A facial serum becomes a tremendously useful option when it comes to completing any skin routine. Although it is true that its choice and use will depend directly on the different active ingredients used in its concentration, the reality is that any type of skin can take advantage of most of its benefits and properties, since in most cases it is suitable and does not cause adverse reactions.
They basically consist of products designed for use within the skin care routine, because they tend to complete it to the fullest. In fact, although dermatologists agree that, indeed, it is an option rather than an obligation (that is, they are not essential), they do confirm that it is worth taking the additional step of integrating it into the beauty regimen, since it must be applied after the facial cleanser or toner, and before the moisturizer or moisturizer.
As we have already explained to you on different occasions, a facial serum is a concentrated formula, which contains a much larger and more powerful dose of active ingredients (compared, for example, with moisturizing creams) that help to hydrate and nourish the skin from the deeper layers. However, this doesn’t mean we should throw out the moisturizer and substitute our favorite serum. On the contrary, when it comes to obtaining the best results, it is always best to incorporate a facial serum and a moisturizing cream. daily, since although they are designed to provide an extra boost of hydration, they are not designed to become a complete hydration step.
In the case of an antioxidant serum, as its name suggests, we are dealing with a facial serum that provides antioxidant qualities, since it has been specially formulated with active ingredients that have this quality, among many other benefits.
However, it is true that there are so many options available on the market that choosing the most suitable one for our skin can end up becoming an arduous and complicated task. Vitamin C serum, with retinol, with hyaluronic acid… The key is to find only one that helps us meet the different needs of our skin, and that helps us meet the goals we want to achieve.
And why should you add an antioxidant serum to your beauty regimen? It becomes, without a doubt, an excellent and tremendously useful option when it comes to protecting the skin against the action of free radicals, which tend to negatively influence the appearance of oxidative stress, and when there is an overproduction of these Unstable molecules can influence the appearance of some of the main signs of premature aging, such as fine lines, wrinkles and problems related to hyperpigmentation (such as the formation of dark spots).
But where to start and which antioxidant serum should we choose? To help you in the process of choosing, below we offer you a useful guide that will be very helpful in this regard, where we will analyze which ones are the most suitable based on their characteristics, formulation, active ingredients and basic benefits. Do you dare to discover them? Choosing between one or the other will not only depend on the specific needs of your skin, but will also have to do with your own personal tastes.
Nezeni Cosmetics Vitamin C Serum
The Nezeni Cosmetics brand has developed a wonderful serum with vitamin C that has become one of our favorite facial serums, mainly because in addition to containing all the power of stable vitamin C (the best option when it comes to taking advantage of all its qualities and benefits), also has aloe vera and hyaluronic acid in its formulation, among many others and that we will discover in the next lines.
It is an excellent option to rehydrate, redensify and restore the natural flexibility of the skin, as well as its splendor, ideal to integrate into any skin care routine in which we want to complete the rehydrating qualities of the moisturizing cream. In addition, one of its main advantages is that it can be used both in the morning and at night, so if we use it twice a day we will even be able to maximize its benefits.
And what ingredients do we find in its formulation? Here we go to discover them:
- stable vitamin C. It is a vitamin C glycoside; with which it is possible to provide absolutely all the vitamins that this vitamin provides. You will find it in the list of ingredients under the name of ‘Ascorbyl Glucoside’, and it exerts an interesting antioxidant function, preventing oxidative stress on the skin, as well as having anti-aging, rejuvenating, illuminating and plumping qualities.
- Hyaluronic acid. On this occasion we are faced with a high molecular weight hyaluronic acid, which has been obtained biotechnologically, and which provides moisturizing and protective, film-forming and filling qualities for both fine lines of expression and wrinkles. It also has a precursor of hyaluronic acid, which provides the skin with both a moisturizing and restructuring action at a global level, which goes from the stratum corneum to the basal layer. In short, it is capable of trapping water molecules on the surface of the skin, retaining moisture, and is even faster and more effective than HA when it comes to moisturizing the skin almost immediately.
