Antioxidants are a vital part of our diet and defense against visible signs of aging. They’re free radical-fighting, pollution-shielding and skin-brightening—and these days, they’re making their way into every category of our skin-care routine. Case in point: this year, antioxidant sunscreen is the new norm.
Featured Experts
- Elaine Kung, MD is a board-certified dermatologist practicing in New York
- Tina Alster, MD is a board-certified dermatologist practicing in Washington D.C.
- Joel Schlessinger, MD is a board-certified dermatologist practicing in Omaha, NE
- Steve Hernandez is senior vice president of R&D at TOPIX Pharmaceuticals
Taking Sun Care Seriously
Statistics still indicate an upward battle for getting people to use SPF daily and year-round. However, younger consumers are looking for more sunscreen in general. And they also want sun protection to do more for their skin.
“In the US and Europe, there’s a strong demand for moisturizing skin care with SPF protection,” explains New York dermatologist Elaine Kung, MD. “Sun-care products are now combined with antioxidants such as vitamin C, niacinamide and moisturizing ingredients like hyaluronic acid and ceramides in order to meet these demands.”
And unsurprisingly, dermatologists want antioxidants to play a big role in your ideal sun-care routine. “I tell my patients all the time that they should be wearing vitamin C under their sunscreen every day,” says Washington D.C. dermatologist Tina Alster, MD. “It’s a critical added layer of protection.”
Antioxidant Sunscreen Is the New Gold Standard
“Your first line of defense from the sun is SPF,” says Steve Hernandez, senior vice president of R&D at TOPIX Pharmaceuticals. “You can think of antioxidants as a kind of second line of defense.” TOPIX Pharmaceuticals was one of the first brands to introduce antioxidant-powered sunscreens. They recently developed a new antioxidant molecule designed to enhance your skin’s defenses even further.
These labs are innovating and researching to find the most potent and powerful antioxidants to use. And we, as consumers, have started noticing. These elegant formulas not only provide environmental protection but also include the anti-aging benefits we’ve been looking for.
“My patients are increasingly looking for 100 percent mineral sunscreen options in elegant formulas that blend into all skin tones,” says Omaha, NE dermatologist Joel Schlessinger, MD. “And options like Revision Skincare Intellishade TruPhysical Clear SPF 50 ($86) exceed expectations as an all-in-one anti-aging formula for patients who want a no-fuss yet highly effective regimen. It combines all-mineral sun protection with hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, three peptides and green tea extract to protect, moisturize and address signs of aging.”
