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Antioxidants is an undoubtedly buzzy term in the health and wellness space.

Sliced citrus antioxidant skin care concept on pink and turquoise background

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Theyre not all created equal.

A helpful visual for just how problematic they can be?

Cut an apple in half and leave it on your kitchen counter for a day.

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The brown and shriveled appearance it quickly takes on?

When this happens, the skin’s natural protective system gets overwhelmed and damage occurs, she says.

Are there any disadvantages to using antioxidants?

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All of the experts SELF spoke with agree that there really arent many.

This was a universally recommended top pick among all of the experts SELF consulted.

What makesvitamin Cso unique?

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While l-ascorbic acid is considered the gold standard, there are other forms of vitamin C worth considering.

(Heres more guidance on exactlyhow to use vitamin Cin your skin care routine.)

If the percentage isnt listed, niacinamide should be one of the first few ingredients on the label.)

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This is an umbrella term for a variety of plant-based antioxidants.

Resveratrol is another polyphenol that packs a punch.

That way, you could help ensure youre getting enough of it to make a difference in your skin.

Its also a good idea to look for a product that contains more than one antioxidant.

Antioxidants act as a second layer of protection throughout the day.

In other words, its a long game.

But antioxidants are reparative too.

What about oral antioxidants?

But topically applied antioxidants are still the way to go in your pursuit of a healthy glow.

The high-level summary: Yes, antioxidants can be a worthwhile, effective addition to your skin care routine.

However, the most important takeaway here is that any antioxidant serum is probably better than no antioxidant serum.