- Fucogel. It provides almost immediate hydration, and is also maintained in the long term. It consists of a polysaccharide, especially rich in fructose, which has been obtained by biofermentation. It provides extremely interesting moisturizing qualities, which help to prolong the moisturizing effect of the product, providing a much softer touch to the skin.
- Aloe vera gel. Of ecological origin, it is very likely that you already know some of the benefits provided by aloe vera gel, a wonderful mucilaginous liquid that is obtained from the pulp of leaves from aloe vera, and that provides soothing, anti-inflammatory, softening and moisturizing. For this reason, it becomes an excellent option for those with sensitive skin.
As we have mentioned in the previous lines, although it can be used once a day (preferably integrating it into the night care routine), it is also possible to apply it twice a day, so if we do it this way we will be able to make the most of it. of all its moisturizing and antioxidant qualities.
Main advantages of Nezeni Cosmetics Vitamin C Serum:
- High concentration of stable vitamin C, ideal to enjoy all its moisturizing and antioxidant qualities.
- It also contains organic aloe vera gel, fucogel and hyaluronic acid in its formulation.
- Helps to rehydrate, redensify and restore the natural flexibility of the skin.
ELBBUB Vitamin C Serum for Face
From the hands of the ELBBUB brand comes a very powerful vitamin C serum ideal for applying directly to the skin of the face, which stands out mainly for having a high content of this vitamin. Specifically, it has a 20 percent content of vitamin C, which, as we have already mentioned on different occasions, provides excellent antioxidant benefits, minimizing the negative action of free radicals, and in turn avoiding oxidative stress. which tends to be related to premature aging and also to the onset of chronic diseases.
But not only does it have vitamin C. It also has vitamin E, which also stands out as an active ingredient with recognized antioxidant action, even as powerful as vitamin C.
It also has hyaluronic acid, ideal for actively moisturizing the skin, by helping to attract and retain all the moisture present in the environment, creating a kind of useful moisturizing barrier to prevent water loss, so common in the case of habitually dry skin. or parched
In addition to its antioxidant qualities, it also provides an anti-aging effect, mainly due to its content of anti-aging active ingredients, so that it helps to smooth fine lines and wrinkles, even reducing dark spots.
It becomes, therefore, an ideal option to take care of the skin naturally, by reducing wrinkles, expression lines and spots that usually arise as a result of sun exposure and the passing of the years (sunspots), helping by so much so that the skin feels much softer and, in turn, looks much smoother and younger.
It is an interesting option for dry or sensitive skin, thanks to the fact that it is perfectly free of parabens, dyes and other harmful chemicals. In short, it is ideal for those who want to enjoy an antioxidant serum full of benefits for the skin, helping to actively regenerate and hydrate it.
To use it, you only need to apply between 2 to 3 drops once a week after your facial cleansing routine. Therefore, unlike other serums (which could be used every day), the brand on this occasion recommends using it only once a week. To apply it, he recommends doing so by means of a gentle massage, when the skin is still damp (which will help to hydrate it even more, if possible), and by gently tapping.
Main advantages of ELBBUB vitamin C face serum:
- High content of vitamin C, a well-known vitamin with antioxidant qualities. Specifically, its formula has a vitamin C content that reaches 20 percent.
- It also has vitamin E, antioxidant action.
- In addition to hyaluronic acid, which acts by actively moisturizing the skin from the outside, right from the moment the serum is applied.
- Helps provide useful antioxidants to prevent oxidative stress and reduce the damaging action of free radicals.
- Useful to achieve younger, smoother, hydrated and softer skin, by acting directly on expression lines, wrinkles and even age spots.
- Ideal for dry and sensitive skin, thanks to the fact that it does not contain harmful chemicals, parabens and dyes.
- It can be used day and night, and although the brand recommends using it once a week, to fully enjoy its qualities you can use it two or three times a week.
Florence Organic Face Serum with Pure Hyaluronic Acid
If you are looking for a powerful facial serum in terms of its antioxidant qualities, the one developed by the Florence brand is possibly one of the most interesting, in addition to being one of the most valued on the market, with the majority of opinions positive. It is an organic facial serum with pure hyaluronic acid (one hundred percent of organic origin), which also has vitamin C and E, both of recognized antioxidant action.
