Boost Your Summer Skin Care with Natural Antioxidants

In summer, we all have our checklists when we are heading out to the pool or beach, which includes full spectrum sunscreen, a wide brimmed hat, and plenty of water to help prevent summer skin woes such as sunburn and parched skin (but if you get them, here’s great tips on how to soothe summer skin).  But, is antioxidant skincare on your checklist?  When it comes to the skin, free radical damage is believed to be one of the main culprits behind signs of skin aging. 

The good news is that there are many natural ingredients that are super potent antioxidants that you can incorporate into your daily skin care to keep free radicals at bay while you are out and about. Here, we’ll tell you about some of the best ingredients and how incorporate them easily into your daily routine. Save us a lounge chair?

Natural Antioxidant Ingredients

Specific species of seaweed are a rich source of antioxidants. Laminaria Digitata and Ascophyllum Nodosum Seaweeds, for example, are high in vitamins, minerals and amino acids, and have been found to contain high amounts of natural antioxidants such as phlorotannins, sulfated polysaccharides, fucosterol and fucoxanthins. 

These Seaweeds are also a source of many important nutrients, including polyunsaturated fatty acids, enzymes and bioactive peptides. Fucus vesiculosus is another seaweed that is high in fucoidan and polyphenols. It has also been found to be effective in enzyme and glycation inhibition as well as demonstrated antioxidant activity.

Other important antioxidant ingredients include:

Vitamins C and E: Powerful antioxidant ingredients that work to neutralize free radicals.  These ingredients work together to help stabilize the potency of Vitamin C.

Mastic: Known as the “Tears of Chios,” Mastic or Mastiha is a precious, ivory-colored resin with a balsam-like scent derived from the mastic tree known scientifically as Pistacia lentiscus.  Among its many benefits, it has shown to have potent  anti-oxidant properties.

Watermelon: This is rich in vitamins C and B complex, and the red color of its pulp is due to the presence of lycopene. Lycopene is an antioxidant component and it is able to neutralize free radicals especially responsible for skin aging.

Quercetin:  A polyphenol derived from plants responsible for their pigment color, including apples, grapes and blueberries.  This ingredient is known to have excellent soothing properties and has been shown to reduce oxidative stress.6

Niacinamide/Vitamin B3:  This well-known ingredient is antioxidant, and helps improve the overall appearance of skin, improving skin texture, evening the appearance of the complexion, and helping to reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, dark spots and discolorations.7

How to Incorporate Into Your Skin Care Routine:

The easiest way to add antioxidants to your skin care is by choosing a skin serum or moisturizer based on your skin type that are rich in these natural ingredients.

All Skin Types:  Everyone can benefit from a mineral-based skin primer that contains antioxidant seaweed such as Mineral Face Shield®.  

Also, look for moisturizing cream rich in antioxidant seaweed extracts such as the Repêchage Hydro-Complex PFS Moisturizing Cream. PFS stands for Pure Filtrate of Seaweed.  This is the exclusive Laminaria Digitata seaweed filtrate made by a proprietary process.  With this, sustainably harvested seaweed from the Coast of Maine is processed into a pure filtrate that retains all of its essential nutrients and antioxidants in its most potent form.

For Dull, Hyperpigmented Skin:  Look for a brightening antioxidant moisturizer such as the Repêchage Biolight® Brightening Day Cream with Seaweed extracts and peptides.  You can boost the antioxidants with a layer of Vitamin C and Watermelon rich Biolight® Brightening Skin Serum.

For Mature Skin: Look for a moisturizer that helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles as well as provide antioxidant protection with seaweed extracts and Niacinamide/Vitamin B3  such as found in the Repêchage Vita Cura® B3 Serum Complex.  For a boost of Vitamin C, try Opti-Firm ® Lift Daytime Moisturizer.

For Dry, Compromised Skin: Look for a moisturizing balm that contains antioxidant rich Mastic Oil combined with seaweed, such as the Repêchage Hydra Dew Pure™ Elixir Balm.

For Sensitive Skin: This skin type can benefit from a serum rich in Quercetin and seaweed extracts, such as the Repêchage Red-Out® Serum.

For Body:  Body skin needs antioxidants as well!  Look for one with seaweed extracts, peptides  and Vitamin C, such as the Repêchage CelluSea Firm™ Neck and Body Serum.

What good habits do you like to incorporate into your summer skin program?  Let us know in the comments.