Whether it’s green tea extract, vitamin C, or resveratrol, antioxidants play a major part in the overall health of your body. But what most people tend to overlook is the good antioxidants can do for their skin. Antioxidants have been linked to a variety of skin care benefits, such as hydration, anti-aging, and even brightening. This fact alone makes them some of the leading ingredients in many effective skin care products. Take some time to learn exactly what antioxidants do for your skin and why you should include them in more than just your diet.

Corrects Signs of Aging

The anti-aging effects of antioxidants are some of the main reasons why products that include antioxidants are so desirable. Free radicals are constantly forming in your body from oxidative stress as you age, and your cells are forced to break down more quickly as they sustain damage. As the damage continues, your skin will begin to show signs of this stress in the form of fine lines and wrinkles. Antioxidant molecules find and neutralize the free radicals that roam your body—slowing down the visible aging process and even repairing damaged cells. Check out our best selection of collagen products.

Repairs Skin Damage and Scars

In addition to reducing the visible effects of aging, antioxidants can also repair damage caused by the sun or by acne breakouts by using age and dark spot treatment. This is because they also provide cells with the nutrients they need to properly heal themselves. As a result, skin won’t just heal significantly faster than it would otherwise; the amount of scarring that occurs once a wound heals will also decrease. Certain types of antioxidants, such as vitamin C, even promote collagen production, which creates firm, youthful-looking skin.

Reduces Redness and Inflammation

Antioxidants can reduce scars and treat acne by cutting back on the amount of redness, irritation, and inflammation the skin experiences. While supplying nutrients to cells, these molecules use this chance to improve their circulation, removing the irritation that causes inflammation. It’s natural for the skin to become irritated when exposed to dirt, oil, and bacteria, but the inflammation that follows can prevent those areas from repairing properly. This is what typically causes scars to form in the first place. By calming the inflamed areas with antioxidants, you can get back on track to healthier skin a lot more quickly.

Brightens Skin Tone

Another helpful thing that antioxidants can do for your skin is lighten areas afflicted by hyperpigmentation. Since free radicals can also cause the skin to produce excess melanin, you could begin to develop darker patches of skin that you may find unappealing. But with a strong supply of antioxidants to neutralize the free radicals, you can stop the overproduction from occurring and get on the track to repair. By using a skin-brightening cream infused with antioxidants, you can treat these spots and revert them back to their intended tone.