All its ingredients are of vegan origin, so that it provides anti-wrinkle and anti-aging qualities, useful for reducing fine lines and wrinkles, and is suitable even for the delicate area around the eyes, because it does not contain ingredients that can be irritants.
Among its natural ingredients, in addition to the aforementioned hyaluronic acid, vitamin C and vitamin E, it also contains jojoba oil and aloe vera, which penetrates the subcutaneous layers of the skin to provide much more intense and active hydration. In addition, in combination, all these active ingredients are capable of stimulating the natural production of collagen, so that in a short time we can enjoy youthful and radiantly beautiful skin.
It is an excellent option even when it comes to refreshing the skin almost immediately, especially when it has been damaged by the action of the sun. In addition, its application on mature, damaged and aged skin is interesting, including those that usually have symptoms of fatigue.
Main advantages of Florence organic facial serum:
- Contains natural ingredients of bio origin.
- Useful to combat wrinkles and fine lines caused by aging.
- Ideal for reducing those known as “crow’s feet”, thanks to the fact that it can be applied to the delicate skin around the eyes.
- Helps reduce scars caused by acne.
- Removes dark spots caused by the sun.
- It can stimulate the production of natural collagen.
- Thanks to its hyaluronic acid content, it can actively tone and moisturize the skin.
In short, it becomes an extremely useful and interesting option when we want to protect and rejuvenate the skin thanks to its high content of natural antioxidants. In fact, we must not forget that vitamin E is capable of accelerating cell regeneration, while vitamin C goes far beyond being a mere active ingredient with antioxidant qualities. So we are, possibly, facing one of the most complete facial serums on the market.
SatinNaturel Organic Retinol Hyaluronic Acid Face Serum
Awarded as one of the best cosmetic products this year, from the hands of the SatinNaturel brand comes a facial serum that is mainly characterized by containing two basic ingredients in its formulation: retinol and hyaluronic acid, both completely natural and of organic origin, in addition -also, vitamin C and aloe vera.
Specifically, its formulation has a 3% sustained-release retinol system, as well as a complex with 25% vitamin C, helping to improve the appearance of the skin notably while we sleep, since by containing this vitamin derivative A, it is as essential as it is essential to always apply it at night, in the night skin care routine.
Remember that retinol helps promote a much smoother skin surface, thanks to the fact that it accelerates cell renewal in the upper layer of the skin, in addition to stimulating the natural production of collagen in the lower layers. Not in vain, different scientific studies have found that retinol -a derivative of vitamin A- becomes an extremely interesting active ingredient to counteract many of the visible signs of aging, by becoming an effective anti-aging agent.
In addition to vitamin C and organic aloe vera, it also contains two other suitable ingredients: argan and coconut oil, which are combined with each other to dramatically improve their benefits on the skin.
It is a useful option to protect the skin against the action of free radicals, stimulating cell renewal in the upper layers of the skin, reducing the degradation or destruction of collagen (normal and commonly related to age), and it is also suitable to reduce dark spots related to pigmentation problems.
The best of all? SatinNaturel only develops organic and vegan natural cosmetics, which means that they are ideal for all those people who follow a vegan lifestyle, since not only does it contain ingredients of one hundred percent natural origin, but each and every one of its products does not They have not been tested or tested on animals. So it is perfectly free of animal cruelty. On the other hand, like the rest of the products developed by the brand, its formulation does not contain parabens, microplastics or sulfates.
Key Benefits of SatinNaturel Organic Retinol Face Serum:
- High content of ingredients of natural origin, most of organic origin (bio).
- Contains pure hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, organic retinol, argan and coconut oil.
- Protects the skin against the action of free radicals
- It stimulates cell renewal in the upper layers of the skin.
- It decreases the degradation of collagen, also stimulating its production and synthesis.
- Reduces dark spots, avoiding or preventing pigmentation problems.
