Dawn Siler

I can’t get enough of antioxidants. If a serum or moisturizer isn’t loaded with them, chances are I won’t even give it a second look.

Antioxidants are your skin’s police force. They patrol your body looking for free radicals felons ready to form wrinkles, give you dark spots and inflame your skin. Once they get hold of one, they destroy it before it can wreak its damage.

Here’s how it works (and why you should load your skincare routine with antioxidants if you want your skin to stay healthy and bright):

What are free radicals?

Free radicals are your skin’s #1 enemy. They’re highly unstable molecules caused by something called “oxidization process”.

Here’s the simple version: a healthy molecule turns into a free radical when it loses one its electrons. Without it, it goes crazy. It must get it back and become whole again.

When it spots a healthy molecule, the free radical attacks it and robs it of its electron. The robbed molecule is now a free radicals. Now, it’s its turn to become a thief.

It’s the beginning of chain reaction that destroys anything in its path, including vital proteins such as collagen and elastin and even cellular DNA.

Free radicals speed up the aging process. In the best case scenario, this only gives you wrinkles and dark spots. In the worst case scenario, it can lead to deadly diseases, such as cancer and heart diseases.

But, what starts this nasty chain and turns a healthy molecule into a free radical in the first place? All the usual culprits:

• Alcohol
• Body processes like metabolism and breathing
• Diet rich in sugar and poor in vegs
• Pollution
• Smoking
• UV rays

You can’t stop breathing or eating, but you can nourish your body with healthy foods, drink alcohol in moderation, wear sunscreen every day and quit smoking.

The healthier a lifestyle you lead, the fewer free radicals your body has to deal with. But, that’s not always fun. So, let’s see how to destroy those nasty free radicals:

What Are Antioxidants?

Enter antioxidants. They’re your body’s natural defence mechanism against free radicals. The most famous members of the antioxidant family are:

• Beta-carotene
• Coenzyme Q10
• Flavonoids
• Green tea
• Resveratol
• Superoxide dismutase
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin E

Their job is to destroy every free radical they see before they can wreak their damage on your skin. They do this in two ways, depending on the antioxidant’s MO:

• Chain-breakers: these antioxidant break the free radical chain after it’s started. Examples include vitamins C and E.
• Chain-neutralizers: these antioxidants neutralize the initiating free radicals, slowing down or even preventing the chain reaction. Examples include superoxide dismutase.

How To Help Prevent Free Radical Damage

Because EVERYTHING (well, almost!) causes those pesky free radicals, free radical damage is constant. Every single day your body has to deal with these felons and destroy them.

But, it can’t do it alone. Your body is well-equipped to cope with free radicals caused by metabolic processes, but these days it has to also put up with antioxidants caused by pollution, our unhealthy Western diet, tanning habits… It’s too much for it to handle alone.

Your body needs your help. Quitting bad habits like smoking and heavy drinking is a great place to start. But, your body also needs you to constantly replenish it with a new stream of antioxidants. You can do it in two ways:

1. Eat a healthy diet full of antioxidants-rich fruits, vegs and berries
2. Use skincare products loaded with antioxidants

Skincare is my area of expertise, so I’m sharing with you my fave antioxidant serums and moisturizers below:

Best Picks:

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The Bottom Line

Antioxidants are your skin’s BFF. Eat them up. Slather them all over your face. Give your skin the daily dose it needs. You’ll age a lot more slowly and keep your complexion clear and younger-looking for longer.

Take The Guesswork Out Of Skincare Shopping

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You think dealing with oily or dry skin is bad? Trying dealing with both. At the same time.

Combination skin is a nightmare. I know because I have it.

When I use products for oily skin, I banish the shine only to get drier cheeks. If I opt for richer formulas, my cheeks are happy, but everywhere else it’s breakout galore.

Argh! What’s a girl to do?

After dealing with it for more than a decade now, I figured out some tips and tricks to take good care of combination skin. Here’s how:

How do you recognize combination skin?

