The Best Topical Antioxidants For Pre

The best way to deal with sun damage is to not get it in the first place. And to avoid UV damage, we encourage folks to practice smart sun care—which not only involves wearing sunscreen (peep our favorites here) but also utilizing accessories and avoiding peak hours when possible. Because, ultimately, sunshine is vital to our overall health, so it's important we figure out how to enjoy it responsibly.

One way to bolster your sun protection is to utilize antioxidants that can curb UV-induced free radicals, which ultimately means less collagen degradation, pigmentation issues, and cell damage.

"While it is not classified as SPF, it does increase the skin's resistance to the sun by a little bit and is an excellent choice as a base layer before sunscreen," board-certified dermatologist Rebecca Marcus, M.D., says about repairing skin from sun damage. Using antioxidant-rich topicals post-sun, too, can help counteract and repair photoaging.

Here, three antioxidants to try for your pre- and post-sun care.

A nutrient-dense, non-greasy oil that locks in moisture

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Safflower seed oil is a botanical oil rich in essential fatty acids and antioxidants, including a very special flavonoid called acacetin. A 2020 study found that safflower seed oil and this compound can reduce damage caused by UVB exposure, specifically stopping damage to collagen.

It works by blocking an enzyme called collagenase-1, which is responsible for collagen loss. Collagen, you might know, is the skin's primary structural protein. It's what keeps skin looking firm, lifted, and youthful. With its loss comes sagging, fine lines, and wrinkles. Sun damage is actually the No. 1 cause of premature aging, accounting for up to 80% of visible aging.

This is a classic skin care combo for a reason. Not only do they provide excellent free radical protection, but they're also vital parts of the collagen synthesis process1. Vitamin C has the ability to "turn on" your body's collagen production abilities through the fibroblasts, and vitamin E helps C by recharging it. (They're synergistic vitamins that work together to become more effective.)

They've also been studied alongside sunscreen and have been found to be excellent additions to SPF formulas2. The antioxidants are able to bolster the protective benefits of sunscreen.

Ultra-hydrating formula that nourishes your skin barrier, available in unscented and neroli

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Coenzyme Q10 is an antioxidant your body makes naturally. However, with age it makes less and less of it. It's a very important antioxidant because it has several functions in the body. In fact, your cells need CoQ10 to produce energy3, as it's used in the mitochondria, or the "powerhouse" of the cell.

Like other antioxidants, it neutralizes free radicals—but it also protects against lipid peroxidation4, a process by which free radicals damage skin cell membranes. To top it off, CoQ10 protects the membranes of mitochondria and regenerates other antioxidants, like vitamins C and E—both of which are just as important for healthy skin, as we discussed above.

Getting sunshine is vital for our overall health. That's why we prioritize finding ways to do so responsibly—and caring for the skin in the process. Utilizing antioxidants like the above can help bolster sunscreen protection and help your skin recover and rejuvenate after the fact.

Alexandra Engler is the beauty director at mindbodygreen and host of the beauty podcast Clean Beauty School. Previously, she's held beauty roles at Harper's Bazaar, Marie Claire, SELF, and Cosmopolitan; her byline has appeared in Esquire, Sports Illustrated, and Allure.com. In her current role, she covers all the latest trends in the clean and natural beauty space, as well as lifestyle topics, such as travel. She received her journalism degree from Marquette University, graduating first in the department. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.