- Does not contain sulfates, parabens or microplastics.
- Suitable for vegans, because in addition to containing only ingredients of natural origin, it is free of animal cruelty.
ISDIN Isdinceutics Flavo-C Ultraglican: Antioxidant facial serum with proteoglycans
It is very possible that you already know the prestigious ISDIN brand, and that you even have one of its products on your bathroom shelf. On this occasion, within its Isdinceutics line we find Flavo-C Ultraglican, a facial serum with antioxidants that also contains proteoglycans as one of its most important and interesting active ingredients.
It comes in a solution in ampoules that stands out mainly for containing a wonderful and excellent combination of useful ingredients to help the skin recover -and maintain- all its luminosity and shine. In fact, its three main ingredients tend to complement and combine with each other.
This is the case, for example, of vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant useful for protecting the skin from damage caused by free radicals, as well as helping to activate collagen production and restore its natural radiance. It also has hyaluronic acid, which rejuvenates facial skin mainly due to its high capacity to retain and bind water, thereby restoring the different levels of hydration. And, finally, we find one of the most curious: a combination of proteoglycans and pre-proteoglycans useful in maintaining skin hydration, acting directly on its support structures, by reinforcing them.
An undoubtedly excellent option for those who wish to provide the skin with natural antioxidants, useful to protect it and, in addition, when fighting the main signs of aging (such as wrinkles, fine lines and blemishes), by acting directly on them, reducing them.
The brand recommends using the product in the morning, on clean and dry skin, usually after applying the cleanser and facial toner. It is advisable to use the content equivalent to half of the ampoule, so that one ampoule will give you two applications. Of course, although it can be applied to the skin of the face, neck and neckline, the area around the eyes should be avoided. When applying it, it should be carried out with a light and gentle massage, to ensure that the product can be completely absorbed.
Main advantages of ISDIN Isdinceutics Flavo-C Ultraglican:
- Contains vitamin C, hyaluronic acid and ultraglycans (proteoglycans and pre-proteoglycans).
- Helps reduce the action of free radicals on the skin.
- Restores the skin’s natural hydration levels.
- Treats the main signs of aging.
- Activates collagen production.
What is an antioxidant serum and what benefits does its regular use offer?
As we have already seen, it is true that although facial serums are not entirely essential in a skin care routine (in the same way that it happens, it must be said, with facial toners), they do help to complete it and even to improve it to the maximum, since they can be extremely useful in helping the moisturizer work even better, if possible, and we also provide the skin with a series of active ingredients in high concentrations, so that with a minimum and very small application we will be enjoying all the qualities that the ingredients included in its formula offer us.
In the case of an antioxidant serum, there is no doubt that, as its name might help to indicate, we are looking at a facial serum that is particularly rich in active ingredients with antioxidant qualities. It is true that they can be antioxidants in themselves (as, for example, could be the case of polyphenols or vitamin C), or they can include certain principles that, in addition to other qualities and benefits, provide antioxidant properties.
And it is that antioxidants such as vitamin C are not only beneficial for our body when we consume it, for example, from citrus fruits and other fruits and vegetables that stand out mainly for their high content in it. They are also great for the skin. Not surprisingly, dermatologists themselves tend to praise them and even indicate that they are essential for each person’s skin care regimen. They also state that an antioxidant serum is a must for any skincare routine., since, as we will analyze in the next section, these active compounds are capable of protecting the skin by reducing -and counteracting- the production of free radicals, which can attack the skin in a tremendously negative way, by creating oxidative stress and damaging healthy skin cells.
They are useful not only to protect our skin from this negative action, but can even be extremely useful in helping to reduce problems related to pigmentation, as well as fine lines and wrinkles. So what are the benefits of integrating an antioxidant facial serum into our skincare routine?
They help protect the skin against the action of free radicals
This is possibly one of the best known and most popular benefits of free radicals. The truth is that these molecules play a curious role in our body, since they can be beneficial or end up being harmful to health. Did you know that our body creates free radicals on purpose in order to neutralize viruses and bacteria? However, too much quantity (that is, overproduction) ends up affecting lipids, proteins and DNA, and can trigger different diseases.
