Whenever I look for a new skin care product, it’s always a huge plus when it contains antioxidants. Topical antioxidants are supposed to help neutralize the assaults our skin takes on a daily basis - pollution, the sun, cigarette smoking, etc. Then, of course, there are the antioxidants we get from healthy foods (fruits and vegetables, for example) which help to neutralize the free radicals in our bodies. All forms of antioxidants can help us look younger, stay looking young, and stay healthy.
Topical Antioxidants
I would recommend using a topical antioxidant once or twice a day. Lots of moisturizers come with them, but you need to make sure your moisturizer comes in a tube or bottle that is not exposed to light or air, or the antioxidants will stop working. So any jar moisturizer is useless antioxidant-wise. It still annoys me to no end that my favorite moisturizer - Clinique Moisture On-Line is packaged in a clear jar, so while it hydrates my face extremely well, that’s all it does.
Currently I use Paula’s Choice Skin Recovery Super Antioxidant Concentrate in the mornings. It’s a light serum designed for normal to dry skin that you can put on under a moisturizer, makeup, and sunscreen. Paula’s Choice also makes similar serums for normal skin, and for oily skin. These products don’t clog pores, and they contain all sorts of antioxidants, in stable packaging. Ideally I would like to find a moisturizer (in stable packaging) that I love, that contains a lot of antioxidants, but this hasn’t happened yet. Actually, it would be great to find a product in stable packaging that has loads of antioxidants, works to moisturizer super dry skin, and has a high SPF, with a high percentage of Zinc Oxide as its main sunscreen ingredient. That’s my dream product! I’m sure it’s out there waiting for me to discover it!
What I don’t like about the Paula’s Choice antioxidant serum is that it doesn’t appear to do anything. My skin doesn’t look better when I use it, and after using it for a year or two now, it hasn’t improved the appearance of my skin. It’s like an insurance policy - it’s there to protect you, but that’s about it. There’s also no way to know if it works or not, so I feel like I’m going on blind faith, since I’m just hoping that it’s preventing future wrinkles.
Types of antioxidants
It seems like each week a new antioxidant is discovered, and is touted as the next big thing. Right now Coffeeberry is getting lots of hype, and last year Idebenone was the “it” antioxidant. Green Tea, Vitamin C, Kinetin and CoQ10 have all also been in the spotlight as “wonder” antioxidants. The problem is that visually it’s hard to really see much of a difference when you use them.
Both Idebenone and Vitamin C are supposed to actually produce visible results - namely a reduction in fine lines, and an evening out of skin tone and texture. Plus they are also supposed to prevent future damage.
Personally I need to do a lot more testing and research to really figure out which antioxidants I find the most valuable. If Prevage (Idebenone is its main ingredient) didn’t cause my face to break out like crazy, I’d probably use that every day, because I’ve read that it’s one of the most potent antioxidants. I should look into finding another product with Idebenone to test. Hmmm… Another product I want to try is SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic, which contains Vitamin C and E. Lots of testing is being done as we speak on antioxidants, so new and exciting breakthroughs will continually be happening.
What antioxidant product (in stable packaging) do you use?
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April 10th, 2008 at 1:19 am
I was wondering if you’ve tried a Paula’s Choice moisturizer with antioxidants. She has several, but I’ve never tried one of them. I have used the special treatment for dry skin (with antioxidants) and really liked it, but I’m also not quite sure if it works in any way apart form moisturizing.
I recently ordered this very antioxidant concentrate. I do hope it works!
April 10th, 2008 at 2:43 am
Thanks for this antioxidant walk-through :)
Question: when should you start using antioxidants? (I’m only 19, so - knock on wood - I don’t have to face aging issues just yet…) I’ve been thinking about buying Clinique’s… Continuous Rescue, I think it’s called - but if you don’t have to start using antioxidants until you start worrying about wrinkles et cetera, I’d rather save that money and save up for a Theory dress instead, haha.
& by the way, I’ve been using the Nivea creme since your post about it, and it has really made a difference. So thanks, again!
April 10th, 2008 at 8:26 am
I just got the Paula’s Choice anitoxidant serum last week…. I have a few dry spots that just won’t quit and this seems to be doing the trick! I’m sorry you haven’t seen any long-term benefits from this product. What can someone expect from using an antioxidant product over a period of time - less lines, dark spots?
April 10th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
I use Clinique’s City Block Sheer Oil-Free Daily Face Protector SPF 25 everyday!!!
Loved reading this post… Very informative as always!
April 16th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
Paula’s Choice Skin Recovery Super Antioxidant Concentrate contains grape seed oil, which is highly pore clogging. So I wouldn’t recommend it to acne-prone skin. I use the Skin Balancing Super Antioxidant Mattifying Concentrate Serum and love it and I have acne prone skin.
April 16th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
Ange,
It has grape seed oil, but since it’s the 10th ingredient on the list, I don’t think it would pose a problem for most people. But the Mattifying product would definitely be better for people with oily, acne-prone skin. I have dry, acne-prone skin.
Oh, and the new sunscreen I’ve been using - UV Natural has grape seed oil as the first inactive ingredient! I’ve been using it for a few days, but feel like I’m asking for zits! I’m only testing it because it’s such a great product (aside from the grape seed oil).
April 23rd, 2008 at 1:24 am
Tuprnut,
Some antioxidants are supposed to visibly improve the look of your skin - even out skin tone, even out pigment, decrease fine lines, etc. Antioxidants like Vitamin C and Idebenone are supposed to give these results.
However, antioxidants as a whole are supposed to prevent future damage - future wrinkles, future sun spots, future aging as a whole. So they are supposed to make you age better. But there’s no way to know if they will really do anything or not to slow down the aging process, which is why I feel you need to just have faith that they are working. It’s the same concept as sunscreen - it prevents future damage.
April 23rd, 2008 at 1:27 am
Kay,
I don’t think you’re ever too young for antioxidants, so starting to use them now would be great. And just as important is the use of sunscreen. If you use sunscreen every day, you will definitely age better than your friends that don’t use sunscreen! I didn’t start using sunscreen until I was 25, and I totally regret it now.
April 23rd, 2008 at 1:33 am
Ink,
I use Paula’s Choice Skin Recovery Hydrating Treatment Mask as a moisturizer. I love it. It’s supposed to be a mask, but you can also just leave it on and not wash it off. That’s the only moisturizer of hers that I’ve tried. It does have antioxidants, but basically its main purpose is just to keep your skin hydrated, so that it looks good, and it helps to keep the outer layer of your skin healthy.. It doesn’t have any other anti-aging properties in it. So I also use a retinol product for aging.
October 27th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
I use dermalogica Age Smart antioxidant hydramist, and the dynamic skin recovery spf30. I love these products and they have made a difference to my skin. I would like your view on products that contain small amounts of essential oils, like lavender, as Paula of Paulas choice does not rate any aromatherapy products at all, which I find strange. fair enough if you have a genetically sensitive skin or sensitized skin, but if you havn’t do we believe that lavender can damage cells?
oh and the skinceuticals serum is amazing.