Why are antioxidants so hyped up in the skincare world? What is the big deal, and should you care? Let’s talk about the benefits of antioxidants and why they are so vital for your skin health.

Firstly, what are antioxidants?

Antioxidants are naturally occurring vitamins and minerals - such as Vitamin C, E and A - that protect the skin by limiting free radical production, which can damage the skin. With daily use, they can reduce lentigines (sun spots), help combat visible signs of aging and calm skin inflammations. Several antioxidants provide the skin with hydration and increase moisture retention to help revitalize dull-looking skin. In short, antioxidants are damage defenders that help slow skin aging—and they deserve a place in your routine.

What types of antioxidants should you be using in your skincare?

Vitamin C

L-Ascorbic Acid, also known as Pure Vitamin C, is a highly effective antioxidant known for its ability to improve the appearance of aging skin over time with continued use. Vitamin C plays a vital role in skin health by stimulating reactions resulting in collagen production.

For this reason, we have incorporated one of the highest naturally occurring Vitamin C ingredients in so many of our products - the Kakadu Plum. Kakadu Plums have the highest recorded natural amount of vitamin C of any food in the world. 

Because the human body does not produce its own Vitamin C, it relies on obtaining it through external sources. 

Vitamin C benefits for the skin include stimulating collagen production and neutralizing free radicals. 

Vitamin E

Unfortunately, with time and sun damage, skin’s vitamin E decreases, depleting our natural ability to fight the signs of ageing.

However, the good news is, you can absolutely replenish skin with topically applied vitamin E. 

There are actually eight basic forms of the vitamin E molecule, and they can be either synthetically or naturally derived. Research has shown that natural forms of vitamin E are more effective than their synthetic counterparts, which is why we only use natural forms of Vitamin E in our Goodieco skincare products, which when combined with Vitamin C, together they can improve the appearance of uneven skin tone, brighten a dull complexion, and strengthen skin’s defences against the impact of environmental assault. 

These antioxidants play well together because vitamin C works optimally on the surface level, whereas vitamin E is oil-soluble so it goes deeper—you get the best of both worlds.

Coenzyme Q10

CoQ10 reduces these free radicals, and therefore helps to reduce the damage to your skin.

In fact, when CoQ10 is applied directly to the skin - as found in our POW Skin Power C+ and our new Sunshine Liquid Antioxidant Treatment - it has been shown to reduce damage caused by free radicals and UV rays and even decrease the depth of wrinkles, as well as epithelial cell turnover. 

Keratinocyte cells make up the majority of human skin cells and CoQ10 has been shown to protect these skin cells from oxidative DNA damage brought on by ultraviolet light. 

Camelia Sinesis (Green Tea)

Green tea extract is included in many of our serums to provide antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits, which helps to soothe and calm the skin while also providing protection against collagen degradation and skin discolouration.

Selinene

Our Layer Once Facial Oil - part of the Nourishing Trio - contains Blue Cypress Oil, which is rich in an active component, selinene. The selinenes, including beta-selinene and alpha-selinene, are rich in antioxidants, making them effective at protecting the skin proteins collagen and elastin from free radical damage, reducing the signs of aging whilst providing a deeply hydrating effect.

When should you be using these antioxidant products in your skincare?

We recommend applying them straight after you cleanse with your facial cleansing oil, which is why we have included so many of these active antioxidants in our Facial Oils and Serums, as well as in our targeted solutions, such as our POW Skin Power C+ and Sunshine. 

This way, the antioxidants can work to maximum effect, absorbing directly into freshly cleansed skin.