Antioxidants are your skin's natural defense against damage caused by environmental stressors like UV rays and pollution. When oxidation occurs—triggered by sun exposure and environmental aggressors—your skin cells are damaged, leading to premature aging, including wrinkles and sagging. Including antioxidants in your skincare routine, particularly during the summer months, is key to maintaining healthy, radiant skin.

How Do Antioxidants Work?

Antioxidants neutralize free radicals, which are unstable molecules generated by sun exposure, pollution, and other environmental factors. Free radicals damage your skin by attacking collagen, elastin, and skin cells, which results in signs of aging such as wrinkles, fine lines, and uneven skin tone. By neutralizing these free radicals, antioxidants protect your skin and slow down the visible aging process.

Why Is Summer Especially Harmful for Your Skin?

In the summer, UV exposure intensifies, significantly increasing the production of free radicals in the skin. Along with heightened UV exposure, higher temperatures, pollution, and outdoor activities also contribute to oxidative stress. These factors accelerate skin aging, making it essential to boost your antioxidant defense during the summer months.

The Importance of Combining Sunscreen with Antioxidants

Sunscreen is a must for protecting your skin from harmful UV rays, but it doesn’t fully block the sun's damage. While sunscreen deflects and absorbs UV radiation, free radicals can still form and cause damage. This is where antioxidants step in—when used alongside sunscreen, antioxidants like Vitamin C and Vitamin E neutralize free radicals that bypass sunscreen, enhancing your skin’s protection and preventing photoaging.

Contrary to popular belief, Vitamin C is not a photosensitizer. Instead, it optimizes photoprotection by fighting free radicals caused by sun exposure. That's why using an antioxidant serum with your sunscreen is especially important in summer when UV exposure is highest.

The Long-Term Benefits of Using Antioxidants Year-Round

Antioxidants don’t just protect your skin in the summer—they provide long-lasting benefits when used year-round. Consistent use of antioxidants helps:

• Slow the aging process: They reduce wrinkles, fine lines, and loss of elasticity by preventing oxidative damage.
• Improve skin tone: Antioxidants brighten the complexion and even out pigmentation.
• Support collagen production: Key antioxidants like Vitamin C promote collagen synthesis, which keeps skin firm and youthful.
• Fight environmental damage: Antioxidants help your skin resist pollution and other external stressors that damage skin over time.

The Art of Skin Layering with Antioxidants

To get the most out of your antioxidants, layering is key. A well-structured skincare routine ensures that each product enhances the effectiveness of the other. Here’s how to layer antioxidants for maximum protection:

1. Step 1: Serum
   Start with a Vitamin C serum like Sérum Radieux to provide an antioxidant shield and boost collagen production.

2. Step 2: Moisturizer
   Follow with a hydrating cream like Crème Énergie to lock in moisture and provide additional antioxidant protection with ingredients like CoQ10 and Vitamin E.

3. Step 3: Booster
   Add a few drops of Booster d’Énergie to your cream for enhanced protection and radiance, thanks to ingredients like Pomegranate Extract and Lycopene.

4. Step 4: Sunscreen
   Finish with a broad-spectrum mineral sunscreen that contains Zinc Oxide for UV protection and to prevent oxidative stress caused by sun exposure.

The Power of Antioxidants: Key Ingredients in Helwé’s Products

Different antioxidants offer unique benefits for your skin. Here’s a breakdown of the key antioxidants found in Helwé’s Glowing Morning Set and how they benefit your skin:

• Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid): Brightens the skin, boosts collagen production, and fights pigmentation.
• Vitamin E: Enhances the effects of Vitamin C, repairs damaged skin, and provides hydration.
• CoQ10: An antioxidant that reduces wrinkles and supports skin renewal.
• Pomegranate Extract: Reduces inflammation, repairs sun damage, and promotes skin regeneration.
• Ferulic Acid: Stabilizes and boosts the effectiveness of Vitamin C and Vitamin E in fighting free radicals.
• Lycopene: Derived from tomatoes, this antioxidant protects the skin from UV damage and improves texture.

The Glowing Morning Set

This antioxidant-rich set is designed to protect and repair your skin every day, suitable for all skin types. Packed with antioxidants, this set helps protect your skin from sunlight and pollution while strengthening it. It reduces dark spots, boosts radiance, and visibly diminishes wrinkles by stimulating collagen production.

• Sérum Radieux: A potent serum with Vitamin C (ascorbic acid), Vitamin E, and Ferulic Acid to brighten and protect your skin from oxidative stress.
• Crème Énergie: Energizing cream with CoQ10, Vitamin E, and Royal Jelly to deeply hydrate and revitalize your skin, restoring its youthful glow.
• Booster d’Énergie: A sample-size booster enriched with Pomegranate extract, Carrot, and Tomato Lycopene to enhance the antioxidant effects of your cream.

Instructions: After applying the serum, mix a few drops of the Energy Booster with your cream to lock in moisture and amplify protection. 

You can order it here.