Topical antioxidants, which are antioxidants intended to be applied directly to the skin, are one of the most popular present day skincare beauty trends.
It’s no secret that antioxidants are amazing for your overall health. If you’ve read any of my past blog posts on free radicals and dietary antioxidants, you most likely have a pretty good idea of how important it is to include antioxidant-rich foods in your daily diet.
What most people don’t realize is that topical antioxidants are even more important for your skin than dietary antioxidants.
Antioxidants & Free Radicals
Free radicals are the #1 cause of aging. They are molecules that are created naturally within the body as a result of normal metabolic processes and in response to external stimuli, such as cigarette smoke, pollution, UV rays, poor diet, lack of sleep, etc.
The problem with free radicals is that they are missing an electron in their outermost orbital shell, which causes them to be highly unstable. In order for a molecule to be considered stable, all electrons in the outermost shell must be paired up.
Anyways, once a free radical is formed, it goes bat shit crazy trying to regain the missing electron.
Free radicals are not picky. They will attack any molecule they encounter, stealing an electron, which results in the formation of another free radical. This ignites a chain reaction of free radical production, also referred to as oxidation.
Free radicals can multiply very quickly and easily. If they aren’t stopped, the body falls into a state of oxidative stress, which degenerates the body both internally (degenerative diseases) and externally (aging).
Here’s the Thing: Ain’t nobody got time fo dat’, which is why everyone should seriously become obsessed with antioxidants.
Antioxidants are the body’s superheroes. They neutralize free radicals, which inhibits them from oxidizing (damaging) healthy cells and breaks the chain reaction of oxidation. Antioxidants allow free radicals to regain stability. They accomplish this by donating electrons to free radicals, thus completely their outermost shells.
If you haven’t already picked up what I’m putting down, let me sum it up for you:
Antioxidants are the body’s #1 defense against aging and degenerative diseases and drastically slow down the natural aging process.
Still not convinced?
Well, more than 9,000 research studies have been conducted on antioxidants, all of which have the same findings: antioxidants are absolutely necessary for preventing aging and degenerative diseases. #dropmic
The Importance of Topical Antioxidants
Only about 1% of dietary antioxidants reach the surface of the skin.
(That isn’t a typo, btw. It’s a fact.)
If you’re anything like me, right now you’re probably thinking to yourself, “Then why TF am I wasting my time eating antioxidants?”
Well, because free radicals are capable of causing way more damage than just wrinkles. Oxidative stress caused by free radicals damage can result in many degenerative diseases, cancer, and a ton of other internal problems. So, yes, eating antioxidants is still extremely important for maintaining good overall health.
But, let’s be real. Who really cares about all that internal shit? Right? We have much bigger problems, like trying to figure out how TF to look like we’re 22 years old forever. So, let’s talk about the skin.
The skin is the body’s largest organ. One of the primary functions of the skin is to act as the body’s protective barrier against external factors. This means that the skin is the first line of defense against external free radical damage, so it could really, really use some antioxidant L O V E.
If you read my blog post on How Our Skin Ages, you know that 90% of the aging process is a result of extrinsic aging. This is the type of aging that you can control. Extrinsic aging is the skin’s response to external free radical damage from the environment, lifestyle, and nutrition.
Thankfully, topical antioxidants are a thing. A VERY, VERY important thing, at that.
PS: Topical antioxidants work the same way as dietary antioxidants; they both quench free radicals and prevent oxidative damage.
The Best Topical Antioxidants
It’s pretty obvious that antioxidants are f*cking superstars. Like, duhhh.
However, when it comes to the skin, these f*cking superstars are way more important when applied topically.
Here the issue that many people face: there are literally, like, a zillion different antioxidants. How TF is someone supposed to seriously know which ones are best for the skin?
Don’t worry boo, I gotchu.
When it comes to your skin, there are a few antioxidant superstars that shine brighter than the rest.
Here are the three best topical antioxidants for maintaining flawless skin:
1. Vitamin A
Vitamin A is the #1 anti-aging skincare ingredient.
There are many different forms of topical Vitamin A. In the world of skincare, most beauty queens refer to Vitamin A as Retinol, the alcohol form of Vitamin A. Retinol is one of the most useable forms of Vitamin A available and is the only form that the body can readily use.
Hold Up: Let’s talk about Retinoic Acid for a hot sec.
Retinoic Acid is the active, strongest, and most acidic form of Vitamin A. It is found naturally in cells, and thus is used directly by them. Although Retinoic Acid is the most effective form of Vitamin A to apply to the skin, it can be very irritating and is only available with a prescription. For this reason, most people opt for Retinol instead.
Although Retinol works at a slower pace than Retinoic Acid, it is much less irritating and is available over-the-counter. When applied topically, Retinol works as both an antioxidant and cell-communicator. It increases cell turnover and stimulates collagen production. #loveit
As if Vitamin A isn’t amazing enough, here are a few more reasons to literally start using it, like, tonight: it neutralizes free radicals, increases firmness, evens out skin tone, smoothes skin, reverses sun damage (photoaging), inhibits the breakdown of collagen and elastin, reduces and prevents fine lines and wrinkles, increases luminosity, fades pigmentation issues, and improves acne. So, pretty much Vitamin A is the best topical skincare product ever invented.
