Antioxidants for Sensitive Skin

The thing with sensitive skin is, no cause or condition can be the culprit to why you might not be able to tolerate certain products or treatments. When it comes to sensitive skin, a lot of the time you may need to experience some kind of irritation or adverse reaction to even know that your skin is sensitive.

Sensitive skin is caused by several things, including genetics, improper product use, medication, illness and environmental influences. If you have skin sensitivity you may need to incorporate a variety of antioxidant ingredients in your daily routine which may be better suited than Vitamin C which a lot of people gravitate towards. 

What are antioxidants and why are they important?

To understand antioxidants, you first need to understand free radicals. Free radicals are unstable atoms that lose or have lose an electron in their outer orbit, seeking out other electrons in the body to become a pair. While free radicals occur naturally in the body, lifestyle choices, environment and food intake are some factors that can increase the number of free radicals in the body. Damage from free radicals can potentially cause cancer and other serious diseases. While we can’t control the number of free radicals in our bodies, we can do our best to protect against the potential damage they create.

This is where antioxidants come in. Their job is to fight and protect us against the potential damage of free radicals. How they do that is by donating one of their electrons to the free radical. Sounds complicated, I know but here are a list of antioxidants for sensitive skin.

Vitamin A

If you have sensitive skin and cannot tolerate Vitamin C, then Vitamin A may actually be a bit too harsh as well. Basically, Vitamin A is an antioxidant that can promote a healthy dermis and epidermis while speeding healing and preventing breakouts. It’s typically found in serums that specifically target aging skin. You can mostly see it as retinol which is a derivative of Vitamin A. It can be highly effective and helps to stimulate collagen production and cell renewal for more bouncy and radiant looking skin. 

Vitamin E

This may very well be one of the first ingredients that most people think of when it comes to healing and repairing the skin. Many people use Vitamin E for burns, bites and dryness. This antioxidant can accelerate wound healing in the skin and strengthen the skin’s barrier. It’s also a natural anti-inflammatory that can help soothe sensitive skin. It can be used directly from the capsule that you get as a supplement or can be found in various creams, oils & serums.

Green Tea

Green tea contains polyphenols which are powerful antioxidants. They have anti-inflammatory abilities that can help treat redness and irritation, which can significantly benefit sensitive skin. Green tea can also prevent premature aging as it helps prevent the breakdown of collagen. It can also boost the skin’s immunity, fight off bacteria that causes breakouts and strengthen the skin’s allergenic defenses. 

Resveratrol

This is another natural antioxidant that is found in fruits such as red grapes, blueberries and cranberries. When used topically it can help protect the skin’s surface from ultraviolet radiation and other negative environmental influences. What makes it a good option for sensitive skin is its ability to calm the skin and minimize redness. 

Niacinamide

Niacinamide helps keep the skin firm and healthy by renewing and restoring the surface from moisture loss and dehydration. The antioxidant strengthens a barrier of ceramide that helps it lock in moisture and prevent environmental damage. It also reduces inflammation and eases redness caused by eczema and acne. If you have rosacea-prone skin you could definitely benefit for using Niacinamide.

Keep in mind, not all sensitive skin will react the same to every product so of course its important to be aware of this when adding new ingredients to your regimen!