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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Look out for "antioxidant-washing" As eco beauty products grow in popularity, "green washing" has become a hot topic. Companies have been known to make a product appear natural when it's loaded with preservatives and harmful chemicals. Now, there are similar marketing lies happening with antioxidants. Ingredients like green tea and vitamin C are being added to everything from moisturizers to hair masks. That's not to say that they don't have some benefits -- for example, both green tea and vitamin C can help reduce inflammation -- but don't assume that they're going to protect you from sun damage.

When you're choosing an antioxidant to wear underneath your sunscreen, opt for five to six drops of serum, and let it absorb completely before applying your sunscreen. Baumann suggests looking for a combination of vitamin C, vitamin E, and ferulic acid, and says the vitamin C and E pairing is key -- the E helps to stabilize the C and give it a longer shelf life. And the rule of thumb according to most derms is to pick a product that contains more than one antioxidant ingredient.

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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