Skin Care

The Anti-Aging Ingredient More Important Than Sunscreen

SPF is your best weapon in the fight against aging, right? Maybe not. New research shows that antioxidants in skin care may have sunscreen beat

by Dawn Davis

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Why a sunscreen with antioxidants isn't enough Dermatologists like Baumann and Steven Wang, MD, of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, agree that antioxidants in sunscreen don't do much. Many antioxidant ingredients are unstable, meaning they don't work very well after they're exposed to light and air (something that's pretty much inevitable with sunscreen). Even if the antioxidants in sunscreen don't oxidize, it's hard for them to do their job when they're basically drowning in SPF ingredients. If you're trying save time, this isn't the right place to multitask. "You absolutely need to use an antioxidant serum underneath your sunscreen," says Baumann. "Sunscreens actually produce free radicals, so you need the serum to counteract that."

You see, not only do you have to fight the free radicals formed by infrared radiation, but chemical SPF ingredients like Avobenzone and Octinoxate also produce free radicals when they absorb UV rays. This means certain sunscreens may cause more wrinkles than they prevent. If you want to avoid free radical-producing sunscreens completely, look for physical (also called mineral) sunscreen ingredients, like zinc and titanium dioxide. La Roche-Posay Anthelios 50 Mineral Ultra Light Sunscreen Fluid, $32.95, fits the bill.

SEE NEXT PAGE: Look out for "antioxidant-washing"

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Older comments

VEry informative article. And an interesting read. Definitely will have to start getting more antioxidants in my routine!!!

by smiley412 Friday, April 26, 2013 at 07:38AM Report as inappropriate

I loved the info in this story! In my 20's, I never paid attention to agin products or skin protection. After spending my first year in my 30's, that's my greatest concern. I've realized that products with health benefits/damage protection have greater beauty benefits!

by RaeRotondo Friday, March 22, 2013 at 06:42AM Report as inappropriate

Wonderful read. I keep seeing and hearing great things about this SkinCeuticals serum.. Maybe I'll fork over the money and give it a go?

by storrevillas Wednesday, March 20, 2013 at 05:52AM Report as inappropriate

Good article very informative

by lil_show5 Tuesday, March 19, 2013 at 09:26AM Report as inappropriate

One of the most well researched and written article on the website. Very informative. To summarize, antioxidants help PREVENT damage in the first place, but do not REMOVE damage. Great :)

by hiddenexpose Wednesday, March 13, 2013 at 01:17PM Report as inappropriate

This is a great article and really found the info very helpful. Not that I am 37 I am really starting to think about this more and more and been sort of lost on all the stuff out there. Thank you

by Alana_Danes Saturday, February 23, 2013 at 03:01PM Report as inappropriate

Superb explanation of antioxidants and free radicals! Absolutely necessary.

by GigiSD Friday, February 15, 2013 at 10:34PM Report as inappropriate

amazing information!

by rayshaviolet Thursday, January 10, 2013 at 01:46PM Report as inappropriate

good info

by aishak55 Wednesday, December 19, 2012 at 03:08PM Report as inappropriate

Shame antioxidants don't do anything for existing wrinkles but seems like they're still a necessary part of a daily routine. I got some good updates from this article

by EricaC123 Thursday, November 29, 2012 at 04:09AM Report as inappropriate