How to refresh your skin with antioxidants formulated products after a busy weekend
After a weekend filled with running errands, indulgent dinners, and maybe a late night (or two!) your skin might look a little dull and tired. A great way to perk it up is by using products formulated with antioxidants. These products are great for brightening, smoothing, and exfoliating and help refresh and restore your skin. Find out how to help make your skin feel luminous and glowing before that Monday morning alarm hits with our antioxidants skin care guide
What are antioxidants?
Antioxidants are molecules that can help prevent the damage generated from oxidation of free radicals. In your everyday life you probably encountered oxidation. An example of oxidation is like when you cut an avocado and it turns brown.
Free radicals can impact your skin by causing oxidation and can have a negative impact such as premature skin aging. Antioxidants can help neutralize free radicals so that they don’t cause too much damage. While your body produces some antioxidants, you need to make a conscious effort to incorporate them into your diet and skin care routine.
Antioxidant Skin Care Routine
1. Know Your Anti-Oxidants
Vitamin C is an effective antioxidant — it can help brighten the skin’s appearance. It’s ideal in helping to minimize the appearance of fine lines, dark spots and skin dullness. To reap the full benefits of Vitamin C in creams, serums or gels make sure that the container you use has minimal exposure to sunlight. Your product should also only have a small opening as exposure to air can interfere with Vitamin C’s efficacy.
Vitamin E is a fat soluble vitamin whereas Vitamin C is a water soluble vitamin. These two vitamins together may be beneficial for skin care.
Vitamin A is also known as retinol in skin care and it may be useful in the fight against the effects of skin aging. Retinol has exfoliating qualities and can help smooth skin’s appearance and help it look firmer. Retinol can be found in a multitude of products.
2. Cleanse Effectively
Wash your face with a gentle cleanser and lukewarm water to remove impurities and sweat that might have accumulated on skin’s surface. Avoid harsh soap as this can strip your skin. Try Garnier SkinActive’s Clean+ Balancing Gel Exfoliator infused with grapefruit and pomegranate to help soften dry areas and balance skin.
3. Use A Serum
Apply a product formulated with retinol/pro-retinoid or other antioxidants (Vitamin C, Vitamin E, reservatrol, etc.) to help neutralize free radicals that may have found a way onto your skin over the course of the day.
4. Apply A Cream That Works In Your Sleep
Lock in the antioxidant goodness you just applied to your skin with an extra layer of cream. If you have dry skin, you can slather on something nourishing to add moisture to your parched skin; a product formulated with ceramides or glycerin is ideal. Those with normal, combination and sensitive skin should use something hydrating, but not greasy so that your skin can still breathe and you won’t wake up with excessive shine or breakouts.
5. Be Mindful Of Your Nutrition
Close out the weekend on a high note by staying hydrated and drinking water and eating food that’s good for you. A diet with lots of natural antioxidants such as leafy greens (spinach, kale, broccoli), fruits (citrus fruit, berries, pineapple), and fish can help you feel and look your best come Monday morning.