First things first. Let’s make sure you really have combination skin. Here are the symptoms:

• Your t-zone shines brighter than a diamond, but your cheeks dry out and flake like a pie crust.
• You hope it’ll never happen again, but you know the next breakout is just around the corner.
• Those pores on your t-zone are getting more and more visible every day.

What causes combination skin?

Oil glands that refuse to cooperate. Seriously.

Those on our t-zone (forehead, nose, and chin) are workhaolics that produce way too much oil than your skin needs. The excess oil clogs up the pores, stretching them out and causing pimples.

Those on our cheeks are lazy. They don’t produce enough sebum (skin’s natural moisturizer). Without it, skin dries out and flakes.

Combo skin driving you nuts? Here’s the perfect skincare regime to keep it under control. Click to Tweet

So, how do you treat combination skin?

The key to say “bye bye combo skin” is to find a balance. You need to keep oil production under control on the t-zone without drying out drier areas.

Sadly, this often means using two sets of products. Those for oily skin on oily areas, and those for dry skin on dry areas. I know it’s a pain, but it works:

1. Use a gentle cleanser

Don’t be tempted by harsh cleansers. They don’t shine away for long for long and dry out your drier areas even more.

I like to use a ph-balanced foaming cleanser in the morning to get rid of the little dirt that deposited on my face during the night. They’re usually gentle enough for the entire face.

At night, I opt for cream or oil-based cleansers that melts away makeup in minutes and replenish oil as they strip it away.

Or you can totally go down the two products route and use a foaming cleanser on your oily areas and a cream cleanser on your drier areas.

Best Picks:

Related: Are Foaming Cleansers Bad For Skin?

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2. If You Must Use A Toner…

Personally, I’d skip it, but if you really want one, choose a hydrating formula rich in antioxidants to help fight the premature signs of aging.

Whatever you do, stay away from alcohol-laden toners. They only dry out your skin.

Best Picks:

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Related: Do You Really Need A Toner?

3. Exfoliate the right way

I’m a huge fan of salicylic acid (BHA) for those oily areas. It gets inside the pores, removing all the excess oil and dead cells that clogging them up. Bye bye pimples and blackheads! Of course, it exfoliates the surface of the skin, too.

On the drier areas, I’d stick to glycolic acid (AHA). It exfoliates the surface of your skin AND boosts hydration.

If you only want to use one, go with salicylic acid. Glycolic won’t do much for your pimples and blackheads. Or, better yet, use an exfoliant that has both. 🙂

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Related: AHAs VS BHA: Which One Should You Choose?

4. Use A Hydrating Serum

Hydrating serums are perfect for combination skin. They contain humectants, i.e. moisture magnets that attract moisture from the air into the skin. The most famous members of the family are glycerin and hyaluronic acid.

Humectants are great for combo skin because they hydrate you all over without adding extra oil. You know what that means?

No greasiness. No shine. No breakouts. Just soft, supple skin.

Bonus points if the serum has antioxidants, too.

Best Picks:

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Related: What The Heck Are Humectants And Why Should You Use Them?

5. Use Two Moisturizers

I know, I know, this sucks. But, I find it really is the best recipe for combination skin.

Dry areas need occlusive formulas that can lock in moisture, but those are usually too heavy for oily skin. Oil-free moisturizers work best there.

Oil-free moisturisers are awesome because they contain emollients that act like oil. They’re lock in moisture but without adding more oil to the oily areas.

Best Picks:

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Related: Oily Skin? Why You Need An Oil-Free Moisturiser

6. Wear Sunscreen

I don’t care what your excuse is, you need sunscreen. EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. How else are you going to protect your skin from wrinkles, sun spots, cancer, and all the damage UV rays cause?

Just choose a lightweight one, so you can use it comfortably all over the face, oily t-zone included.

