3 Effective Ways to Get Antioxidants for Skin

1. Powdered Skin Serum

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2. Citrusy Morning
   Supplement

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3. Nourishing Skin Balm

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What Antioxidants Do in Your Skin: The Benefits

Things that damage skin cells (like ultraviolet light, air pollution, and environmental chemicals) all do so by triggering the generation of free radicals. Free radicals—in particular, those called reactive oxygen species—damage DNA and other molecules that function to keep skin healthy, smooth, and plump. ROS cause collagen to break down and reduce the formation of new collagen. Because collagen provides structure and firmness to skin, this loss can be devastating for skin’s strength and appearance.

Antioxidants are what the body naturally uses to neutralize free radicals. In our bodies, this process generally works from the inside out, but applying antioxidants topically turns out to have benefits, too.

Boosting antioxidants from the inside (with foods and supplements) and the outside (with skin care) can support healthy skin in the face of multiple insults. Just remember: Antioxidants are not intended to be used as or to replace sunscreen.

The Best Antioxidants for Skin Care

You’ll notice that antioxidants mostly come from plants. Each plant provides a unique collection of antioxidant activities, so antioxidant skin care nearly always lists an assortment of plant extracts on the label. Here are a few that have proven benefits.

Kakadu Plum

Fresh kakadu plums are uniquely rich sources of antioxidants including vitamin C, and recent research on the use of kakadu extract in skin care is exciting. In one trial, the extract https://rsujournals.rsu.ac.th/index.php/rgrc/article/view/1790″ rel=”noopener noreferrer” target=”_blank”>increased elasticity and hydration of skin around the eyes. And in preliminary research, a cream containing kakadu extract resulted in http://nsmc.indoscholar.com/index.php/nsmc/article/view/136″ rel=”noopener noreferrer” target=”_blank”>boosted collagen levels. Look for the botanical name, Terminalia ferdinandiana in the ingredient list.

We use the extract quite a bit in our goop skin-care formulas; both this cleanser and this body oil take advantage of its free radical–scavenging properties. The cleanser is a remarkable combination of gentle and powerful, so it can be used daily by any skin type, even sensitive, but still deliver significant results.

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Rosemary

Rosemary extract contains bioactive compounds—including flavonoids, terpenes, and polyphenols—that confer significant benefits for healthy skin. It’s been widely used in folk medicine—including to support https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/9/5/651/htm?h=1″ rel=”noopener noreferrer” target=”_blank”>calm, smooth skin. You can find rosemary extract in the brilliant face serum from MAKANAI or the deeply nourishing body cream from Karité—and you can even soak in it, via The Nurse! bath from goop.

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Vitamin C

This vitamin is one of the best-studied antioxidants for skin-care products that target wrinkles and dark spots. You’ll see it in ingredient lists as ascorbic acid, ascorbate, or https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5605218/” rel=”noopener noreferrer” target=”_blank”>ascorbyl. Dark spots are formed when sunlight promotes the formation of the skin pigment, melanin, and studies have concluded that vitamin C is useful in https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6415704/” rel=”noopener noreferrer” target=”_blank”>preventing signs of photoaging. There’s also evidence that it https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1046/j.1524-4725.2002.01129.x” rel=”noopener noreferrer” target=”_blank”>supports healthy collagen, reduces free radical damage, and https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5605218/” rel=”noopener noreferrer” target=”_blank”>targets wrinkles.

1. I have a hard time passing up a pink cream, especially one as loaded with skin-boosting extracts as KORA Organics’ pretty, pink https://goop.com/kora-organics-berry-bright-vitamin-c-eye-cream/p/” data-shoppable data-analytics-name=”product-collage”>Vitamin C Eye Cream. Kangaroo paw flower, kakadu plum, cloudberry, red ginseng, and vitamin E are just a few of the carefully curated ingredients formulated to fight free radicals and moisturize.

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2. Unsurprisingly, vitamin C is widely used in skin care; unfortunately, it doesn’t last forever once it’s mixed into a formula. True Botanicals solves this problem by selling its vitamin C as a powder, which you add to water or serum—it’s a great way to be sure that you’re getting a fully active antioxidant.

