If you want a more even complexion or to reduce the appearance of dark marks and circles, antioxidants should be part of your skin care routine. In fact, we think antioxidant vitamins and dark skin should be best friends!

What Are Antioxidants?

Vitamin C and vitamin E are examples of two antioxidants generally found in skincare products. Antioxidants work to fight the inflammation and free radicals your body produces when it metabolizes oxygen. They are also good for repairing skin damage caused by exposure to ultraviolet rays and increasing the effectiveness of sunscreen. Free radicals cause cell damage and DNA dysfunction and destroy collagen and other parts of the architecture of your skin that normally keep it firm and clear. Since we always metabolize oxygen and are exposed to the sun, we must continually replenish our supply of antioxidants to protect and repair our skin. The good news is that our bodies naturally produce enzymes that act as antioxidants, and many plant-based foods contain vitamins that are powerful antioxidants.

Antioxidants and Skincare

Based on the concept that "beauty comes from within," a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, seeds, and nuts is a great way to get lots of natural antioxidants. Beyond that, there are many skin care products that contain antioxidants and use their ability to protect and heal the skin at the cellular level to solve several skin problems, including:

1.) Acne
2.) Wrinkles
3.) Dark Marks
4.) Dry Skin
5.) Uneven Skin Tone, and
6.) Damage from UV light

People with dark skin often develop discoloration and hyperpigmentation after minor skin injuries, so we need to regularly use antioxidants to reduce inflammation and help maintain an even complexion. There are many different types of antioxidants used in skin care products and found in natural facial oils, so knowing which ingredients are effective will help you choose the products that meet your needs.

5 Main Benefits of Antioxidants for Your Skin

1. Antioxidants help correct the signs of aging.
Oxidative stress breaks down collagen, interferes with the skin's natural repair process and triggers inflammation - and you see them like fine lines, wrinkles, loose skin, acne breakouts and a blotchy complexion. By eliminating free radicals, antioxidants can help prevent and correct these visible signs and give the skin a more youthful glow.

2. Antioxidants help prevent sunburn.
"By definition, all antioxidants have anti-inflammatory properties," says Ashley Magovern, board-certified dermatologist, medical director of Dermstore. "They reduce your skin's inflammatory response to the sun's harmful rays, preventing sunburn and providing enhanced protection against sun damage and photoaging."

3. Antioxidants help the skin to repair itself.
Inflamed skin hampers the process of skin rejuvenation. By reducing inflammation, antioxidants allow the skin to repair itself and correct visible damage. "Certain antioxidants, such as vitamin C, can also stimulate collagen production, which is vital for young skin," adds Dr. Magovern.

4. Antioxidants help lighten the complexion.
Free radicals and frequent exposure to the sun can also trigger changes in our skin's melanin production, causing dark spots and an uneven skin tone. By reducing photographic damage, antioxidants can help prevent abnormal skin pigments. Certain antioxidants (such as vitamin C) also act as an inhibitor of tyrosinase (an enzyme that stimulates the production of melanin).

5. Antioxidants can help prevent skin cancer.
Certain antioxidants, such as vitamins A, C and E, have anti-carcinogenic properties and can help prevent skin cancer.

Common Antioxidant Ingredients

A. Vitamin C
In addition to boosting your immune system, this vitamin supports collagen production and reverses the damage resulting from sun exposure. You can use this ingredient to reduce hyperpigmentation and fight wrinkles and other aging signs. If the treatment of damaged skin is not enough, this powerful antioxidant also protects the skin against photoaging and enhances the effectiveness of sunscreen. The chemical name for vitamin C is ascorbic acid, but this form of vitamin C is not very stable when mixed with water. Many vitamin C products use more stable forms such as sodium ascorbyl phosphate, ascorbyl palmitate and magnesium ascorbyl phosphate. When shopping for vitamin C, look for products stored in opaque or airtight containers that limit exposure to air and light.

B. Vitamin E
This vitamin also comes in different forms, but they all include the name tocopherol, which you will see when reading the labels of the skin care ingredients. Like other antioxidants, this vitamin reduces inflammation and is ideal for healing scars and dark spots. Vitamin E is often used with vitamin C because they are complementary. Vitamin C dissolves easily in water, while vitamin E dissolves easily in oils and fats. When used together, they work to provide antioxidant activity to different parts of the skin's cells.

C. Vitamin B3
This antioxidant vitamin is not as well known for skin care as vitamins C and E, but it is very effective against dark spots and used in many lightening products, and is a natural alternative to hydroquinone. There are different forms of vitamin B3, but the one used in skin care products is niacinamide and is found in products designed to calm the skin, reduce inflammation and promote the production of lipids to help maintain the skin barrier. When used in combination with stable forms of vitamins C and vitamin E, it provides a powerful antioxidant blend for healthy skin.

D. Natural Sources of Antioxidants
The effective antioxidants also come from a variety of natural sources such as green tea and grape seeds. Like other antioxidants, they support your skin by reducing free radicals and inflammation to improve the skin infrastructure and repair damage caused by the sun. People who love natural skincare products can look for these herbal ingredients which are wonderful sources of antioxidants.

How to Add Antioxidants to Your Skincare Routine

There are several skincare products that contain antioxidants, but the highest concentrations of these ingredients are found in serums. We encourage a skin care routine that follows three steps: cleanse, treat, hydrate. Antioxidant serums can be used in your "treatment" stage to address many of your skin problems. Since antioxidants help repair damaged skin from UV rays, these serums are great to use during the day, in addition to at night. Antioxidants are powerful ingredients from nature and are meant to fight free radicals. Whether you have dark spots, an uneven skin tone, or just want to boost your glow, you will find that adding antioxidants to your skin care routine will provide real benefits for healthy skin.