Most of us have heard about antioxidants and the good they can do us in terms of food – think fruits, veggies, nuts, and seeds – but that’s not the only way our bodies can benefit from antioxidants. 

Antioxidants are also beneficial for your skin, helping protect from damage caused by free radicals. Incorporating antioxidants into your skincare routine can help to reduce inflammation, protect against environmental stressors, and promote overall skin health.

A lesson in free radicals

In order to understand how much antioxidants can benefit the skin, it’s important to first understand the damage that free radicals can cause. 

Free radicals are unstable molecules that occur when atoms or molecules lose an electron, making them highly reactive. These molecules can be generated by environmental factors like UV radiation, pollution, smoking, and stress. 

When it comes to your skin, free radicals cause damage to skin cells by attacking healthy molecules, including collagen and elastin which are vital for your skin’s structure and elasticity. This damage to the skin can lead to oxidative stress, which accelerates the ageing process by promoting the formation of fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging. 

Free radicals can also contribute to skin inflammation, which can then make conditions like acne and rosacea worse. Additionally, these molecules can contribute to pigmentation issues, such as dark spots and uneven skin tone. 

Antioxidants work to neutralise free radicals, protecting your skin from these harmful effects and helping maintain youthful, healthy skin. It’s important to note that during this process, the antioxidant itself becomes oxidised. This is why it’s really important to keep replenishing the antioxidants in your body. 

6 antioxidant benefits for skin

1. Protects against environmental damage

Antioxidants protect the skin from pollution, which can promote oxidative stress and lead to skin damage and concerns, such as fine lines and wrinkles.

Unstable free radical molecules can be produced by factors like UV radiation, pollution, and environmental toxins. By neutralising these free radicals, antioxidants help protect the skin from this damage.

2. Reduces sun damage

While antioxidants can't replace sunscreen, they help protect the skin from the harmful effects of UV radiation by neutralising free radicals generated by sun exposure. This can reduce sunburn, pigmentation, and long-term sun damage.

Despite this, it’s important to never rely solely on antioxidants for your sun protection. It’s essential to use a high-performance mineral sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB rays, every single day. 

3. Soothes inflammation

Many antioxidants also have anti-inflammatory properties, which can help to calm irritated or inflamed skin. This makes antioxidant skincare particularly useful for people with sensitive skin or conditions like acne and rosacea. 

4. Promotes fuller, more youthful skin

Antioxidants like vitamin C and E can help to protect skin cells from damage, while also supporting collagen production. This can reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, promoting smoother, more youthful skin.

5. Enhances your natural glow

Using antioxidant infused skincare can help to inhibit melanin production, helping to fade dark spots, hyperpigmentation, and discoloration, resulting in a more even skin tone. Ingredients such as vitamin C and niacinamide are especially helpful when targeting hyperpigmentation.

6. Hydrates and strengthens the skin barrier

Antioxidants like vitamin E help to strengthen the skin’s natural moisture barrier, locking in hydration and preventing dryness. They also support the skin’s natural defense system, making it more resilient to external stressors like weather, pollutants, and harsh skincare ingredients.

Antioxidant ingredients for skin

1. Vitamin C

Vitamin C has long been hailed for its skincare benefits, specifically around the appearance of ageing skin. Working to stimulate collagen production in the skin and helping preserve skin elasticity, vitamin C is also a great antioxidant protecting against free radicals.

Product pick: Organic Face Oil with Coffee Extract

Rich in vitamin C, antioxidant-rich coffee and rosehip oils, this oil helps to fade dark spots and scars whilst brightening the complexion.

How to use: YouTube tutorial

2. Vitamin E

Antioxidant vitamin E helps to boost circulation, and skin feels firmer and looks more youthful after topical use of skincare products rich in vitamin E. The ingredient can also reduce the oxidation of sebum in pores and prevent blackheads.

Product pick: Face Moisturiser with Vitamin E

A deeply nourishing, soothing, and balancing moisturiser that is rich in vitamin E to boost collagen production. Suitable for all skin types, this antioxidant-infused moisturiser is formulated with upcycled finely-ground powder of discarded argan shells, a natural by-product of the argan oil industry.

How to use: YouTube tutorial

3. Niacinamide

Niacinamide (vitamin B3) is an antioxidant which helps protect the skin from oxidative stress caused by free radicals. In addition to its antioxidant benefits, niacinamide also helps to reduce inflammation, improve the skin's barrier function, regulate oil production, and help brighten the complexion. 

Product pick: Peptide Serum with Custard Apple + Blood Orange

Our Peptide Serum is packed with antioxidants niacinamide and vitamin C. Our upcycled ingredient, custard apple, is also a great antioxidant, and works to hydrate the skin and boost collagen production.

How to use: Apply a few drops to your fingertips and massage into the skin. Apply before moisturiser to allow hydrating properties to seep into your skin.  

4. Retinoids

The ingredients Retinol, Retin-A and retinal all fall under the umbrella term of ‘retinoids’ – compounds including both natural biologically active forms and synthetic forms of vitamin A. Retinoids are widely used in skincare products to treat and prevent common skin conditions such as acne and psoriasis. 

Pro-retinol (retinol proportionate) is a derivative of retinol. It is a stabilised form of retinol, designed to deliver the benefits of retinol with a lower risk of irritation.

Product pick: Night Cream with Hyaluronic Acid + Niacinamide

Working to replenish the skin’s natural barrier, our Night Cream is infused with upcycled blueberries, which is naturally rich in vitamin A. The cold-pressed extract protects against blue light and is a source of pro-retinol that works to minimise the signs of ageing skin. 

5. Polyphenols

Polyphenols help protect the skin (and the body) from oxidative stress by neutralising free radicals, which can cause damage to cells, proteins, and DNA.

Common sources of polyphenols include green tea extract, grape seed extract, resveratrol (from grapes), and flavonoids. These compounds not only act as antioxidants but also offer additional skin benefits, such as improving skin hydration and elasticity.

Product pick: Eye Cream with Hyaluronic Acid + Coffee

Our Eye Cream contains Vitis vinifera seed oil, a plant oil from the grape's polyphenol-rich seeds. It's a great source of antioxidant polyphenols, barrier repair fatty acid linoleic acid (about 55-77%, while oleic acid is about 12-27%) and antioxidant, skin-protectant vitamin E.

Discover our full range of vegan, natural skincare.