Including them in your daily routine is a must. You will probably have heard just how important anti-oxidants are over and over again. If you haven’t included this step in your routine, what are you waiting for? Doctor Neus Tomás is ready to answer any doubts you might have. Discover all about their benefits!

In addition to help prevent the premature ageing of skin, anti-oxidants can help to improve expression lines, wrinkles, blemishes and flaccidity by neutralising free radicals and stimulating the production of collagen in the skin. Our favourite brand, a veritable reference point when it comes to anti-oxidants, is SkinCeuticals, which makes the number one pure vitamin C serums.

We had the opportunity to speak to Doctor Neus Tomás, a specialist in aesthetic and laser medicine at Clínica Tufet in Barcelona, about anti-oxidants: Why using them is recommended and what benefits they have to offer? What role do anti-oxidants play? 

Below are the answers to the questions:

What are anti-oxidants?

An anti-oxidant is a molecule capable of delaying or preventing the oxidation of other molecules. Oxidation is a chemical reaction that transfers electrons. When a molecule oxidises, it releases substances known as free radicals, which trigger a series of chemical reactions in a chain capable of damaging the cell.

In our skin, the causes of oxidation are solar radiation, pollution, tobacco smoke, extreme temperatures, certain foods and certain cosmetics.

The consequences of oxidation on our skin include weakening of the dermal matrix, change in the lipid composition of the skin, changes in pigmentation, weakened formation of fibroblasts, appearance of new veins and inflammatory reactions.

Which are the most well-known anti-oxidants?

The main anti-oxidants we are aware of are: beta-carotene, lutein, lycopene, selenium, resveratrol, vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin E. They can be found both in your diet (nutritional supplements) and skin care treatments.

Why is their use recommended and what benefits do they offer?

Using anti-oxidants is recommended as they neutralise the action of oxidants, preventing the deterioration of the cells that cause a series of signs such as dehydration, loss of elasticity and firmness, loss of shine and hyperpigmentation.

Could you tell us about an aesthetic treatment that combined with the use of anti-oxidants helps to improve our skin?

Any type of aesthetic treatment will benefit from the use of anti-oxidants. A treatment involving anti-oxidants before the treatment itself will help to improve the conditions of the skin, enhancing its care and health quality; as a result, the result of the aesthetic treatment will be better. A treatment involving anti-oxidants after the treatment will mean a faster, higher quality recovery. The treatments we offer involving anti-oxidants either before or after are: Laser, IPL, chemical peelings, hyaluronic acid implants, vitamin treatments, etc.

Our favourite anti-oxidants

We hope to have cleared up any questions you might have had. Before we go, let us share our two favourite anti-oxidants by SkinCeuticals: CE Ferulic and Phloretin CF.

Try CE Ferulic, the brand’s star anti-oxidant, a powerful anti-oxidising serum that helps to protect the skin against premature skin ageing by neutralising free radials and visibly reducing the signs of age. It contains 15% vitamin C (L-Ascorbic acid) and 1% Ferulic acid. It is applied each morning after washing your face and before any moisturising or anti-ageing treatment. It is perfect for dry or normal skin types.

If your skin is mixed/oily, try Phloretin CF, another of the brand’s renowned anti-oxidants that treats wrinkles and corrects blemishes. It contains 2% Phloretin, 10% Vitamin C and 0.5% Ferulic acid. It is applied each morning after washing your face and before any moisturising or anti-ageing treatment.

Furthermore, if you are considering any of the aesthetic procedures mentioned by Doctor Neus Tomás, it is worth bearing in mind that CE Ferulic helps to reduce redness, puffiness and the recovery time of skin. It also extends the duration of results and guarantees long-term protection for your skin, as demonstrated by a scientific study on the synergic action of laser treatments and CE Ferulic: by incorporating CE Ferulic into laser protocols, SkinCeuticals sets the bases for post-laser skin care.

Share your experiences with these anti-oxidants, or whether you are considering one!