Why You Should Wear Your Antioxidants, And Eat Them Too

Maddie Cochran

Less than 3 minutes / February 10, 2024
Why You Should Wear Your Antioxidants, And Eat Them Too

There’s a reason why everyone harps on about antioxidants, they have the potential to be your skin’s very best mate/bodyguard. So use them! Eat them! (We’ll get to that in a sec.) 

What is an antioxidant?

Antioxidants are naturally occurring substances in the body that play a very important role in your overall health and wellbeing. Antioxidants in skincare formulas, however, are molecules that help to fight some of the most visible signs of ageing. Among those: wrinkles, loss of elasticity, and pigmentation. 

But ‘anti’ sounds kind of negative, no?

Suuuure. But think about antibiotics, antidotes…how they combat The Bag Things. Antioxidants are out here helping to neutralise any damaging effects of oxidation or oxidative stress. They ensure free radicals or environmental pressures - air pollution, UV radiation, second-hand smoke, pesticides, alcohol consumption, poor nutrition - do not provide lasting harm to your skin. 

Are there different types of antioxidants?

So many. Too many, almost. But here’s a few that are commonly used at Go-To:

Vitamin A: Also known as retinal or retinol. Increases the rate at which skin cells turnover, stimulating new and healthy growth. Encourages collagen production for a plumper and firmer looking face. In some cases (ours!) it is clinically proven to reduce the appearance of wrinkles. Best for more mature skin types as this antioxidant is very active.

Vitamin B3: Helps to maintain the skin’s natural protective barrier, which is key to preventing moisture loss and avoiding dehydration. Gives your skin a brighter, fresher appearance. Great for sensitive skin types or people with unwanted redness.

Vitamin C: Regarded as the gold standard for daily maintenance and correction of dark spots. Protects the skin from environmental damage long term but also enhances luminosity in the short term. Works beautifully in tandem with your SPF. Beneficial for all ages and all skin types.

But I should be eating them too?

Totally. A diet rich in a variety of antioxidants may help to reduce your risk of disease. 

“Much like oxidation can wreak havoc on the outside, internally, free radical damage/oxidative stress is linked to many chronic health problems, as well as changes associated with early ageing,” explains Al Thursfield, founder, recipe developer, chef hat wearer-er of Daily Food. 

“Luckily antioxidants work as little scavengers (think: Pacman) which is why it’s really important to ensure we’re getting lots of antioxidants in our diet to act as our bodyguards. They do eventually get consumed in the free radical fighting process, which is why you want to ensure they are a daily staple in your diet. The good news? That’s the really easy part, eating whole plant foods.”

You should be reaching for pumpkins, mangoes, apricots, spinach, given their beta-carotene content. You should be nibbling on grapes and berries for their anthocyanin content. You should be loading your trolley with avocado, nuts, seeds, because they’re rich in vitamin e. You should be searing seafood and lean meat for its zinc too. 

But you don’t have to skimp on the 'treats', either. Just find the antioxidant-rich alternative. Daily Food’s Berry Antioxidant Super Bites, for example, are a fudgy mix of nuts, seeds, berries, dipped in organic dark chocolate “which has a high concentration of antioxidants called polyphenols. Always look for the blocks with a percentage above 65%.”

Convinced? Good. Here’s a handy shopping list we prepared earlier.