Best Picks:

• EltaMD UV Pure Broad-Spectrum SPF 47 ($25.00): available at Dermstore and Walmart
• Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection SPF 50 Sunscreen + WetForce For Sensitive Skin & Children ($42.00): available at  Nordstrom and Ulta
• Skinceuticals Physical Fusion UV Defense SPF 50 ($34.00): available at Blue Mercury and Dermstore

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7. Use Clay Masks

But only on oily areas. They absorb excess oil, so it doesn’t get trapped in your pores and give you breakouts. Twice a week is enough.

Again (I can’t stress this enough!), avoid dry cheeks. Removing the little oil there only dries them out more.

Best Picks:

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Related: All You Ever Wanted To Know About Bentonite Clay

8. Blot, blot, blot

If your t-zone gets shiny throughout the day, use an oil-blotting sheet to blot the oil away. It does the job quickly without ruining your makeup. Phew!

• Boscia Green Tea Blotting Paper ($10.00): available at Sephora

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Related: The Trick To Keep Oily Skin Shine-Free In Summer

Don’t know how to fit all these products into your skincare routine? Click on the image below to subscribe to my newsletter and receive the “Combination Skin Skincare Routine Cheatsheet.” It tells you the right order for both your AM and PM skincare routine + my fave product recommendations:

How do you care for combination skin? Share your routine, tips and fave products in the comments below.

Take The Guesswork Out Of Skincare Shopping

Get access to the “Pro Skincare Library” for exclusive skincare routine “cheat sheets” and tricks to help you navigate the beauty aisles jungle like a pro and immediately know what to pick off the shelves to achieve the gorgeous skin of your dreams – even when you’re drowning in an endless sea of skincare products.

Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription and get access to the skin library.

The name says it all: Polaar Eternal Snow Cream really feels light snow. Fluffy and airy to the touch, it melts like water when you apply it on your skin.

It’s the coolest texture I’ve come across in a long, long time. But is that alone enough to justify the splurge? Let’s find out:

Key Ingredients In Polaar Eternal Snow Cream

Glycerin To Hydrate Skin

Like all the best creams, Polaar Eternal Snow Cream has a huge dollop of glycerin, a powerful humectant.

Hume… what?! Humectant is a fancy way of calling ingredients that attract water from the environment into the skin and bind it there.

Your skin then uses the extra moisture for all kinds of things, like plumping fine lines and wrinkles so they look smaller; giving your complexion a glassy glow; and softening its texture.

Related: Why Is Glycerin In All Your Skincare Products?

Grape Seed Oil To Seal In Moisture

It’s not enough to add moisture to the skin. You also need to seal it in, so it doesn’t evaporate straight out again.

That’s where Grape Seed Oil comes in. Like most oils, Grape Seed Oil is loaded with moisturising fatty acids that strengthen your skin’s barrier, keeping your skin soft and hydrated for hours.

Plus, this oil is loaded with phenols, the same antioxidants found in wine. They help fight premature wrinkles, reduce sun damage and soothe irritations.

Impressive, isn’t it?

Related: Is There A Difference Between Hydrating And Moisturizing?

Artic Flowers To Fight Wrinkles

Polaar Eternal Snow Cream uses stem cells from the Nunatak Flower, a rare flower that managed to survive the last Ice Age in the Alps. No doubt about it, this stuff is pretty resilient!

Because it was continually exposed to low temperatures and lots of UV radiation, this plant had to develop effective repair mechanisms to thrive.

The manufacturer claims that putting this stuff on your skin can somehow fortify your skin and make it firmer.

The truth is a little different: plant stem cells don’t retain the unique repair mechanisms of the plant they come from. And even if they did, how could a plant stem cell repair human skin? The plant adapted to repair itself, not us!

But that doesn’t make stem cells useless. In skincare, they simply acts as antioxidants. They fight free radicals and reduce UV-induced inflammation.

Related: The Truth About Stem Cells: Do They Really Work?

