Apart from sunscreen, there is only one other category of skincare ingredients loved by skin experts—antioxidants and for all the right reasons! Antioxidants are undoubtedly the hardest working skincare ingredients in the game, scavenging free radicals, and helping promote a brighter and more even-toned skin complexion. Additionally, the use of antioxidants for skin is essential for nixing fine lines and wrinkles and keeping the skin looking radiant and fresh.
Antioxidant benefits for the skin are innumerable and some experts consider it the fountain of youth as it helps protect, prevent, and limit oxidative stress and damage to the skin, assist in hydration and soothe inflammation. Not only does a targeted antioxidant skincare routine tackle all your complexion concerns, but it also enhances your skin health in general.
When it comes to incorporating this versatile skincare ingredient into your pregnancy skincare routine, there is a diverse range of antioxidants that you can choose from. Although they all technically perform the same function of protecting your skin from oxidative stress and free radical damage, blending antioxidants with other skincare ingredients can double up the benefits for your skin. Therefore, the key is to find the right antioxidant that works best for your skin type and concerns and use it regularly to see visible results.
What Are Antioxidants?
To understand the different uses of antioxidants for skin, you have to know how they work. On a regular basis, your skin is bombarded with environmental aggressors like pollution in the air, the harmful UV rays from the sun, and the blue light from your computer and mobile screen. Also, since your skin is highly sensitive during pregnancy, these aggressors cause more oxidative damage to your skin and this damage only adds up over time.
Besides, oxidative stress can lead to loss of elastin in your skin, premature signs of ageing, decreased moisture, weakened moisture barrier, and an increase in pigmentation. But worry not as antioxidants can help protect your skin against damage and enliven it. So how do antioxidants work?
As the name suggests, antioxidants inhibit oxidation and fight potentially damaging oxidising agents (more commonly known as free radical cells) inside a living organism. Antioxidants strengthen your skin barrier and protect it from damage caused by the free radicals. Hence, they are watchful protectors that guard our skin day in and day out.
There are multiple antioxidants that can boost your skin glow and target your pregnancy skin concerns effectively. Out of that, there are five best antioxidants that offer the most powerful antioxidant benefits for the skin.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) is loved for its protective effects against oxidative stress and its ability to work effectively with other free-radical fighters to maximise potency. Vitamin C is known to stimulate collagen synthesis, and enhance new skin cell regeneration to fix skin concerns like an uneven skin tone, rough texture, dull spots, fine lines, and acne scars.
Vitamin C works extremely well in conjunction with other antioxidants like vitamin E and ferulic acid and is also a great addition to your daily sun protection regimen. While your SPF protects your skin from the sun’s UV rays, vitamin C protects the skin against the free radical damage caused by the UVA and UVB rays.
Vitamin E
If you have dry skin, vitamin E should be your antioxidant of choice. It provides moisturising and anti-inflammatory benefits, and is well-known for its wound-healing properties. It is also an ideal antioxidant for those suffering from sensitive and irritation-prone skin during pregnancy.
Niacinamide
Niacinamide is another must-have antioxidant skincare ingredient. It is a form of vitamin B3 that is used to manage pigmentation issues, acne, rosacea, and wrinkles. Niacinamide is also helpful in reinforcing your skin barrier and improving your skin health in the long term. Its anti-inflammatory properties make it a beneficial ingredient for those suffering from blackheads and blemishes.
Polyphenols
Polyphenols also offer many antioxidant benefits for the skin. In fact, polyphenols are one of nature’s most potent antioxidants and are found in many common fruits and plants. The most-heard polyphenols of the skincare world include resveratrol, black tea, and green tea. These antioxidant powerhouses are great for repairing sun-induced damage and dull skin. They also have anti-inflammatory and skin-calming properties, making them an ideal option for sensitive and easily irritated skin types.
Hyaluronic Acid
Your first thought about hyaluronic acid is usually focused on its hydrating properties. However, recent research has proven that hyaluronic acid is also a supremely effective antioxidant that scavenges free radicals, and keeps your skin in peak health so that it can defend itself against environmental stressors effectively. Hyaluronic acid also stimulates wound healing and reduces the formation of fine lines and wrinkles, while retaining moisture in the skin, and creating a plumping effect.
Benefits Of Antioxidants For Skin
Now that you know all about the potent antioxidants in the skincare biz, let’s look at some of the antioxidant benefits for the skin.
- Can treat pregnancy acne: Antioxidants neutralise free radicals, reduce inflammation, and prevent and treat acne. They also protect the skin by preventing acne-causing bacteria from penetrating the dermal layer.
- It delays ageing: Antioxidants help reduce signs of premature ageing by countering the harmful effects of free radicals.
- It helps repair the skin itself: Antioxidants boost the production of collagen in the skin and enhance skin cell regeneration to help the skin repair and rejuvenate itself.
- It helps even out the skin tone: Antioxidants like Vitamin C helps inhibit tyrosinase activity, thus reducing melanin production in the skin. This helps reduce dull spots in the skin and results in an even-toned and clear complexion.
How To Use Antioxidants For Skin
The use of antioxidants for skin should be done in the right manner to get the best results. You may either consider using the antioxidants individually or in conjunction with other potent skincare ingredients. For instance, vitamin C is one powerful antioxidant that works extremely well on its own, as well as when paired with other antioxidants like hyaluronic acid and polyphenols.
Try different combinations to determine what works best for your skin. Irrespective of what you choose, make sure to be consistent with your skincare routine because only then will you be able to see results.
Best Products With Antioxidants For Skin
The Moms Co. Natural Vitamin C Face Cream
If you want to reduce dark spots and achieve clearer skin, this is your best bet. The Moms Co. Natural Vitamin C Face Cream comes packed with nourishing and pregnancy-safe ingredients like vitamin C, squalane, ferulic acid, and willow herb that help repair and enliven your skin and give you an even-toned complexion. The antioxidant powers of vitamin C help stimulate collagen synthesis and reduce dark spots. Ferulic acid protects the skin against free radical damage caused by UV exposure and pollution. Additionally, squalane and willow herb strengthen your skin barrier, seal in moisture, and soothe irritated and inflamed skin. Using this face cream regularly will boost your skin glow and give you visibly clearer skin.
Buy it here.
The Moms Co. Natural Vitamin C Oil-free Moisturiser
This antioxidant skincare product is a godsend for those with an oily skin type. The Natural Vitamin C Oil-free Moisturiser combines the goodness of vitamin C, aloe vera, hyaluronic acid, squalane, niacinamide, and green tea, and gives you a hydrated, shine-free, and plump look in just two weeks.
The antioxidant effects of vitamin C fight free radical damage, hyaluronic acid, and squalane boost hydration and improve skin elasticity. Green tea, niacinamide, and aloe vera balance oil production reduce pore size and soothe inflammations caused by acne.
Buy it here.
The Moms Co. Natural 10% Vitamin C Face Serum
If you want to use a single antioxidant to target your skin concerns, you should try this natural 10% vitamin C face serum. The serum has 86% of vitamin C content and penetrates deep into the skin layers to combat issues like dull spots, hyperpigmentation, acne, and enlarged pores, and gives you visibly radiant and smoother skin in no time.
Buy it here.
#WhyCompromise on your skin, when you can protect and repair it with the healing and restorative properties of antioxidants like Vitamin C? Having a focused antioxidant skincare regime will keep your skin protected from free radicals and also tackle several pregnancy skin issues such as dullness, acne, formation of fine lines and wrinkles, and pigmentation. So make sure to give your skin the best care and incorporate antioxidants into your pregnancy skincare routine to get clearer, more radiant, and beautiful skin.
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