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3. And I especially love Alpyn Beauty’s light-pink, fluffy, and deeply moisturizing face creams. This one contains three forms of vitamin C together with grape-seed oil, vitamin E, and numerous flower and plant extracts, plus my favorite skin-hydrating and firming non-antioxidant ingredient, hyaluronate.

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Ergothioneine

1. Ergothioneine is an amino acid derivative and an unusually stable https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8113028/” rel=”noopener noreferrer” target=”_blank”>antioxidant buffer that may help protect skin cells. It’s found in mushrooms, beans, and other foods, and our bodies avidly take it up and hold on to it, meaning it’s important.

   Ergothioneine is used as a unique backup ingredient in https://goop.com/goop-beauty-goopglow-glow-lotion/p/” data-shoppable data-analytics-name=”product-collage”>GOOPGLOW Glow Lotion, which combines richly moisturizing ingredients like squalane and jojoba that make your skin feel soft and smooth with precious extracts from spirulina, kakadu plum, colubrina bark, and vetiver, plus antioxidant extracts of lime, mandarin, orange peel, and lemon peel for their free radical–scavenging and skin-rejuvenating activities.

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1. Sunscreen: Even More Important than Antioxidants for Keeping Skin Youthful and Healthy

   Antioxidants are not intended to be used as or to replace sunscreen. These days I’m using Supergoop’s water-resistant https://goop.com/supergoop-play-100-mineral-lotion-spf-30-with-green-algae/one-size/p/” data-shoppable data-analytics-name=”product-collage”>Play 100% Mineral Lotion. I like to do my laps in the pool when it’s sunny and warm, which calls for strong protection. Ingredients like green algae extract (Haematococcus pluvialis) and tucuma oil (Astrocaryum vulgare) elevate Play to the luxury level.

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Antioxidant-Rich Supplements and Foods That Promote Glowing Skin*

There’s no one perfect food source of antioxidants. A plant-heavy whole foods diet plus a multivitamin can deliver a wide spectrum of bioactive compounds that work from the inside to support healthy and beautiful skin.

Vitamin C

Supplementing with C can help boost https://www.karger.com/Article/Abstract/350833″ rel=”noopener noreferrer” target=”_blank”>the skin’s ability to fight free radicals. This antioxidant scavenges ROS in the water-based interior of cells and is essential for https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/1226″ rel=”noopener noreferrer” target=”_blank”>protecting DNA and proteins, including collagen. It also happens to be essential for making collagen.

Vitamin E

Try a combination of vitamins C and E for even more protection from free radical damage—and to promote https://europepmc.org/article/med/7027767″ rel=”noopener noreferrer” target=”_blank”>even pigmentation and luminosity. Vitamin E is found in the fatty parts of cells, the membranes, where it http://webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca/nhpid-bdipsn/atReq.do?atid=multi_vitmin_suppl” rel=”noopener noreferrer” target=”_blank”>protects polyunsaturated fats from free radicals that can destroy membranes and kill cells.

Lutein and Zeaxanthin

These carotenoids are typically used in combination, either in a pill or applied to the skin. Either delivery route is helpful, but for optimally https://www.karger.com/Article/Abstract/101807″ rel=”noopener noreferrer” target=”_blank”>increasing skin hydration and elasticity, one study concluded that doing both is best: Take a supplement and include these antioxidants in a skin-care regimen.

Lycopene

Supplements can boost the level of this antioxidant in the skin, where it helps support the skin’s natural resilience to ordinary sun exposure. From clinical research: Lycopene supplements help prevent free radicals https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16400064/” rel=”noopener noreferrer” target=”_blank”>from damaging skin cells and their DNA.

Selenium

Selenium is a trace mineral that’s https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5723688/” rel=”noopener noreferrer” target=”_blank”>crucial for healthy keratinocyte skin cells. It’s incorporated into the enzyme glutathione peroxidase, which works with the major antioxidant that the body makes, glutathione.