Let’s Put It To The Test: Personal Use & Opinion

I’ve already mentioned how much I love the texture of Polaar Eternal Snow Cream. It’s fluffy like snow, lightweight like water and springy like jelly.

It sinks quickly into my skin without leaving any greasy residue behind. Surprisingly (I’d never have guessed from such a light texture!), it does a wonderful job at moisturizing every area of my skin.

As I get older, my combination skin is getting drier every year. But around the t-zone (particularly the forehead), it still produces too much oil and shine.

This cream was nourishing enough for my drier patches and didn’t aggravate the shine and oil on my t-zone. If you have combo skin and are struggling to find a cream that keeps every area happy, I think you’ll like this.

Straight after application, my skin looks so soft, plump and hydrated. Just what you’d expect from a moisturiser.

What about its anti-aging properties? The cream doesn’t have too many antioxidants, but every little bit helps. Just make sure to close that lid tight quickly after scooping the product out. Light and air can make antioxidants degrade faster.

One more thing: Polaar Eternal Snow Cream has a subtle soapy, slight floral texture. It’s pretty inoffensive, but if you have sensitive skin, do a patch test first. Any fragrance has the potential to irritate you.

Available at: £42.00 at Look Fantastic

Have you tried Polaar Eternal Snow Cream? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Ingredients: aqua (water), glycerin, cetearyl ethylhexanoate, vitis vinifera (grape) seed oil, glyceryl stearate se, pentaerythrityl distearate, hydroxystearic/linolenic/oleic polyglycerides, polymethyl methacrylate, saponaria pumila callus culture extract, sodium polyacrylate starch, isomalt, chlorphenesin, phenylpropanol, propanediol, caprylyl glycol, xanthan gum, parfum (fragrance), benzyl salicylate, tocopherol, glycine soja (soybean) oil, limonene, linalool, alpha-isomethyl ionone, geraniol, lecithin, coumarin

Take The Guesswork Out Of Skincare Shopping

Get access to the “Pro Skincare Library” for exclusive skincare routine “cheat sheets” and tricks to help you navigate the beauty aisles jungle like a pro and immediately know what to pick off the shelves to achieve the gorgeous skin of your dreams – even when you’re drowning in an endless sea of skincare products.

Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription and get access to the skin library.

Revolution 5% Lactic Acid + Hyaluronic Acid is a copycat – and is not even trying to hide it.

Everything about it, from its sciencey name to the sleek bottle with dropper applicator, is almost identical to The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + HA.

I have to admit, I’m a bit put off by this. I know there’s nothing really new under the skincare sun (so many formulas are the same), but couldn’t they have given Revolution Skincare its own identity? To me, it feels like the girl who’s trying too hard to get noticed at a party…

But is it any good? Does Revolution 5% Lactic Acid + Hyaluronic Acid live up to The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + HA, or is it all smoke and mirrors? Let’s find out:

Lactic Acid To Exfoliate Skin

Both Revolution 5% Lactic Acid + Hyaluronic Acid and The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + HA have opted for Lactic Acid, the gentlest of the Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs).

AHAs are a family of exfoliants that dissolves the “glue” that holds skin cells together, so they can slough off and reveal the smoother and brighter skin underneath.

Lactic Acid goes one step further: it also hydrates it. It works by attracting moisture from the environment into the skin and binding it there.

One more thing: Lactic Acid is a big molecule, which has a hard time penetrating the skin. That means it’s not as effective as other exfoliating acids (like Glycolic) to brighten skin, but it does the job way more gently.

If you have sensitive skin, lactic acid is the way to go.

Related: Glycolic Acid VS Lactic Acid: Which One Is Right For You?

Hyaluronic Acid To Hydrate Skin

Both Revolution 5% Lactic Acid + Hyaluronic Acid and The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + HA use the same form of Hyaluronic Acid: Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer (we’ll call it SMC from now on).

SMC is a modified, smaller form of Hyaluronic Acid attached to a polymer structure that allows it to hydrate skin for longer.

