Antioxidants help fight free radicals, which are unstable compounds that attack cells and cause wrinkles and dull skin. How do you know which is the best for your skin with so many on the market? It's actually good to have a combination of antioxidants in your daily regimen since they have multiple functions.
Green tea
What it is: Green tea extracts are derived from the Camellia sinensis plant; you may also want to drink tea brewed from the plant for internal benefits. Green tea contains a number of powerful polyphenols.
How it works: Research has shown that when EGCG is applied before or immediately after UV exposure, it helps correct cellular changes caused by damaging UV rays.
Shopping tip: Make sure there's enough green tea extract in the product you choose; if there's too little, it might not be effective. Creams that contain enough of the extract look brown.
Idebenone
What it is: Idebenone (pronounced E-d-buh-known) is a more stable relative of the antioxidant coenzyme Q10.
How it works: Idebenone penetrates better than coenzyme Q10 and offers more protection from the oxidation caused by free radicals. It also protects skin cells from the damaging effects of UVB rays.
Try it first: Be sure to do a patch test before committing to regular use of a product containing idebenone; about 1 out of 10 people has an allergic reaction to the antioxidant.
Resveratrol
What it is: This oldie-but-goodie antioxidant is a polyphenolic compound found in grapes, berries, cocoa, and even peanuts.
How it works: Studies show that resveratrol confers great benefits when applied topically. When resveratrol is applied before sun exposure, it reduces the production of damaging free radicals and other sun related skin damage. It can also help slow the development and growth of skin cancer tumors.
Vitamin C
What it is: This familiar powerhouse vitamin is an essential antioxidant for the skin, meaning that it is critical but is not produced by the human body. Vitamin C comes in a number of forms, but the purest version is ascorbic acid.
How it works: Of all the antioxidants, vitamin C is backed by the most research demonstrating its benefits for the skin. Vitamin C has proven anti-inflammatory benefits, as well as collagen building and sun protecting benefits.