Zinc

Skin contains https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/10/2/199″ rel=”noopener noreferrer” target=”_blank”>a lot of zinc for good reason. Its roles in the skin including supporting https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00204-020-02702-9″ rel=”noopener noreferrer” target=”_blank”>DNA repair, wound healing, and the response to oxidative stress. And it’s part of an antioxidant enzyme, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/eci.13036″ rel=”noopener noreferrer” target=”_blank”>superoxide dismutase.

Grape-Seed Extract

Numerous polyphenol antioxidants of every color are found in plants. One type is the red proanthocyanidins in grape-seed extract—https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0027510714000700″ rel=”noopener noreferrer” target=”_blank”>documented to scavenge free radicals, support cellular health, and protect against oxidative stress throughout the body.

Resveratrol

Resveratrol is a powerful antioxidant—found in grapes and other fruits—with plenty of research-backed benefits for metabolic and circulatory health and interesting preliminary research on skin benefits. I like the https://www.sourcenaturals.com/products/GP1271″ rel=”noopener noreferrer” target=”_blank”>products from Source Naturals, where I worked for years and got to know all about the in-house quality-control testing program.*

Silymarin

Silymarin is extracted from milk thistle, a plant revered for https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12325-020-01251-y” rel=”noopener noreferrer” target=”_blank”>supporting liver health. It boosts the master antioxidant, glutathione. I like the https://www.planetaryherbals.com/products/GP1596/” rel=”noopener noreferrer” target=”_blank”>Milk Thistle Seed Extract with silymarin from Planetary Herbals. This company’s products are developed by herbalists based on Western, Ayurvedic, and traditional Chinese herbalism.* The general manager, Roy Upton, has provided answers to our questions about https://goop.com/wellness/health/best-herbs-for-fertility-and-reproductive-health/” rel=”noopener noreferrer” target=”_blank”>herbs to support gynecological health.

Food Sources

If you eat a variety of plant foods, you’ll be getting a wide spectrum of antioxidants. Don’t worry too much about which ones to eat: Potatoes count, too.

But if you really want to know: Red fruits and veggies like pink grapefruit and tomatoes contain lycopene. Greens like spinach and parsley are sources of lutein and zeaxanthin. Leafy greens and yellow and orange fruits and vegetables contain beta-carotene. Citrus and strawberries and high in vitamin C.

Vitamin E is found in nuts, seeds, and oils, where it protects fats from oxygen and heat to prevent rancidity. (Store them in a cool and dark place to protect the vitamin E and prevent rancidity.)

FAVORITE ANTIOXIDANT SUPPLEMENTS

1. An extraordinary multi, this is made with powerful ingredients to help support the skin’s resilience in the face of environmental stressors and free radicals that contribute to skin aging. The https://goop.com/goop-beauty-goopglow-everyday-glow-multivitamin/60-ct/p/” data-shoppable data-analytics-name=”product-collage” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener noreferrer”>Everyday Glow Multivitamin contains research-backed amounts of antioxidants that specifically target the skin: lycopene—along with other tomato phytochemicals in a non-GMO tomato extract—and beta-carotene. Lycopene promotes healthy skin at a cellular level by detoxifying ROS. This multivitamin also contains high-potency vitamins C (targeting the watery insides of cells) and E (targeting fatty cell membranes). And the antioxidant minerals selenium and zinc are included in well-absorbed bioactive forms.*

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2. This lovely orange-and-lemon-verbena-flavored drink will easily become a favorite part of your morning routine. With research-backed amounts of lutein, zeaxanthin, vitamin C, and vitamin E (as natural tocopherols) and a concentrated grape-seed extract, https://goop.com/goop-beauty-goopglow-morning-skin-superpowder/30-pack/p” rel=”noopener noreferrer” data-shoppable data-analytics-name=”product-collage”>GOOPGLOW Morning Skin Superpowder is formulated to support the skin’s photoprotective functions and safeguard the skin from damaging free radicals from whatever environmental stressors you may encounter.*

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