It works like this: when SMC enters your skin, the enzymes there break down the bond between its molecular structure. Now the polymer can roam free all over your skin’s upper layers, making sure they have all the moisture they need for hours on end.

All this extra moisture makes your skin very happy: it plumps up your fine lines and wrinkles so they look smaller; it makes its texture softer to the touch; and it imparts a radiant glow.

Related: Why You Need Hyaluronic Acid In Your Skincare Routine, No Matter Your Skin Type

Tasmanian Pepperberry To Soothe Skin

The Ordinary was the first to make Tasmanian Pepperberry popular. It’s literally in all its exfoliants, including Lactic Acid 5% + HA.

Revolution 5% Lactic Acid + Hyaluronic Acid copied this too. Was it a good choice? What is this Tasmanian thingie?

Tasmanian Pepperberry is a little berry rich in flavonoids, a family of antioxidants with anti-inflammatory properties. It reduces redness and irritation and helps sensitive skin better tolerate lactic acid.

Related: Skin Irritations: Cause And Prevention

What Else Do You Need To Know?

Not much. Both Revolution 5% Lactic Acid + Hyaluronic Acid and The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + HA are fairly basic exfoliants that do double duty: they remove dead cells while hydrating skin.

Revolution also has a big dollop of Propanediol, a type of alcohol that helps active ingredients penetrate deeper into the skin. The catch? If you have sensitive skin, it could irritate it.

Related: The Truth About Alcohol-Free Skincare Products

Which Of The Two Should You Go For?

If your skin’s so sensitive, it can’t tolerate a lot of Propanediol, go with The Ordinary 5% Lactic Acid + HA.

Not sensitive? It doesn’t matter what you pick. This is a case where the choice entirely comes down to personal preference.

Availability

Revolution 5% Lactic Acid + Hyaluronic Acid (£6.00): available at Superdrug and Ulta

The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + HA (£5.50): available at Asos, Beauty Bay, Cult Beauty, Escentual and Feel Unique

Want more dupes? Click on the image below to subscribe to the newsletter and receive the “Skincare Dupes” cheatsheet with all my fave dupes:

Is Revolution 5% Lactic Acid + Hyaluronic Acid A Dupe For The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + HA?

Revolution 5% Lactic Acid + Hyaluronic Acid is a smidgen more expensive than The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + HA, so I’m not sure I can call it a dupe (isn’t it supposed to be the other way around?). But the two formulas are so similar, they’ll give you the same results.

Have you tried both Revolution 5% Lactic Acid + Hyaluronic Acid and The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + HA? Share your fave pick in the comments below.

Revolution 5% Lactic Acid + Hyaluronic Acid Ingredient: Aqua/Water/Eau, Propanediol, Lactic Acid, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Disodium Edta, Pentylene Glycol, Tasmannia Lanceolata (Pepper Tree) Fruit/Leaf Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin.

The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + HA Ingredients: Aqua (water), Lactic Acid, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Triethanolamine, Potassium Citrate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolmer, Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract, Arginine, Acacia Senegal Gum, Xanthan Gum, Trisodium Ethylene-Diamine Disuccinate, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Ethyl 2.2-Dimethylhydrocinnamal, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Ethylhexylclycerin, 1.2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol

Take The Guesswork Out Of Skincare Shopping

Get access to the “Pro Skincare Library” for exclusive skincare routine “cheat sheets” and tricks to help you navigate the beauty aisles jungle like a pro and immediately know what to pick off the shelves to achieve the gorgeous skin of your dreams – even when you’re drowning in an endless sea of skincare products.

Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription and get access to the skin library.

If someone had told me I’d need extreme sun protection in London, I’d have burst out laughing.

This is the city of rain and smoke. If I didn’t know UV rays can get through clouds, I wouldn’t even bother with sunscreen most days…

The first summer here, we were lucky to have a couple of torrid days before fall set in. This year? We had a proper summer for a whole MONTH. Hard to believe, I know.

