Switch up your skincare routine for a hit of antioxidants
Whether you’re a newbie on the antioxidant scene or a bonafide beauty convert, antioxidants feed your skin with all kinds of miracle-healing qualities. But with so many different serums, supplements skin boosters to choose from, it can be tricky to know which one will work for you and your skin type.
So to help, we asked our skincare expert Maizie Paddison to give us the lowdown on which antioxidants are best for your skin, and the must-have products your skincare routine is crying out for.
How Antioxidants Help to Repair and Protect Against Free Radicals
I know what you’re thinking — what is a free radical?! Great question. Free radicals are actually molecules in the environment (like UV and pollution) that damage your skin by clinging to your collagen. As a result, this weakens the skin's elasticity and causes premature ageing. Antioxidants essentially neutralise free radicals (also known as free radicals fighters) to restore the natural balance of goodness and protect the skin from any further damage.
Our Skin Repairs Itself Naturally But here’s How Antioxidants Can Help Boost this Replenishment Ritual
Not only do free radicals attack our skin, but they can also slow down its natural repair process. Our skin repairs naturally every night while we sleep, however, when free radicals damage and age the skin, it makes it harder to regenerate naturally. Antioxidants, therefore, provide powerful ingredients that boost the skin’s hydration, which in turn helps with our natural overnight repair routine.
How Antioxidants Can Reveal a More Youthful Glow
Dehydration is the number one cause of premature skin ageing. When skin is dehydrated it cannot repair itself. It’s most dehydrated between 11 pm-3 am, so it’s important to keep it super hydrated with an anti-aging antioxidant — that way you’ll wake up to a gorgeous, youthful complexion! Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that binds and removes harmful free radicals from the skin — like those produced from exposure to ultraviolet radiation and environmental pollutants. The most natural source of Vitamin C is Kakado Plum, which is native to Australia. Keep your eye out for those natural Australian skincare brands — they come packed with amazing antioxidants.
Even brighter. Even more even!
How Antioxidants Can Promote a Radiant Complexion
Say goodbye to uneven skin tone and hello to brighter, even skin! Vitamin B3 (also known as niacinamide) is a powerful antioxidant that reduces pores to reveal a brighter and smoother complexion. It’s also been known to help reduce under-eye dark circles and dark areas of the skin which are caused from the overproduction of melanin (they overproduce in small damaged areas of the skin causing pockets of pigmentation).
Eat More Antioxidants!
As the saying goes, you are what you eat, Eating nutritious foods packed with goodness not only provides your body with an array of amazing health benefits, but your skin will also develop a natural defence system that will ultimately make you look and feel more youthful.
Need we say more? Here are the products to invest in…
BEST ANTIOXIDANTS FOR YOUR FACE
Cleanser — Natio Rosewater Antioxidant Micellar Cleansing Water
This antioxidant-packed micellar water will cleanse your skin and remove make-up without drying or irritation. The rosewater extract will leave the skin cleansed and feeling calm, amazing for all skin types, especially sensitive skin.
Use twice daily. Apply product to a cotton pad and sweep away! You can use a foaming or gel cleanser after removing makeup if you prefer to use cleansers with the use of water.
Toner — Herbs and Heart Skin Tonic
A hit of botanical plant extract not only leaves your skin’s texture smooth, but it also smells divine! The witch hazel delivers a non-drying and less irritated complexion. There’s more — it restores a natural PH level making it perfect for the most sensitive of skin types.
Use twice daily after cleanser to help remove traces of make-up and dead skin cells. Your skin is now prepped and ready for your serum!
Serum — Herbs and Heart Elixir
This concentrated formula is filled with antioxidant-rich ingredients. A versatile product that not only helps to repair the skin from past damage, but it also helps to diminish acne scars and dull skin. Thanks to its Vitamin C hit, your complexion will be bright and radiant. The thin texture is also safe to use under the eye — the caffeine extract will brighten and make you look less fatigued.
Use twice daily before moisturiser. Tip: mix a little bit in your foundation to give your base a dewy finish.
Moisturiser — La Roche Posay Vitamin C10 Anti Ageing Moisturiser
The beautiful collaboration of Vitamin C, E and Hyaluronic Acid protects the skin from free radicals throughout the day, hydrates and visibly plumps the skin for a more youthful glow.
Use in the morning after the application of serum (can be used at night, however, try the ultra overnight sensitive moisturiser on an evening instead).
Eye Cream — La Roche Posay Vitamin C10 Anti Ageing Eye Cream
This eye cream goes perfectly with the aforementioned moisturiser above. The lighter texture works wonders on the delicate eye area. Free radicals penetrate five times deeper around the eyes due to its thin texture, so it struggles to repair naturally. But don’t panic! This eye cream provides protection and repairs any past damage to reveal a brighter, rejuvenated eye area.
Use twice daily. Tip: with your ring finger, use a light patting motion until the cream has sunk into the skin.
Face Mask - Herbs and Heart Face Mud
This is one of my favourite products, ever! This is not only an amazing mask, it can also be used as an exfoliator and a cleanser — so you’ll get double for your money. The manuka honey is the key ingredient to help lift impurities and debris from deep within the skin, leaving your skin feeling nourished and soft to touch.
Use once to twice a week as a mask. Make sure your hands are wet due to its natural and earthly texture, place a 50 cent size and rub into damp hands to create a paste. Apply on dry skin leave for 20 minutes, then wash off with a warm damp cloth.
