Pollution seriously affects our health, but its effects on our skin and hair are well known. Increased pollution can dull your skin and cause fine lines and wrinkles. Making your skin more susceptible to rashes and irritation, pollution can also lead to breakouts and acne. While exposure to pollution is unavoidable, including antioxidants in skin and hair care can minimise its effects on our skin and hair.
What are antioxidants?
Defending against environmental aggressors and free radicals, antioxidants play an important role in skincare. Improving your skin texture, antioxidants protect your skin against UV rays, improve moisture levels, promote collagen, and reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and dark spots. They protect against the effects of injury and also help maintain supple and healthy skin.
Why are Antioxidants so sought after in skincare?
Their ability to neutralise free radicles: Antioxidants are known to neutralise free radicals, which can damage your skin and cause premature ageing. It is also known to combat skin cancer.
They reduce oxidative stress: A decline in levels of antioxidants causes a skin imbalance and results in oxidative stress. Having a direct impact on the skin resulting in inflamed and damaged skin, it causes fine lines, wrinkles and pigmentation. Antioxidants decrease oxidative stress thereby curbing skin damage and inflammation.
They strengthen the skin barrier: Improving the skin's natural barrier function, antioxidants help retain moisture levels and protect against environmental damage. It helps heal and aids skin renewal.
They prevent sun damage and soothe irritation: While they cannot replace sunscreens, they do improve the effectiveness of sunscreens. They also have a calming effect on the skin soothe and lessen irritation.
Common antioxidants in skincare:
Retinol
A proven ingredient for acne, retinol also strengthens and thickens the skin barrier. It protects the skin against oxidative and environmental damage. Increasing collagen reduces hyperpigmentation and provides a more even skin tone.
To gain the maximum results from this ingredient invest in a good retinol cream in your PM routine that gives your skin the much-required beauty sleep. We recommend the Retinol Intense Night Repair Cream which helps to boost collagen, reduce fine lines and wrinkles and give the skin a youthful glow.
Niacinamide
Commonly known as Vitamin B3, Niacinamide is an essential nutrient and antioxidant for the skin. This multifaceted ingredient protects your skin’s barrier function and keeps skincare woes such as wrinkles, uneven skin tone, and dullness at bay. It protects, strengthens and reduces skin inflammation, thereby enhancing the skin’s natural protection. Mixed with other skincare ingredients, it can combat dullness and other effects of pollution on the skin.
- Elevate your skincare routine with the power of niacinamide and these easy skincare steps.
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Cleansing is essential. Use a gentle cleanser that fades dark spots, removes dullness caused by pollution and also treats hyperpigmentation.
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Don't leave those pores unattended. Use a toner fortified with niacinamide that minimises pores and maintains skin elasticity.
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Following up with a serum rich in niacinamide strengthens the skin barrier, improves skin texture and evens skin tone.
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A moisturiser is a must in every season. Use a niacinamide-rich moisturiser that improves skin elasticity and reduces wrinkles
Vitamin E
A well-known antioxidant is Vitamin E which is well known for its moisturising properties. Oil soluble is also an anti-inflammatory that helps heal and restore skin cells. Protecting skin from environmental pollution nourishes heals, and restores dry and damaged skin.
Including a nourishing Vitamin E Serum in your routine nourishes and protects skin and supports barrier repair
A nourishing Vitamin E face cream during the day helps regenerate new skin cells and protects the skin against environmental damage.
Vitamin C
A water-soluble nutrient, it protects the skin from oxidative stress. Boosting collagen production reduces the appearance of dark spots. A key ingredient to prevent sun damage, it also visibly brightens skin and is a popular ingredient commonly found in skincare products.
Vitamin C Serum brightens your skin to remove dark spots and fight signs of ageing.
A moisturiser rich in Vitamin C repairs skin and boosts collagen production. However, don't forget to follow up with a good sunscreen
Squalane
Mimicking your skin's natural oils, the miracle ingredient, squalane is a boon for your skin. Apart from having excellent moisturising qualities that help soothe dryness and irritation, squalene also has antioxidant properties that protect the skin against environmental damage. Lightweight in texture, it is non-comedogenic and does not cause irritation, it can also delay signs of ageing like fine lines, wrinkles and dullness.
An alternative to the much controversial shark squalane, olive and sugar squalane serums work just as well for your skin giving it the much-needed hydration.
Hyaluronic Acid
As we age, the skin loses its ability to retain moisture, thus leading to dryness, dullness and fine lines A popular ingredient in skincare, hyaluronic acid replenishes our skin’s moisture levels. Infusing the skin with essential moisture strengthens the natural barrier and fortifies it against environmental damage. An effective and safe ingredient for most skin types, it is a versatile ingredient for all your skincare needs.
A hydration kit with hyaluronic acid-infused products is much required for dehydrated skin.
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