This blog post is a part of our three-part series of September Skincare Awareness Month: Back-to-basics, Routines, and Vitamin C.

Back-to-basics skincare is about restoration and replenishing. It’s also about building foundational protection and prevention, helping skin move seamlessly into colder, drier Okanagan weather. A basic skincare routine creates consistency and helps you manage and improve your skin’s health. Antioxidants like Vitamin C help to brighten and strengthen the skin while injectables and clinical treatments course-correct, optimize, and enrich the skin, giving you the best skin health results and outcomes. In this three part series, we explain what’s best for your skin and how to introduce antioxidants and Vitamin C plus other cosmetic treatments and injectables once you’ve mastered basics. Now’s your time to shine!

WHAT ARE ANTIOXIDANTS?
Antioxidants are substances (chemical compounds) that work in different ways to protect our cells from free radical (atoms, molecules, or ions) damage. (Free radicals can be accelerated by stress, alcohol, cigarette smoking, sunlight, pollution and other factors. Read more about oxidation and free radicals and antioxidants here.)

HOW DO THEY WORK?
Antioxidants are molecules stable enough to donate an electron to a rampaging free radical and neutralize it. This means they reduce the capacity of free radical damage by delaying or inhibiting cellular damage.

WHY ARE THEY IMPORTANT FOR YOUR SKIN?
Our skin is constantly exposed to free radicals generated by external sources like environmental pollutants or radiation. Antioxidants protect the skin by combating and reducing free radical damage and subsequently, collagen breakdown, inflammation, pigmentation issues, and more.

WHERE CAN I FIND ANTIOXIDANTS?
The best source of antioxidants is found in food. You can introduce antioxidants in your diet naturally and they will support healthier skin. You can also introduce antioxidants through skincare products and treatments.

WHY IS EVERYONE TALKING ABOUT VITAMIN C?
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory ingredient. It can improve the tone and texture of the skin and minimize aging indications. We see it growing in popularity because of its positive effects on the complexion and protection from sun damage and free radicals. In fact, peer-reviewed research has clinically proven that vitamin C and its derivatives improve the elasticity of skin and antioxidant properties.

Read Part Two Next > Reset Your Skincare: The Power of A Basic Routine