How Antioxidants Benefit Skin

In this article:
What are antioxidants for skin?
How do antioxidants work and why do we need them?
What do antioxidants do for your skin?
What are the benefits of antioxidants for skin?
The best antioxidants for skin
What is the most potent antioxidant for skin?
Antioxidants perform even better together
How to choose an antioxidant-rich skin care product
How to use antioxidants for skin
Antioxidant skin care routine
Combining antioxidants with other skin care ingredients
Diet and antioxidants
Are there any disadvantages or drawbacks to using antioxidants?

When it comes to superstar skin care ingredients, the research is clear: Antioxidants are essential, and the more you apply to skin, the better!

Antioxidants are a group of timeless ingredients that work to help protect, repair and defend skin. This group includes heavy hitters like vitamin C, retinol and niacinamide. Talk about a stacked line-up!

Antioxidants not only help combat the elements responsible for the visible signs of ageing, but also can calm skin, help reveal a more youthful appearance and revitalise dull-looking skin due to airborne pollutants and blue light exposure.

Ready to learn more about antioxidants, how they help skin, which antioxidant is best for your skin and more? Read on!

What are antioxidants for skin?

Antioxidants are molecules that help your body, including your skin, fight off damaging, pro-ageing compounds (1). Think of antioxidants as cell protectors. They deal with the threats we cannot see so our body can operate in a healthy manner.

Our body can produce some antioxidants, like glutathione and alpha lipoic acid, on its own, however, it also relies on us for an ongoing supply of the integral antioxidants the body cannot produce, like vitamins C and E (2). We usually satisfy this through ingesting antioxidant-rich foods, like fruits and vegetables.

Many antioxidants occur naturally, however, there are an increasing number of safe, synthetic antioxidants, too.

How do antioxidants work and why do we need them?

Antioxidants work to neutralise free radicals, unstable molecules within the body that are a byproduct of environmental stressors which can cause damage (3). Top common environmental stressors include pollution and UV rays.

If left unchecked, on skin this damage can result in health issues, skin cancer and the familiar signs of visible skin-ageing we all know: wrinkles, fine lines, sun damage, dark spots and laxity (4).

Essentially, we need antioxidants to protect us from external aggressors and to keep us, and our cells, happy and healthy.

What do antioxidants do for your skin?

Antioxidants serve as a guardian for skin, shielding it from aggressive environmental attackers, fighting on its behalf and helping to restore its health. They can also assist skin in returning to a healthier state. But to be clear, they cannot take skin 100% back to where it was prior to being damaged.

Decades of research prove these benefits, showing that not only are antioxidants valuable for overall health when they’re ingested, but they have remarkable effects when included in skin care products that you apply daily. Topical antioxidants are proven, truly essential components in any anti-ageing skin care routine, playing preventive and reparative roles.

Let’s get into the most noteworthy benefits that antioxidants provide skin.

What are the benefits of antioxidants for skin?

Antioxidants benefit skin in many ways through their unique ability to help protect and defend skin cells. Top benefits of antioxidants for skin include:

• Defends against pro-ageing and damaging external agents. We touched on this above, but it bears repeating as this is truly a unique, advantageous benefit. Your skin takes a daily beating from pollution and environmental stressors, which causes damage that leads to sagging, wrinkles, discolourations, and dull skin tone. Abundant research has shown that topically applied antioxidants intercept pro-ageing environmental attacks and halt accelerated ageing in its tracks (5)!
• Promotes firmness. Over time, the vital supportive substances in skin, like collagen and elastin, become depleted, which causes a decline in skin’s firmness. Antioxidants can step in to help slow this kind of deterioration (6, 7, 8). The result? Skin that regains a firmer look and feel. Think of it as a “top down” approach to preserving skin’s youthful resilience.
• Brightens skin and improves the appearance of dull, uneven skin tone, delivering a more healthy-looking complexion (9). Some antioxidants, including vitamin C and kojic acid, even go further and step in to disrupt the process that produces dark spots (10,11). The result? A radiant, even tone and healthy-looking skin!
• Soothes sensitised or irritated skin. Certain antioxidants, like green tea, chamomile and beta-glucan, can calm visible signs of sensitisation, like redness and help to curb further signs of sensitivity (12).
• Fights fine lines and wrinkles. Without question, abundant research shows antioxidants help diminish and visibly soften the appearance of wrinkles (13). There isn't a singular “best” antioxidant that you need to look for to reduce the look of wrinkles and fine lines—what counts is that the product you use contains a variety of antioxidants (the more, the better).
• Helps curb UV ray damage and effectively supercharges sunscreen (14). Note: Antioxidants alone cannot protect skin from UVA and UVB rays. Always apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen for sun protection. Look for antioxidants in sunscreen to make sure your SPF performs optimally.