For days, the temperatures went above 30ºC. You could get a sunburn just by walking around in the city – especially if you’re a pale princess like me.

I burn so easily, I have to be really careful with sun protection on the hottest summer days. I know my usual SPF 30 would’t cut it. I had to go extreme.

Literally. The sunscreen that saved my skin in the torrid London summer (that’s a sentence I thought I’d NEVER type) is Ultrasun Extreme SPF 50+.

Key Ingredients In Ultrasun Extreme SPF 50+

Ultrasun Extreme SPF 50+ uses a mix of trusted old mineral filters and innovative chemical filters (the same ones used in Korean sunscreens) to provide high broad spectrum protection:

These UV filters don’t leave a white cast behind, don’t irritate sensitive skin and make the sunscreen water-resistant for up to 40 min.

The catch? Unfortunately, Tinosorb and Uvinul are still banned in the USA. If you ever visit Europe, stock up!

Related: What Are The Best UV Filters?

ANTIOXIDANTS TO PREVENT PREMATURE AGING… OR NOT?

Ultrasun Extreme SPF 50+ proudly boasts it has antioxidants to up your sun protection. It’s sort of true.

This sunscreen does have antioxidants, including Vitamins C and E. In theory, they can destroy the free radicals the few UV rays that hit your skin generate.

FUN Fact: SPF 50 still lets 2% of UV rays through. Add antioxidants to the mix and you neutralise those, too.

The catch? There are so few antioxidants here, you can’t rely on them to do much for your skin. *sighs*

Related: Common Antioxidants In Skincare Products: Which Ones Are Best For You?

Let’s Put It To The Test: Personal Use & Opinion

There’s a reason I rarely use SPF 50. The higher the SPF, the thicker and greasier the texture tends to be.

Ultrasun Extreme SPF 50+ is the exception to the rule. It still feels a little creamy and thick when you pour it out of the bottle, but once you spread it out onto your skin, it sets in quickly without leaving a sticky residue, a greasy feel or a white look.

It feels like you’re not wearing anything. But you are. The proof is in the lack of sunburns.

I tend to get sunburns in the back of my neck. Partly because it’s hard for me to reach it and apply sunscreen properly there. Partly because I don’t see the damage being done until it’s too late.

I used this sunscreen on the hottest days of the year when you’re sweating buckets just by sitting down in the shade. I was afraid that after a couple of hours at the park, my neck would start to burn.

By the end of the day – and yes, I did reapply it a few times – there was not the tiniest hint of redness on my skin. This stuff WORKS.

If it works on 38ºC days (yes, it was that hot in London!), it works anywhere. I can just slather it on and feel confident my skin is gonna stay soft and protected for hours. No sunburn. No tan. No breakouts. It doesn’t even irritate skin.

Ultrasun Extreme SPF 50+ is the closest thing to a Korean sunscreen I’ve found in Europe. Ok, a little thicker. I guess you can’t have everything, huh?

Available at: £22.00 at Escentual, Feel Unique, Look Fantastic and SpaceNK

Have you tried Ultrasun Extreme SPF 50+? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Ingredients: Aqua, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Pentylene Glycol, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol (Nano), Titanium Dioxide (Nano), Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Glycerin, Squalane, Cocoglycerides, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, C8-22 Alkyl Acrylates/Methacrylic Acid Crosspolymer, Decyl Glucoside, Silica, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Propyl Alcohol, Cetyl Phosphate, Xanthan Gum, Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, Lecithin, T-Butyl Alcohol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Tocopherol, Diisopropyl Adipate, Ubiquinone.

Take The Guesswork Out Of Skincare Shopping

Get access to the “Pro Skincare Library” for exclusive skincare routine “cheat sheets” and tricks to help you navigate the beauty aisles jungle like a pro and immediately know what to pick off the shelves to achieve the gorgeous skin of your dreams – even when you’re drowning in an endless sea of skincare products.

Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription and get access to the skin library.