How to super boost your actives

We all know that antioxidants in our topical skincare are some of the most potent actives going around. But as founder of Script Skincare, Associate Professor Greg Goodman explains, there is a lot of merit in eating your antioxidants too.

Antioxidants are anti-inflammatory, cancer fighting and protect against the sun (both UVA and UVB). They also aid in fighting skin infection, help regulate our immune responses, improve blood flow and may increase collagen production, which improves skin texture.

EATING YOUR WAY TO HEALTHY SKIN EXPLAINED

“There are many reasons to use diet to add to our antioxidant supply,” Goodman says. “Firstly, ALL of our organs need antioxidants, and this is the only way to get these important protective substances to our internal organs.”

Our largest organ is our skin and it too benefits from eating antioxidants.

Goodman goes on, “We are privileged when dealing with the skin, as we have both a dietary route of delivery for antioxidants, but also a topical delivery route through skincare. This gives us twice the opportunity to deliver these agents to the skin.”

There are many types of skin lesions that occur because of nutritional deficiency, which provide a visual correlation between what we eat and the health and appearance of our skin, and it is for this reason Goodman is an advocate of a diet that is heavily plant-based.

To watch an interview with Script Skincare founder Assoc Professor Greg Goodman where we learn a whole lot about ageing, antioxidants, plant-based diets and yep, even how climate change impacts the skin – click here.

THE BENEFITS

Listed are just some of the benefits of implementing an antioxidant rich diet to enhance your skin.

1. IMPROVE SKIN DISEASES

Skin diseases such as rosacea and eczema can benefit by diet, firstly by avoiding foods that are triggers and secondly, if you eat plenty of antioxidants you reduce the need to apply them via your skincare when experiencing flareup.

2. SIDE STEP SENSITIVITY

Although companies work hard to produce formulations and delivery systems that are suitable for sensitive skin, there is a very small group of people who have very sensitive skin, which may stop them using any form of active skincare, including antioxidants on their skin. Therefore, some benefits can be gained by eating them instead.

3. IT’S AN AFFORDABLE OPTION

Changing your diet is the most affordable thing you can do for your skin. We all have to eat so making smart choices can help our skin and reduce the need to spend on skincare.

 “The truth is that some people just don’t have the time or money for a multi-step skincare routine and are more likely to stick to a diet than use creams for the same purpose,” says Goodman.

SKIN PLEASING FOODS

The best way to eat for your skin is by being adventurous and trying fruits and vegetables exhibiting as many different colours as possible including orange, red, yellow, green and purple. Nature is smart and made these foods look appealing in order to tempt you as they are loaded with goodness. Each colour has its particular strong points so eating a variety of colours is best.

You will note we left out white. Think about an apple, what part of the fruit gives it its vibrant colour? The skin, and this is where the goodness is. While we certainly don’t advocate wasting the flesh, we definitely don’t believe in ever peeling away the antioxidant rich outside.

“Elements in our diet, especially sugars but also saturated fatty acids are damaging and produce ageing and health side effects,” says Goodman.

DO ACTIVES CONTAINING ANTIOXIDANTS HAVE A PLACE THEN?

Absolutely, remember that our supply of antioxidants is being depleted constantly by the very environment we live in, so the key is to bolster reserves in as many ways as possible. If our topical antioxidants are being supplied directly to the skin, what we eat can be reserved to help out our other organs.

Antioxidants are classed as preventative, “this means they are behind the scenes, mopping up nasty things that have the potential to do you harm,” says Goodman. “Their job is to stop the problems before you see them.”

SO WHAT ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF ACTIVE SKINCARE THAT CONTAINS POTENT ANTIOXIDANTS? 

Synergie Skin SupremaC+,

is a complex of vitamin C, mandelic and ferulic acid, this powerful antioxidant-rich serum reduces the appearance of hyperpigmentation and tackles photo-ageing (scroll below to view).

SkinCeuticals Resveratrol BE,

this antioxidant cocktail neutralises free radicals, supports skin’s natural antioxidant defences, revealing firmer skin (scroll below to view.)

Skinbetter Science, Alto, Defense Serum™,

contains a whooping 19 antioxidants,  in this hard-to-beat formula, which targets premature ageing, redness and pigmentation (scroll below to view).