The best antioxidants for skin

Antioxidants are a large group of ingredients, some with far more research and proven benefits behind them than others. Antioxidants can range in origin (plant-derived or synthetic), potency and benefits.

The best antioxidants for skin include:

Vitamin C

This star-studded vitamin and antioxidant (also known as ascorbic acid) and its derivatives (including tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate and 3-O ethyl ascorbic acid) are particularly effective in diminishing the look of fine lines, wrinkles, dullness and uneven skin tone.

Think of vitamin C as the “most popular” antioxidant in its graduating class— it's everywhere, but for good reason! Beyond what we mentioned above, vitamin C preserves skin’s resiliency and helps skin create firmness-inducing substances, so it takes on a firmer feeling and smoother appearance (15). Fun fact: vitamin C is the most abundant antioxidant in skin, but with age and environmental damage, skin becomes less able to keep up its own supply.

Retinoids

Retinoids, including retinol, have a long-established reputation as one of the most extraordinary, transformative, researched ingredients for skin. If vitamin C wins the popularity contest, retinoids win the "most likely to succeed” category. They're both skin-restoring ingredients and antioxidants.

Retinoid skin care products provide multiple benefits for almost every skin care concern imaginable, from uneven skin tone, bumps and enlarged pores, to rough surface texture and fine lines and wrinkles. It can also improve skin luminosity. Due to its anti-ageing ability, retinol and its derivatives are key ingredients to look for if you want to minimise visible signs of ageing. As an added benefit, certain retinoids can also unclog congested pores and soften the appearance of dark spots.

Retinoids are a great bet and an even better ingredient option. “There is no more studied active ingredient than retinoids in all of skin care,” says Dr. Hartman.

Niacinamide

Niacinamide, AKA vitamin B3, specialises in normalising the appearance of enlarged pores, tackling oil overproduction, softening the appearance of dark spots and assisting in reducing visible signs of ageing. It’s for these reasons that niacinamide is a favourite for oily/combination skin types.

Like all other antioxidants, it also works to curb the damage that environmental aggressors tend to impart. Think of this B vitamin as your over-achieving friend who works behind the scenes to get your skin to greatness.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E would consistently win the “best supporting ingredient” award at a skin care-style award ceremony. This tried-and-true antioxidant helps protects skin from environmental damage and helps promote hydration, but most importantly, it’s a great boosting antioxidant, often used alongside other hard-hitting antioxidants, like vitamin C. Certain forms of vitamin E also help soothe!

Naturally present in the body as a fat-soluble antioxidant, vitamin E depletes as we age. Topical application helps combat this decline.

Resveratrol

Resveratrol is a potent polyphenolic antioxidant that’s found in red grapes, red wine, nuts and fruits such as blueberries and cranberries (16).

It’s the “up-and-comer" of antioxidants. Mounting research demonstrates that resveratrol helps protect skin’s surface, interrupts and helps rebuff negative environmental influences and brightens a dull, tired-looking complexion (17). It also has skin-calming properties that may help minimise the look of redness and phytoestrogen properties that help estrogen-deficient skin combat crepiness and dryness.

Green Tea

Green tea is a potent anti-ageing antioxidant that also provides soothing benefits (18). The key compound in green tea that provides its powerful kick is epigallocatechin-3 gallate (EGCG). Current research indicates that EGCG extract, when applied topically, can help defend skin’s surface from the environmental factors that have the most pronounced negative effects on skin’s appearance. Green tea also has a distinct calming effect, making it a great ingredient to visibly soothe skin. It’s even suitable for rosacea-prone skin.

What is the most potent antioxidant for skin?

We’re often asked, “What's the most effective antioxidant for skin?” Well, there’s no correct answer to that question! Comparing antioxidants is like comparing apples to oranges. Each is unique; suiting different skin types and skin concerns.

An antioxidant’s effectiveness and potency heavily depend on the concentration used in a skin care product and how that product is packaged—more on that below. Vitamin C is effective at many different concentrations and is often used in percentages between 0.3%-25%, whereas retinol is commonly used at concentrations between 0.1%-3%. Ideal concentration levels and “potencies” vary for each individual antioxidant.

However, there is one rule that applies to all antioxidants: to preserve potency, they must be in opaque, air-restrictive packaging. Antioxidants break down when exposed to light and air, so it’s essential to make sure the products you buy are packaged correctly. That means no jar packaging; otherwise, these vital, but unstable, ingredients will begin to lose their effectiveness once you open the container.

Antioxidants perform even better together

When it comes to your skin and antioxidants, think of 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, skin remains healthier, and the visible results can be remarkable!

Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Corey L. Hartman notes, “Antioxidants are part of the non-negotiable skin care ingredients that virtually everyone benefits from incorporating into their daily skin care regimen. While the regimen doesn’t have to be product heavy or labor-intensive, it is important to be consistent with the regimen once devised to see the results of the treatment.”

How to choose an antioxidant-rich skin care product

Choosing a solid antioxidant-rich skin care product requires a bit of know-how. Follow the tips below to make sure you find the best effective, skin-beneficial antioxidant product for your skin:

• Make sure your antioxidant skin care product is essential oil- and fragrance-free. Essential oils and fragrances are compiled of volatile aromatic compounds that can cause irritation both in the short- and long-term. This irritation can go on to cause damage, effectively cancelling out all the hard work your non-irritating antioxidants are putting in.
• Avoid jar packaging. Although we touched on this above, it’s vital to repeat. Jar packaging, or any packaging that lets in light and air, leads to the breakdown of antioxidants. Once broken down, antioxidants can’t deliver their benefits to skin.
• Leave-on antioxidant product formats are best. The longer that antioxidants stay on skin, the better they're able to protect skin and impart their benefits. Using antioxidant-rich leave-on skin care products, like toners, serums, treatments and moisturisers, provides this dynamic group of ingredients with the time they need to really get to work on skin.
• Seek out multi-faceted formulas. Antioxidants alone aren’t enough to keep skin healthy and radiant, although they are an integral part of the cocktail of ingredients that nourish skin. Look for antioxidant-rich formulas that also feature skin-replenishing and skin-restoring ingredients.

How to use antioxidants for skin

Using antioxidants for skin is easy; in fact, they’re probably in your skin care routine right now! Antioxidants are included in most skin care product formulas due to their amazing benefits, whether they’re the star ingredient or a supporting player.

Here’s how to use antioxidants for maximum skin benefits:

• Application in the morning helps protect skin from daily damage. Because antioxidants work to neutralise the pro-ageing, skin-damaging threats we encounter throughout our day (pollution, UV rays and other external threats) it’s important to apply antioxidant-rich skin care formulas in the morning. Using them in the AM also lets them take on their SPF sidekick role, supercharging your chosen sunscreen. You can use them twice a day. Sure, using antioxidants in the morning is great, but using them at night is fantastic, too! Applying an antioxidant moisturiser or overnight face mask before bed allows the ingredients time to work uninterrupted on skin.
• Incorporate them however you want. Antioxidants are versatile and feature in many skin care formulas including toners, exfoliants, face masks, serums, boosters, treatments, sunscreen and moisturisers. Your skin cannot get too much of these ingredients.
• Find the right antioxidant for your skin type and concerns. Seek out antioxidants that’ll work with your skin type and help you tackle your skin concerns. Looking to boost radiance and minimise an uneven tone? Vitamin C’s for you. Have oily/combination skin with enlarged pores? Check out niacinamide. If you ever have questions about what any specific antioxidant is best for (outside of protection), search for it in our Skin Care Ingredient Dictionary, and we’ll let you know!

Antioxidant skin care routine

Now that we tackled the general advice for how to use antioxidants on skin, let’s walk through the best antioxidant-filled skin care routines for morning and evening.

Morning antioxidant skin care routine:

1. Cleanse skin with a fragrance-free, gentle facial cleanser.
2. Tone with a hydrating toner that includes antioxidants that suit your skin type and concerns. Toners for sensitive skin work best when formulated with the soothing antioxidants allantoin and panthenol, toners for oily/combination skin can help normalise oil flow with niacinamide, replenishing antioxidants like genistein and resveratrol are super for toners for ageing skin and those with normal skin can pick facial toners based on their preferred antioxidants.
3. Exfoliate with a BHA or AHA leave-on exfoliant. Well formulated exfoliants often feature supporting antioxidants like green tea and yarrow root extract for further skin benefits. Exfoliants also remove the dead, dull layer of skin from its surface, helping your antioxidant products absorb better.
4. Apply targeted antioxidant treatments. This step is where you can step-up your antioxidant game and use focused antioxidant serums, boosters and treatments. This includes stabilised vitamin C serums, concentrated niacinamide treatments and soothing serums. Now’s the time to also apply antioxidant eye creams.
5. Complete your routine with an SPF moisturiser, preferably one with antioxidants. Sun protection is key for keeping skin healthy!

Nighttime antioxidant skin care routine:

Your nighttime routine should closely mimic your morning routine!

