Medically reviewed by Minimalist Health Specialist - Written by Nancy Agrahari (Journalist) on 17th Sep 2020
Skin Essentials: Antioxidant Serums To Try In 2020
Antioxidants are not just great for your body. They work wonders for your skin too.
Serums with antioxidants, like Vitamin C, protect the skin from harmful exposure.
How?
Well, by neutralizing free radicals that can damage the skin. Awesome, right?
Antioxidants don't just protect the skin from pollution, but their concentrated dose helps heal wounds, reduce fine line and hyperpigmentation.
If you have ever looked out for serums and want to pick the right product, then ordering one with an antioxidant is a great choice. The best part of these serums is that they work well for every skin type. From oily to patchy and even acne-prone skin,, antioxidant serums can counter almost every skincare problem.
We understand how difficult 2020 has been. To slide out of the difficult times, we have decided to focus on achieving glowing, healthy skin. And to get there, we have used our Minimalist-crystal globe for the first time this year. Here we bring you a list of the top antioxidant serums for your skin in 2020.
But first, let’s check why you need these special bottles on your vanity.
Antioxidant Serums - Why Do You Need Them?
Antioxidants act as a shield by protecting the skin from harmful exposure like pollution, UV rays, cigarette smoke, certain medications, and other aggressors. Plus, they also help in skin brightening, acne-healing, hydrating, and damage repairing.
Ever noticed words like “skin brightening”, “wrinkle-reducing”, “pollution control” on your serum bottle? The chances are that it may have antioxidants in it.
Even though our body naturally produces antioxidants from the food we consume, they aren’t enough to keep our skin protected. Since antioxidants spread all over the body, there are fewer odds of them being centered just around the skin.
Also, the skin’s ability to store vitamins decreases with time, age, and external factors. That’s why the best way to protect your skin and enjoy antioxidants’ benefits is to lather them on your skin.
But Why Are Antioxidants Good For The Skin?
Antioxidants are substances that neutralize free radicals. Free radicals refer to the unpaired electrons that are on the hunt to attach themselves to an electron. If they don’t find an electron, they will react with whatever’s around the skin (proteins, lipids, DNAs), resulting in fine lines, wrinkles, inflammation, or pigmentation.
Antioxidants share their free electrons with the unpaired ‘free radicals’ to stop the chain reaction. Thereby brightening the skin and making it more plump and radiant than usual.
Antioxidant & Sunscreen - A Combination Your Skin Would Love
Never leave the house without applying sunscreen. Not only your face but every part of your exposed skin needs it. Even though antioxidants protect your skin from the harmful UV rays, they are not substitutes for sunscreen.
For younger-looking healthy skin, always pair your serums with a broad spectrum SPF 50+ sunscreen followed with a moisturizer or cream that suits your skin type.
Which Antioxidant Serum Is The Best For The Skin?
We are often asked about the antioxidants which we think are the best for the skin, or if we have our skincare favorites to share with our readers. Honestly, there is a pretty long list of antioxidants in the beauty industry, but only a few have studies to back them up.
At the Minimalist, all the products are organic and backed with science.
Here’s a rundown of our favorite antioxidant serums that, we hope, will never disappoint you. All the products have stable concentrations to reach their destiny and start working. They are a regular in the Minimalist Product world and easy on the pocket too.
Best Brightening Serum - Vitamin C
Vitamin C (aka L-ascorbic acid) is one of the most effective antioxidants ever. This water-soluble vitamin is usually found in the intracellular and extracellular fluids to protect the skin from free radicals. It boosts collagen and reduces hyperpigmentation. Plus, it works great for every skin type.
A real beauty elixir, isn’t it?
How Does It Work?
Vitamin C is a proven antioxidant that neutralizes oxidative stress by the process of electron transfer. It is known as a ‘skin-brightening antioxidant’ because it promotes collagen formation and reduces hyperpigmentation.
Benefits Of Vitamin C Serum
The topical application of Vitamin C serums assists in brightening and evening out the skin tone. It suppresses melanin formation and gives you radiant, glowing skin. It also protects the skin from harmful UV rays of the sun and other external aggressions. Here is how and when to apply Vitamin C serums for glowing, beautiful skin in 4 weeks.
How To Select Vitamin C Serum
When investing in Vitamin C serums, choose products with 10-20% stable concentration. Minimalist is known for its stable concentrations and organic products. The Minimalist Vitamin C 20% + Ferulic Acid dramatically improves dull skin and helps fade existing dark spots - without breaking the bank.