Bottom Line:
If you want to combat the visible signs of aging, you absolutely must incorporate Vitamin A into your skincare regimen. End of discussion.
Side Note:
All topical Vitamin A products absolutely hate daylight. UV rays cause topical Vitamin A to oxidize very quickly, which can be very damaging to the skin. In order to prevent any damaging effects, it’s best to apply Vitamin A at night time and always remember to wear SPF during the day.
Superstar Product:
I have been using Vitamin A as part of my skincare regimen for years and I’m f*cking obsessed. I use a prescription strength Retinoic Acid, Retin-A Micro. There are plenty of other great topical Vitamin A products out there, though.
Check Out A Few of My Fave Retinol Products:
2. Vitamin C
When it comes to skincare, applying Vitamin C topically is over 20 times more effective for the skin than when taken orally.
Not only is Vitamin C one of the best dietary antioxidants, it’s also one of the best topical antioxidants, too.
Cellular damage caused by free radical attacks is the #1 caused of fine lines and wrinkles. Unfortunately, free radicals are inevitable, which is why Vitamin C is an essential part of any anti-aging skincare regimen. As a powerful antioxidant, Vitamin C fights free radicals by neutralizing them before cellular damage can occur.
Vitamin C is notorious for boosting the body’s immune system. Due to it’s exceptional immune boosting properties, Vitamin C also plays a very important role in preventing and reversing the signs of aging skin by helping to to expedite the healing/repair process of damaged cells.
When applied topically, Vitamin C increases collagen production, fades hyperpigmentation, improves skin tone, and calms and hydrates skin. It’s also a natural mild exfoliant, which brightens complexion and promotes smooth, radiant skin. Vitamin C even improves the skin’s barrier function by promoting ceramide synthesis.
Literally, everyone should incorporate Vitamin C into their diet, and more importantly, their skincare routine.
What Form to Use:
There are many forms of Vitamin C, but research has proven that the most effective topical form is Ascorbic Acid, or L-Ascorbic Acid (the “L” stands for the chirality of the molecule, but you don’t need to remember that).
Side Note:
Just FYI, in skincare products, Ascorbic Acid is always listed on the ingredients list as L-Ascorbic Acid (you actually do need to remember that).
Anyways, Ascorbic Acid contains almost 20% more antioxidants than any other form of Vitamin C.
One thing I should probably mention, and pay attention because this shit is important:
Ascorbic Acid is kind of like the Kardashians: super irritating and very unstable.
Seriously, though. It is very important to keep ascorbic acid away from sunlight and air because it oxidizes extremely fast. If ascorbic acid isn’t properly packaged, it actually will begin oxidizing in the bottle, generating free radicals instead of neutralizing them. I’m pretty sure I’m stating the obvious here, but just in case there’s any confusion, allow me to clarify: this is BAD and can be very damaging to the skin.
Moral of the Story:
Make sure your Vitamin C products are properly packaged. Keep reading for more info on the importance of packaging topical antioxidants.
Superstar Product:
My all time FAVORITE Topical Vitamin C Product is Drunk Elephant’s C-Firma Vitamin C Serum. It contains 15% L-Ascorbic Acid! #musthave
Check Out A Few of My Fave Vitamin C Products:
3. Vitamin E
Vitamin E is Vitamin C’s bestie. They’re seriously #BFF and work synergistically with one another.
How?
Because both Vitamin E and Vitamin C are key players in the body’s antioxidant recycling system. When Vitamin E neutralizes a free radical, it becomes inactive. Vitamin C then steps in to save the day by regenerating Vitamin E, making it active again. Thus, as two very powerful antioxidants, when Vitamin E and Vitamin C are applied topically together, they are much more powerful and effective when fighting free radicals than when applied separately. This especially holds true when fighting free radicals caused by UV rays.
Vitamin E, in particular, is known for its ability to protect the lipid bilayers. This is important because Lipid Peroxide, a type of free radical or ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species), attacks the lipid bilayers through a process called Lipid Peroxidation. These attacks can cause extensive damage to cell membranes, causing them to become less permeable and inhibiting their abilities to transport nutrients, minerals, and oxygen.
In addition to being a powerful antioxidant, Vitamin E improves circulation, assists with tissue repair, and protects the skin from damaging UV rays. The strong emollient properties of Vitamin E also help to retain moisture and smooth fine lines and wrinkles.
Check Out A Few of My Fave Vitamin E Products:
Packaging
One thing to note, antioxidants are kind of high maintenance. And by kind of, I mean a lot.
Remember the movie Hocus Pocus? (Like, seriously, how could you NOT)?
Well, what happened to the Sanderson Sisters when they met daylight? POOF! Girl, bye. They were totally f*cked. The same thing applies to topical antioxidants.
Air (oxygen) and sunlight are two things that quickly degrade topical antioxidants. So, in order to keep them fresh and effective, when purchasing any antioxidant skincare product, it’s super important to make sure the product is packaged in a dark or opaque (not clear), glass, airless bottle. Just trust me on this.
Comment YOUR fave topical antioxidants and skincare products below. And be sure to check out my Shop Page for all my skincare #musthaves. XO