Credible Science

Antioxidants are the standout MVPs of any skincare regimen.

At their best, they protect your skin from pollution’s harmful effects. Many serums can come with sunscreen elements to protect against ultraviolet UVA and UVB rays. This radiation can, if not protected against, cause fine lines, hyperpigmentation, even skin cancer. However, there are also antioxidant serums out there that are specially formulated to reduce acne. At A-Cosmetic, we are proud to have formulated a serum that is one of the most powerful antioxidants for acne treatment available.

The skin is the largest organ of the human body. It is a highly complex system that works very hard to protect the rest of the body from extremes of temperature, pathogens, poisons, and other harmful elements. Despite being a strong defender most of the time, it is prone to occasional failure. Exposure to the elements and all the pollutants of modern life can quickly weaken it. Bacteria on its surface can turn against it quickly. Blockages in its pores can become infected. Inflammation can be an opportunity for a variety of skin ailments to take hold. That’s why it’s important to take care of your skin. This is especially important for visible skin. It bears the brunt of the worst our environment has to throw at us. Our hands and particularly our faces can be highly susceptible to radiation, pathogens, and pollutants. That’s why we at A-Cosmetic strive to create products that will be tender to skin as well as dealing effectively with the problems that can be caused by external factors.

Do Antioxidants Hold the Key to Curing Acne?

While sometimes journalists can get carried away with the beneficial properties of antioxidants, the facts don’t lie. Fact one: research indicates that inflammation is a key cause of acne, blocking pores which can cause pimples.. Fact two: oxidative stress, a chemical process caused by molecules called free radicals, damages the skin cells causing all manner of skin conditions. Dark spots, destruction of healing collagen, weakening the skin’s natural elasticity, even harming your DNA. These free radicals are generated by all sources of UV light, including sunshine and tanning beds, as well as pollutants like car fumes, tobacco and marijuana smoke. Fact three: oxidative stress is also responsible for inflammation. Fact four: antioxidants are doubly effective against acne breakouts, as they are effective in neutralizing the effect of free radicals but also facilitating the repair of the inflamed skin. However, antioxidants are not the silver bullet to all forms of acne. There are some types, such as hormonal acne, which will flare up periodically. Good skin care and use of antioxidants can ameliorate but not entirely prevent this damage.

Vitamin C, also known as L-ascorbic acid, is one antioxidant that is prized for its anti-inflammatory properties. It is known to have additional skin benefits. For example, it promotes collagen production, reduces fine lines, and can thicken the dermis (the living tissue beneath the top layer of skin). Over time, it can even lighten hyperpigmentation and dark spots, as well as brightening your general complexion. 

Vitamin A (or its concentrated form, retinol) is popular because it levels skin in many ways, as well as being effective at reducing acne. It smooths fine lines, fills in wrinkles, softens bumps and rough patches, and fades scars and dark marks. It can even help with hormonal cystic acne, which can often be resistant to typical antioxidants. However, it can cause severe dryness and flaky skin until the skin adjusts to it. It can even trigger breakouts in response. Carefully consider if you are combining retinol with vitamin C based antioxidants. Those with sensitive skin can find the combination especially aggravating.

Another popular antioxidant vitamin is vitamin E, or tocopherol. The body naturally distributes vitamin E to the surface of the skin via sebum (skin oil) because of its utility in preventing damage caused by free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS). These highly reactive chemicals cause similar kinds of damage to free radicals. Notably, vitamin E is less effective in preventing sun damage, since it cannot absorb most varieties of UV light. It stands out as a strong antioxidant in terms of moisturizing. However, it’s best used in combination with other antioxidants, such as vitamin C.

Vitamin B3 is also known as niacinamide, found in many types of food such as meat. Topical application of niacinamide improves skin’s hydration, reduces lines, dark spots, and wrinkles. It can also ease inflammation and restore elasticity. Some sunscreens are known to use it. Another B vitamin that exhibits antioxidant qualities is vitamin B5. Pantothenic acid, as it is also called, possesses moisturizing, rejuvenating, and soothing properties. On topical application to the skin, it has been seen to promote skin hydration, reinforce and accelerate rejuvenation of the skin barrier, and reduce damage on the skin’s surface that contributes to irritation.

However, it’s not just vitamins that possess beneficial antioxidant qualities. Did you know that green tea is an antioxidant-rich beverage? The active ingredients of green tea extract, called polyphenols, possess multiple antioxidant effects. They can reduce inflammation, work against carcinogens, and prevent collagen from breaking down. Green tea is prized for its suitability for sensitive skin, since it is excellent at reducing redness and fighting inflammation.

Another type of polyphenol can be found in turmeric root. Curcumin, as it’s called, is excellent at fighting inflammation, protects against sun damage, and has anti-aging and anti-microbial properties. It also accelerates wound healing. Because of its bright color, many beneficial properties, and ease of access, turmeric face masks (often mixed with honey and Greek yogurt) are popular, especially on social media.

Best Antioxidant Treatment for Acne

There have been many exciting developments in the field of acne treatment in the past few decades. UCLA researchers worked on a combination of the popular acne treatment benzoyl peroxide and the antioxidant resveratrol, derived from grapes. They found that while benzoic acid and oxygen would kill the bacteria that contribute to acne, and exfoliate the pores to clean out the skin. In isolation, however, benzoyl peroxide would do little to prevent long-term repopulation of the cutibacterium acnes bacteria. Meanwhile, resveratrol in isolation was not effective at killing C. acnes, but did over time inhibit its propogation. When both worked together, they were able to combine their inherent abilities to significantly reduce bacteria counts over time in a two-pronged attack. The oxidant side effects of benzoyl peroxide were softened by the resveratrol, meaning that the combination was more suitable for sensitive skin.

Even more encouraging is the serum that A-Cosmetic has innovated. It harnesses the antioxidant power of protocatechuic acid (PCA) to reduce inflammation and kill C. acnes and other harmful bacteria. PCA is an entirely natural substance. As well as being found in grapes, blueberries, cherries, açaí berries, tree leaves and pine needles, it’s also produced in the human gut. A-Cosmetic pairs it with the humectant propylene glycol, to help the skin retain more of its moisture while dealing with the causes of acne. Our antioxidant serum won’t dry out your skin like other skin care products.

If you’re interested in finding out more about how A-Cosmetic’s antioxidant for acne relief works and how you can get your own, we encourage you to peruse our website. We’re very proud of the scientific process by which we came to perfecting our serum, and we’re sure you’ll be pleased with the results!