Antioxidants and Summer Skin: A Guide to Daily Defence Support

Summer brings with it longer days, higher UV levels, and increased exposure to environmental stressors. While we often welcome these seasonal shifts, they also introduce conditions that can place strain on the skin.

Increased sun exposure, heat, and pollution can elevate levels of oxidative stress within the skin. Over time, this may contribute to visible changes such as dullness, dehydration, and uneven texture.

Antioxidants play a role in helping support the skin under these conditions. By helping to neutralize free radicals generated through environmental exposure, they contribute to maintaining balanced, healthy-looking skin.

Antioxidants are ingredients that support the skin when it's exposed to external stressors. Their primary function is to help neutralize free radicals, which are unstable molecules generated by factors like UV radiation and pollution.

Free radicals can cause damage directly to skin and disrupt its natural balance, particularly when exposure is prolonged or repeated. Antioxidants work to counter this process, helping to reduce the visible results of oxidative stress on the skin.

In skincare products, antioxidants can:

• Support the skin’s natural defence systems

• Help maintain overall skin resilience and balance

• Contribute to a radiant, healthy-looking appearance when used consistently

Rather than acting as a single solution, antioxidants function as part of a broader routine designed to support the skin in changing environmental conditions.

Seasonal changes can influence how the skin responds to its environment. During summer months, several factors combine to increase oxidative activity in the skin.

Increased UV Exposure

Ultraviolet radiation is one of the primary contributors to free radical formation. With longer daylight hours and more time spent outdoors, cumulative exposure tends to increase during summer. This can elevate oxidative stress levels in the skin.

Heat and Environmental Stress

Higher temperatures can affect the skin’s overall balance, while pollution may further contribute to oxidative processes. What’s more, certain types of pollution can actually be higher during summer months where temperatures are higher. These combined stressors can impact how the skin looks and feels over time.

Daily Defence Support

Antioxidants help reinforce the skin’s daily defence against these stressors. When incorporated into a consistent routine and used in combination with sunscreen, they help support and protect the skin during exposure to higher levels of environmental stress.

Incorporating antioxidants into your skincare regimen doesn’t need to be complex. A consistent, intentional approach can help support the skin throughout the summer months.

1. Cleanse

Begin with a gentle cleanser to remove daily buildup, excess oil, and environmental debris. Cleansing prepares the skin for subsequent steps and ingredient penetration.

Our Recommendation: Squalane Cleanser. This oil-free cleansing balm removes makeup, dirt, and other impurities without stripping the skin. It contains plant-derived squalane, a well-known moisturizing agent, to leave skin feeling soft, smooth, and hydrated.

2. Apply Antioxidants

Use antioxidant-rich formulations as part of your morning routine. Lightweight serums are an effective approach, and when used daily can help support the skin’s response to environmental exposure.

Our Recommendation: Pycnogenol 5%. Pycnogenol is an antioxidant-rich plant extract that protects against environmental stressors, soothes the look of redness, brightens the skin tone, and reinforces the skin barrier, all while doubling the skin’s moisture levels.

Combining multiple antioxidants can help provide a more holistic approach to environmental protection. Multi-Antioxidant Radiance Serum combines 8 protective technologies to offer antioxidant and pollution protection, while reinforcing the skin barrier to increase resilience against environmental stressors.

Remember: your skin is unique, and your choice of antioxidant should be too. To learn more about The Ordinary antioxidants and which one is right for you, read this guide.

3. Support Hydration

Follow with hydrating products to help maintain the skin barrier. Hydration is important for many key processes within the skin, and a strong skin barrier helps to protect against external stressors. Plus, an effective moisturizer can seal in the ingredients from the beginning of your regimen to support their effectiveness.

Our Recommendation: Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA. This surface moisturizer provides immediate and lasting hydration through a comprehensive blend of ingredients that are naturally present in the skin. Its lightweight format makes it ideal for summer, when heavy creams can clog pores due to warm weather and humidity.

4. Use Sunscreen

Always finish your morning routine with sunscreen. While antioxidants help address oxidative stress, sunscreen provides protection against UV radiation and the skin damage that comes with it.

Our Recommendation: UV Filters SPF 45 Serum. This broad spectrum sunscreen protects and hydrates, for daily use with no white cast. Its lightweight, serum-like texture layers well under makeup and leaves skin with a luminous, natural look.

Summer conditions like increased UV exposure, heat, and pollution can raise oxidative stress levels in the skin. These environmental factors can make an impact on how the skin looks and feels.

Antioxidants help support the skin’s natural defence systems by neutralizing free radicals to reinforce skin resilience. When used daily and paired with sunscreen, antioxidant care forms part of a comprehensive approach to support your skin all summer long.

Build a personalized skincare routine with antioxidant support, in minutes, using our Regimen Builder →