The Power of Antioxidants in Skincare

Every second your skin is exposed to light, pollution, and metabolic activity, unstable molecules called free radicals are causing low-level cellular damage. Over years, this oxidative stress degrades collagen, accelerates pigmentation, and dulls the complexion. Antioxidants interrupt this process before it can take hold.

How Free Radical Damage Works

A free radical is a molecule with an unpaired electron — inherently unstable, it 'steals' electrons from surrounding cells to stabilise itself, triggering a chain reaction of damage. UV radiation, pollution, cigarette smoke, and even your own mitochondrial activity generate free radicals continuously. The skin's natural antioxidant defences deplete with age, which is why topical antioxidants become increasingly important from your late twenties onward.

The Key Antioxidants and What They Do

• Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid): neutralises UV-induced radicals, inhibits melanin production, boosts collagen synthesis
• Niacinamide (Vitamin B3): reduces inflammation, strengthens the barrier, fades post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation
• Resveratrol: activates sirtuins (longevity proteins), calms UV-induced stress, supports collagen integrity
• Vitamin E (tocopherol): works synergistically with Vitamin C, stabilises lipid membranes, photoprotective
• Ferulic acid: stabilises Vitamin C and E, doubles their photoprotective efficacy

“Applied consistently in the morning, a well-formulated Vitamin C serum is one of the highest-ROI interventions in non-clinical skincare.”

— Dr. Eleanor Voss, Medical Director

Application Protocol

Apply your antioxidant serum to clean, slightly damp skin immediately after cleansing, before any moisturiser. This ensures maximum penetration before occlusion. Always follow with SPF during the day — antioxidants are not a replacement for sunscreen, but together they provide significantly stronger photoprotection than either alone.