wear sunscreen with it. 

• Note: If retinol doesn’t seem to be working for you, talk to a dermatologist about prescription skincare options. If they think your skin can tolerate it, they can prescribe something stronger. 

Vitamin E

WHAT does it do: 

• Vitamin E is an anti-inflammatory antioxidant, plus it’s known to make skin appear younger. Like other antioxidants, vitamin E protects against sun damage, and keeps your skin soft and moisturized. It can also help with fading scars and stretch marks, as well as reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles .

WHERE you can find it:

• Vitamin E is usually sold as an oil or mixed into a cream product. If you have oily or acne prone skin, it’s generally recommended that you avoid oil-based products unless otherwise advised by a dermatologist. My favorite vitamin E creams are the Derma-E Vitamin E Cream and the Jāsön Vitamin E Moisturizing Cream, and the best oils in my opinion are the Derma-E Vitamin E Skin Oil and the One Love Botanical E Youth Preservation Serum. 

Niacinamide

WHAT does it do: 

• Niacinamide reduces inflammation and redness, reduces oil production, reduces the appearance of large pores, brightens skin, prevents acne, keeps the skin soft and hydrated…let’s just say it’s really a powerful antioxidant. Whatever your issue is, chances are you can benefit from using niacinamide. 

WHERE you can find it:

• Niacinamide comes in a lot of forms: creams/moisturizers, serums, toners, masks, etc. The Niacinamide Serum from The Ordinary is extremely popular and cost effective, and I also love the Farmacy Niacinamide Night Mask and Paula’s Choice Niacinamide Serum. 

How to choose the best one for your skin type

Choosing the best antioxidant for your skin type really comes down to what your skin issues are, and what kind of skin you have. Everyone’s skin is different, but generally, here’s what experts recommend: 

• Vitamin C can benefit nearly everyone. It’s thought of as a holy grail ingredient and an essential part of all skincare routines. That said, it’s an acidic, unstable ingredient, which means it doesn’t always play nicely with other products. If you’re using anything with acid in it (salicylic acid, lactic acid, glycolic acid, etc.), you should avoid using vitamin C. It also doesn’t mix well with benzoyl peroxide, retinol, AHAs, BHAs, or niacinamide. If you have sensitive skin, vitamin C may cause irritation, so always do a patch test before applying it to your whole face. 

• Vitamin A can also benefit everyone, especially those with acne, but if you have sensitive skin, it’s best to stay away or work with a dermatologist to find a very, very gentle version. If you struggle with acne, acne scars, or excessive sebum production, it’s worth considering adding a vitamin A/retinol product to your regimen. 

• Vitamin E works for most skin types, including sensitive, mature, and dry skin. It’s more soothing than vitamin A and C are. Generally those with oily or acne prone skin aren’t prime candidates for vitamin E. 

• Niacinamide is beneficial for all skin types, especially combination skin, oily skin, and mature skin. Even those with sensitive skin (e.g. people with rosacea or eczema) seem to tolerate niacinamide well. 

I want to put out a general disclaimer that skincare is very, very individualized. In other words, something that works well for someone else might not necessarily work for you. This is why I recommend that everyone, if it’s in your budget, see a dermatologist at least once to get your skin evaluated and get personalized recommendations. 

And if you have more specific questions, make sure you’re in our Private Pure Joy Wellness Facebook Group and follow us on Instagram @purejoywellness. Also, you can join the Pure Joy Squad! It’s a new Facebook group I’ve created where you can get access to exclusive content and time with me. I’ll be going live every day Monday to Thursday, and sharing even more expert advice from my favorite dermatologists, estheticians, and more. 

Xo, 

Renata

*This article contains affiliate links, so if you purchase one of the products, I may gain a small commission. All recommendations are entirely my own; I am not paid to promote any products. I appreciate you supporting my small business and helping Pure Joy Wellness continue to exist and grow!