We are all quite aware of how damaging UV rays are to our skin, but are you aware that while the sun may be the skins’ worst enemy, another enemy lurks; resulting in signs of premature ageing? This my friends is called pollution, and with pollution levels at the highest they’ve been in history, it is quickly becoming one of the most widespread threats to human health.
High levels of air pollution damage the skin’s barrier function, making it more susceptible to oxidative damage from free radicals. When faced with these environmental assaults, the skin must focus on neutralising oxidative damage, limiting its capacity for reparative functions, which may lead to premature aging.
If your skin appears excessively oily, rough in texture or increasingly sensitive, the ozone may be to blame. While you may think it’s just a phase in your skin’s condition, failing to address the issue could be making you older, with tell tale signs of fine lines, wrinkles and sagging skin – and who want’s that?
Today, I’ve teamed up with Skinceuticals to tell you more about two of their powerful antioxidants which can help to prevent the impact of ozone damage to your skin.
In preparation for my Fraxel Dual Laser treatment, and during the first and second laser, I used Skinceuticals Phloretin CF – a triple action antioxidant. It is a fuss free serum that once applied, soaks into your skin in seconds and gives you 72 hours of antioxidant protection.
I used it for one month prior to my laser and throughout my first and second laser treatments. On my third laser treatment, I had run out of Phloretin CF, and could actually feel how much longer it took my skin to recover. I had redness and inflammation which I definitely think, had I had antioxidant protection, could have been drastically minimised.
Right now, I’m trying out a different antioxidant from Skinceuticals called C E Ferulic. CE Ferulic, like Phloretin CF is also a powerful antioxidant but has higher concentrations of Vitamin C (15%) + E, whereas Phloretin CF is a combination of Vitamin C (10%) + phloretin.
C E Ferulic also absorbs quickly into the skin and the Vitamin C content, as in the antioxidant protection, remains effective, again for 72 hours.
They both work as antioxidant protection for your skin, the difference just depends on what combinations you are looking for. There’s a fantastic article on the difference between the two and which one to choose over on FutureDerm that’s definitely worth a read.
I switched mainly because I wanted to try them both out and see which antioxidant I preferred, but I think CE Ferulic is going to stick around longer in my skincare routine. Simply because the combination of Vitamin C and Vitamin E work as effective antioxidants with and without sunscreens. Now don’t get me wrong, I never go a day without sunscreen, but the fact that I’ll get even stronger protection against UVA and UVB rays in addition to Vitamin C and Vitamin E is perfect for my pigmentation prone skin.
Antioxidants are the best way to protect your skin, and ensuring you combine these with a broad spectrum sunscreen, such as Skinceuticals Ultra Facial Defrense SPF 50, will provide the most complete protection against visible aging caused by environmental aggressors.
Do you use an antioxidant in your skincare regime?
xo
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