This is mainly because free radicals are unstable and highly reactive molecules that possess one or more unpaired electrons. To gain stability -and this is precisely where the problem lies-, they tend to attack molecules that are stable, triggering a reaction that ends up damaging healthy cells. Once that overload of free radicals is in our body, it causes oxidative stress or an imbalance between the production of free radicals and the body’s natural ability to detoxify or counteract their most harmful effects.
Fortunately, including antioxidants in your daily skincare regimen goes a long way in helping your skin better fight free radicals while recovering from oxidative stress.
They can help correct the main signs of aging
Oxidative stress tends to break down collagen, which becomes the indispensable bonding element that helps skin stay as smooth, firm and elastic as possible. Although natural collagen production decreases by about 1% each year from the age of 20, oxidative stress can play an insidious role. In addition, it hinders the skin’s natural repair process, and can end up triggering inflammation.
Due to this, different expression lines and wrinkles begin to appear on the skin (even before time), as well as acne breakouts and problems related to pigmentation, such as dark spots.
However, by scavenging free radicals, antioxidants can go a long way in preventing and correcting many of these visible signs of aging, giving skin a much younger, healthier looking glow.
They can be helpful in preventing sunburn (and sun damage)
Although ultraviolet rays are healthy for our body in their fair measure (since our body uses them to synthesize and produce vitamin D), exposing ourselves to the sun without proper protection can end up doing more harm than good. In the case of antioxidants, it is true that, by definition, they provide anti-inflammatory qualities.
Among other interesting aspects, they are capable of reducing the inflammatory response of the skin to the harmful rays of the sun, so they can be extremely useful when it comes to protecting us against sun damage, avoiding sunburn, and preventing photoaging (premature aging caused by the sun).
They help the skin to repair itself
Did you know that when the skin is inflamed it is not able to activate its natural rejuvenation process? Antioxidants are especially interesting in this regard by reducing inflammation, thus allowing the skin to repair itself and correct the most visible damage.
In the case of vitamin C, for example, it can also help stimulate the production and synthesis of collagen, which, as we have seen, is essential to enjoy much younger, better-looking skin.
They can be helpful in lightening skin tone
Both free radicals and frequent exposure to the sun can end up triggering different changes in the production of melanin in our skin, causing the appearance or formation of dark spots, as well as an uneven tone.
Antioxidants act by reducing the photodamage caused by ultraviolet rays, and can help prevent abnormal skin pigmentation from occurring. Furthermore, some antioxidants such as vitamin C can even act as inhibitors of tyrosinase, an enzyme that stimulates the production of melanin.
They can help prevent skin cancer
Some natural antioxidants, such as vitamins A, C and E, provide anticancer qualities, so by protecting the skin against the action of ultraviolet rays (and free radicals naturally produced by the body as a result of exposure to solar), can also be very useful in preventing skin cancer.
What antioxidant ingredients to find in your serum?
Although many ingredients have antioxidant qualities, there is no doubt that it is always better to know which are the most powerful -and the most suitable-, so as not to waste time and opt only for those facial serums whose composition (specifically, in their list of ingredients)) contain them. Remember, yes, that in the list of ingredients of any product you will first find those that appear in its formula in greater quantity, so you should always choose those serums that contain antioxidants among the first 6.
Therefore, an excellent option is to discover which are some of the most interesting, such as those that we will summarize below. Take note:
- Vitamin C. Possibly one of the best known and most popular antioxidant vitamins in any beauty routine. We can find it in the form of L-ascorbic acid in many facial serums, and we could say that it is the definitive antioxidant when it comes to counteracting the typical symptoms of dull and tired skin. It is useful for moisturizing and soothing the skin, and just like retinol (an active ingredient derived from vitamin A) does, it is capable of increasing collagen production in order to tighten fine lines of expression, and smooth the texture and uneven skin. However, it is known that after 6 to 8 weeks of daily use, vitamin C is able to reduce hyperpigmentation and dark spots, lightening the skin tone in general.