1. Cleanse, paying close attention to remove any makeup or SPF still on the skin. If your cleanser just isn’t cutting it when it comes to this heavy-duty removal, add a cleansing oil, makeup remover or cleansing balm to your skin care rotation.
2. Tone.
3. Exfoliate.
4. Apply antioxidant treatments. Like we touched on, antioxidants can be applied 2x a day. You can switch it up and apply an antioxidant product different from the one you did in the morning or apply the same one! Pro tip: Many prefer to apply anti-ageing retinoid products at night to maximise skin benefits and minimise possible irritation.
5. Apply a hydrating nighttime moisturiser with supporting antioxidants. Dry skin should look for lush face creams, normal skin types do best with light creams and facial lotions and oily/combo skin types should seek out lightweight gel moisturisers.

Combining antioxidants with other skin care ingredients

Antioxidants really don’t have many skin care “enemies.” Due to their nature, they’re able to “befriend” and be combined with most skin care ingredients in either a skin care product or routine.

So, let’s get into some of the most popular skin care ingredients and see if they’re friends or enemies with antioxidants. Can you use antioxidants and...

• Hyaluronic acid? Yes! Although this ingredient’s name might throw you off, hyaluronic acid is actually an antioxidant (19).
• Peptides? Yup! Most peptides and antioxidants work hand-in-hand to benefit skin. They’re particularly great together for anti-ageing concerns. However, be careful when using copper peptides alongside antioxidants like vitamin C and glutathione. Copper peptides can trigger a complex cycle that oxidises antioxidants, rendering them less beneficial to skin (20).
• Exfoliants like BHA (beta hydroxy acid/salicylic acid) and AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids)? Yes again. Using these ingredients together can boost radiance and send dull skin packing.
• Hypochlorous acid? This buzzy ingredient can dim antioxidants’ shine. Much like copper peptides, hypochlorous acid can oxidise antioxidants, cancelling out some benefits of this group of ingredients (21). If you’re looking to use antioxidants and hypochlorous in the same skin care routine, space out application by at least a few hours.

Diet and antioxidants

Topical application of antioxidants isn’t the only way to benefit skin! An antioxidant-rich diet is another way to benefit both the skin and the body through this group of superhero ingredients.

Research proves that dietary antioxidants, particularly vitamins C and E, provide antioxidant-and-oxidant balance on a cellular level (22). This cellular balance includes defence against damaging oxidising compounds, including UV rays, and can curb photoageing.

Oral antioxidants can be derived from most plant-based foods like fruits and vegetables as well as certain nuts and whole grains. If you’re having trouble consuming antioxidants through plant-based means, antioxidant supplements are another way to help hit your antioxidant-diet goal.

Are there any disadvantages or drawbacks to using antioxidants?

Antioxidants are vital for skin health. However, they aren’t perfect ingredients (is there such thing as a perfect skin care ingredient?). They defend, protect and nourish skin, but they’re also:

• Very susceptible to degradation. Antioxidants are naturally less stable than other ingredient groups. As you know, they also require specific packaging (airtight and light restrictive) to maintain their efficaciousness. Sometimes, even when packaged correctly, they degrade quickly, resulting in shorter PAOs (period after opening). This is particularly true for pure vitamin C (ascorbic acid).
• Able to sensitise sensitive skin. Some antioxidants, like vitamin C and certain retinoids, are potent, bio-actives that might cause redness or sensitisation. Remember incorporating active ingredients into your skin care routine is a marathon, not a race. Starting and incorporating slowly can decrease the chances of irritation.

Learn more about skin care ingredients.

Learn about our editorial mission.

References for this information:

1. Materials, April 2021, ePublication
2. Revista Brasileira de Farmacognosia, February 2023, pages 272-287
3. Scientia Pharmaceutica, June 2020, pages 1–17
4. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, October 2021, pages 1–16
5. Mechanisms of Ageing and Development, June 2018, pages 123-130
6. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, March 2024, pages 964-969
7. Antioxidants, August 2022, pages 1–18
8. Journal of Dermatological Science, May 2021, pages 94-100
9. Molecules, January 2018, pages 1–13
10. Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, May-Aug 2020, pages 374-382
11. Experimental Dermatology, October 2022, pages 1,500-1,521
12. Acta Biomaterialia, August 2021, pages 223-233
13. Journal of Dermatological Science, May 2010- pages 95-90
14. Antioxidants, July 2020, pages 1–23
15. Skin Research and Technology, August 2008, pages 376-380
16. International Journal of Cosmetic Science, October 2015, pages 455-464
17. Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics, April 2011, pages 164-170
18. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, March 2017, pages 1,631-1,637
19. Advances in Food and Nutrition Research, August 2014, pages 137-176
20. Metallomics, July 2023, pages 1–8
21. Free Radical Research, July 2016, pages 898-908
22. Food & Function, May 2014, pages 1,994-2,003