Analysis of Common Antioxidant Skin Care Ingredients

1. The role of antioxidants

Antioxidants protect the skin from damaging free radicals, also known as reactive oxygen species (ROS), by reducing and neutralizing them.

The skin contains natural antioxidants to protect itself, but they are not sufficient to protect the skin from excessive sun and pollution.

Oral supplements, beverages, foods, vitamins, and topical antioxidant serums and creams can all protect against skin aging, hyperpigmentation, inflammation, and skin barrier damage.

Some "extra antioxidants" have additional properties that vary depending on the antioxidant ingredient. For example, coenzyme Q10 provides energy to cells, green tea can relieve inflammation, and vitamin C can increase collagen.

2. Natural Antioxidants in the Skin

Antioxidants that occur naturally in the skin include superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, alpha tocopherol (vitamin E), ascorbic acid (vitamin C), glutathione, and ubiquinone.

Natural antioxidants are present in many layers of the skin. Large concentrations are found in the skin's oils, which is why oily skin types are considered healthier than dry skin types.

Sebum (oil) produced by the sebaceous glands in your face contains many antioxidants, such as vitamin E, which help protect your skin.

The lips do not have sebaceous glands, so they have less antioxidant protection than other parts of the face. This is one reason why skin cancer is more common on the lips.

While antioxidants occur naturally in the human body, in foods and drinks, topical serums and creams can achieve higher levels in the skin. Oral antioxidants do not raise antioxidant levels in the skin high enough, so for good protection you need an antioxidant serum or cream.

The body's natural antioxidants are quickly depleted by exposure to UV light, visible light, pollution, toxins and normal metabolism.

As we age, we produce fewer natural antioxidants and need to get additional antioxidants in our diet and topical skin care products.

It’s best to combine different types of antioxidants, including both fat-soluble and water-soluble antioxidants.

Fat-soluble antioxidants are commonly found in creams and oils. They protect cell membranes, which are filled with lipids. Fat-soluble antioxidants include vitamin E (tocopherols), carotenoids, coenzyme Q10 (ubiquinone), idebenone, and lycopene.

Water-soluble antioxidants are usually formulated in toners or serums. They protect the hydrophilic parts of skin cells. Water-soluble antioxidants in cosmeceuticals include ascorbic acid (vitamin C), green tea, silymarin, and glutathione.

Alpha-lipoic acid is unusual in that it is both fat-soluble and water-soluble.

For this reason, you should consume as many antioxidants as possible through food, supplements, beverages, and topical cosmeceuticals. The more, the better!

3. Antioxidants for Skin Whitening

Some antioxidants are also tyrosinase inhibitors and therefore have skin-lightening abilities.

The most famous is vitamin C. Licorice extract is also good.

Arbutin and kojic acid have weak antioxidant capacity. Niacinamide treats hyperpigmentation by blocking PAR-2 ​​receptors and has weak antioxidant capacity.

Vitamin C is the best antioxidant ingredient for treating skin pigmentation.