- Green tea extract. This drink is a real wonder when we consume it internally, but the truth is that it also provides excellent qualities for the skin of the face. It’s packed with polyphenols that not only tend to scavenge free radicals, but can also be extremely helpful in speeding up wound healing by working as a natural anti-inflammatory. It also provides calming qualities, making it a useful option when we have any type of skin condition such as rosacea or psoriasis, or sensitive skin or even acne-related problems.
- Vitamin E. Along with vitamin C, it becomes another of the most well-known vitamins -and recognized- for its qualities and antioxidant benefits. Also known under the name of tocopherol, it becomes a wonderful anti-inflammatory of natural origin that acts as a powerful shield against the action of free radicals and premature aging. It helps, for example, when it comes to keeping the skin much softer and more flexible, essential for, among other things, preventing the formation of scars.
- Vitamin A. It is another vitamin with antioxidant qualities, although it is true that it tends to be less known in this regard. It is an active ingredient that is actually pretty much the same thing as retinol (in fact, retinol is basically concentrated vitamin A). It helps smooth fine lines while filling in wrinkles, fades scars and dark spots, can go a long way in dramatically reducing acne, and smoothes rough skin patches and bumps. Since it can end up being slightly irritating, especially at first and particularly on sensitive and reactive skin, it is advisable to apply it only at night. In addition, it stimulates collagen production and fights free radical damage,
There are also other active ingredients with antioxidant qualities that are just as interesting and useful as the previous ones. This is the case, for example, of resveratrol, a compound of chemical origin that we find mainly in the skins of fruits such as berries and grapes (as well as in tea, red wine and peanuts), and which consists of a substance antimicrobial that plants produce naturally in order to protect themselves from environmental pollution, intense ultraviolet radiation and infections. In this sense, some studies have shown that it can be very interesting when it comes to fighting skin cancer, by increasing the activity of mitochondria, commonly known as the “power” of cells, thereby promoting a much longer cell life.
Niacinamide is another of those ingredients that could not be missing from our antioxidant serum. Also known as vitamin B3, it becomes a powerful natural antioxidant capable of improving both the texture and tone of the skin, as well as providing anti-inflammatory properties, reducing problems related to hyperpigmentation and reducing fine lines and wrinkles. It is suitable for practically any skin type, and is often used to treat acne breakouts or rosacea.
When we talked about green tea extract, we mentioned polyphenols as one of its most interesting antioxidant compounds. That’s right. And it is that they consist of antioxidant compounds that have immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, being extremely useful when it comes to preventing and avoiding photodamage caused by ultraviolet rays. Not in vain that have been published to date have shown that the topical use of ingredients rich in polyphenols can be of some help in improving the natural defense of our skin against the action of oxidative stress, being able to inhibit skin cancer and prevent premature aging of the skin.
Coenzyme Q10 is another of those ingredients with antioxidant qualities that we could find in our favorite facial serum. Also known by the name of ubiquinone, it consists of a natural substance that, like collagen, elastin or hyaluronic acid, tends to slowly decrease in our body, which tends to make us more susceptible to photoaging and the formation of wrinkles and fine lines of expression. In this regard, it might be able to help fight most of the damage caused by free radicals, keeping the skin cells perfectly healthy. It is a compound that can be quickly and easily absorbed by the skin, and also works by stimulating collagen production, which in turn improves both skin texture and elasticity.
Flavonoids are an antioxidant that we also find in green tea (and black tea), and that can help reduce oxidative stress, inflammation and have some potential when it comes to treating rosacea. They are able to absorb ultraviolet light and modulate signaling pathways that influence cell function, preventing photodamage and photoaging. They can also act by reducing collagen degradation, inhibiting skin cancer and delaying premature aging.
And we finish with another of the equally interesting antioxidant ingredients: glutathione. It consists of a very powerful natural antioxidant, useful for the protection of vital organs and cell repair. It is suitable for detoxifying the skin and reducing the appearance of wrinkles, thereby enjoying a much more flexible and smooth skin.