And it is super concentrated, so all you need is a few drops of the serum and wait for your skin to soak all the goodness. It is paired with Ferulic Acid, so you get double photoprotection for a skin that looks fresh and radiant all the time.
Best Healing Serum - Vitamin E
Vitamin E is found in the oily part of our body, like the cell membrane. It is Vitamin C’s oil-soluble counterpart that motors energy in our body. This antioxidant is the salt that binds the food together.
How Does It Work?
Vitamin E serums reduce acne and even out the skin tone. With their anti-inflammatory properties, they target pimples, acne and brighten the complexion.
Benefits Of Vitamin E
Vitamin E contains anti-inflammatory ingredients that moisturize dry skin and reduce pimples and acne.
It can be used for:
- Skin Brightening
- Fading/Preventing Stretch Marks
- Reducing Acne
How To Select Vitamin E Serums
Mostly found in moisturizers and creams, Vitamin E works well on oily, dry, and sensitive skin tone when applied topically. Regular application of Vitamin E serums stimulates the healing process leading to healthy skin. You can also get Vitamin E serums for fading stretch marks.
Best Anti-aging Serum - Vitamin A (Retinol)
Vitamin A or Retinol is said to be at the top of the anti-aging game. It is one of the most effective skincare products and antioxidants. Try it for smoother, healthier skin. You can thank us later.
How Does It Work?
Retinoids are known for their ability to reverse the signs of aging. They thicken the dermis and epidermis and increase the production of glycosaminoglycans (humectant moisturizer within the skin). They also decrease collagen degradation and increase collagen production. This results in a more firm, plump skin with minimal signs of aging.
Benefits of Vitamin A Serums
Retinoids are best to reduce fine lines, wrinkles, and effects of photoaging. Their anti-aging, brightening properties make them one of the most popular serums in the beauty world.
How To Select Vitamin A Serums
\If you are using a retinoid for the first time, hold your breath for a few weeks. It can have few side effects like skin irritation, redness, or dryness. For more details, read our comprehensive on retinoids.
One of the best retinoid serums you can swear by is Minimalist Retinol 2%. Its unique properties give a boost to cell turnover and stimulate collagen production for clearer, more youthful skin. It’s also fragrance-free and specially formulated to provide results in less than eight weeks.
Best Protective Serum - Vitamin B3 (Niacinamide)
If protecting your skin from harmful rays and pollution is an integral part of your skincare regime, then Niacinamide serum is your best bet. A few drops of Niacinamide serums every day can give you a healthy, glowing, and hydrated skin.
How Does It Work?
Regular usage of Niacinamide can protect the skin from environmental damage. It boosts immunity, minimizes fine lines, blemishes, and leaves your skin all plump and young.
Benefits Of Niacinamide Serum
For smoother, younger-looking skin, go for Niacinamide Serum. It smoothens your skin texture and gives you that glow from within. If you are dealing with skin reddening or rashes, get yourself this little bottle of Niacinamide.
How To Select Niacinamide Serums
When you are looking for Niacinamide, note the concentration present in the ingredients list. 10-12% Niacinamide is proven to reduce acne marks and blemishes, whereas 5% showed no significant clinical trial improvement.
So, look for serums with at least 10% Niacinamide. Our favorite of the lot is the one that can be complemented with other ingredients, like zinc. Minimalist’s nourishing Niacinamide 10% + Zinc serum has pretty much everything you need in an anti-aging serum. And it is non-comedogenic too. Open pores? Tada!
Resveratrol
Resveratrol is a popular antioxidant found in popular food products and beverages. If you are a wine taster or grape lover, then you may have a pretty good amount of resveratrol in your body.
How Does It Work?
It is a chemical compound found in the skin of various fruits. Plants produce it as a defensive armor to protect themselves from bacterias, infection, UV radiation, and climate changes.
Benefits Of Resveratrol
Using resveratrol will fight off external pollutants and promote mitochondria activities in cells, thus enabling longer cell life.
How To Choose The Right Serum For Your Skin
When searching for a serum, it is vital to look at the formulation and the concentration of the active ingredients. We have a serum for every skin type and a guide to know more about them.
Some of the questions you need to ask while selecting antioxidant serums are: “How to check if the active ingredients will penetrate my skin?”, or “Are they going to work on my skin type?”.
We believe that you should buy products you rely on and have the science to back it up. Some of the antioxidants to swear by are Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Ferulic Acid, Vitamin E.
Also, always apply an SPF 50+ sunscreen on your skin when going out and keep reapplying it after every few hours. Keep your skin hydrated and follow a personalized skincare routine.
