There are certain ingredients that are proclaimed as powerhouses in skincare. Ingredients that contain antioxidants have become so immensely popular in the skincare industry that they have become a buzzword to consumers. However, antioxidants are more than just a buzzword or trending ingredient. There is a reason why skincare professionals continue to utilize antioxidants in treatments and maintenance protocols to give patients the best skin health solutions available. Antioxidants are more than deserving of all the hype because of their versatility, potency, and ability to deliver desirable results.

Yet the question for many remains: what exactly is an antioxidant? How many types of antioxidants are there? And how can you tell which is best suited for your own skin’s benefit?

An antioxidant can help prevent skin damage by protecting the skin from oxidation and free radicals. Free radicals from the environment, such as light and UV rays, pollutants, and other aggressors, are one of the largest culprits behind the reason that skin ages. By introducing an antioxidant to the skin, it can inhibit the oxidation process, thus slowing down damage to the skin as well as encouraging its repair.

The oxidation of skin can increase the appearance of fine lines + wrinkles. It can also show as sun damage, age spots, hyperpigmentation and the loosening and sagging of skin. By including antioxidants into your skincare regimen, they can work to improve the signs of aging, brighten the complexion and even skin tone. It is important to know your skin and to consult with an expert to determine the best ways to achieve your desired skin results. With that knowledge, figuring out the best antioxidant product to include is far more feasible. With this month being Skin Cancer Awareness Month, it is also important to highlight the anti-carcinogenic properties some antioxidants possess, which can help in the prevention against developing skin cancer.

Some of the most popular antioxidants found in skin health products most likely sound familiar to skincare enthusiasts. ZO® Skin Health includes cutting-edge ingredients and exclusive technologies in all products to offer skin health solutions to anyone, regardless of skin type. Below are some of the most well-known and most-recommended antioxidants to use from dermatologists, aestheticians, and other skin health professionals.

Vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, is one of the most studied and readily available antioxidants in the market. It helps lighten dark spots, even out the skin tone + work to reduce fine lines + wrinkles. 10% Vitamin C Self-Activating by ZO® Skin Health helps remove surface discoloration and renew brightness.

Vitamin A, or retinols/retinoids, is a powerful antioxidant most well-known for its ability to rejuvenate aging skin. By encouraging the production of collagen and stimulating cell turnover, Vitamin A is one of the best treatments to reduce moderate to severe signs of aging. Wrinkle + Texture Repair contains 0.5% retinol which allows the product to even skin texture, support the skin’s ability to retain hydration and to minimize the appearance of fine lines + wrinkles.

Vitamin E, or tocopherol, contains powerful anti-inflammatory properties and has been linked to encouraging skin cell turnover. Daily Power Defense by ZO® Skin Health is an effective antioxidant serum that works to lessen free-radical damage and promotes all-around skin health. It’s exclusive formula accelerates the skin’s natural ability to heal itself and to address environmental damage, especially from UV rays.

You can’t dispute the science. The UVA and UVB rays from the sun as well as tanning beds and lamps lead to premature photo-aging at best, and skin cancer, including deadly melanoma, at worst. As beauty magazines and dermatologists advise, “The only safe tan is a fake tan.”

According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, “A tan, whether you get it on the beach, in a bed, or through incidental exposure, is bad news, any way you acquire it.” And tanning salons may pose the biggest risk. People who use indoor tanning devices are 74% more likely to develop melanoma than someone who has never visited a tanning salon or sat under a UV lamp. In the US alone, 419,254 cases of skin cancer can be attributed to indoor tanning. Out of this number, 6,199 are melanoma cases, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation.

Avoiding indoor tanning is a no brainer, but what about natural sunlight? What is the best way to protect yourself yet enjoy outdoor activities, especially in the summer? “The new FDA guidelines explicitly state that you should wear a sunscreen with broad spectrum UVA (aging) and UVB (burning) protection. It also says you should reapply sunscreen frequently to maintain high levels of protection—a critical point,” says Dr. Obagi.

The Skin Cancer Foundation adds that you should seek shade when the sun is highest and wear protective clothing, a broad-brimmed hat, and UV-blocking sunglasses. Also, apply one full ounce of sunscreen to your body and face every two hours when you are outdoors. In fact, Dr. Ogagi believes you should never leave the house without sunscreen on exposed parts of the body and recommends ZO® Skin Health Oclipse® Sunscreen + Primer SPF 30, which contains natural melanin that acts as a shield to fight the assault of ultra violet light on skin cells.

If you are still tempted by the illusionary enhancement of a tan remember this, skin ages 10 times faster when exposed to UV light from any source. You may not see the changes in your 20s, but textural and tone changes will appear in your early 30s, sun induced melanoma can occur in teens, and premature photo aging—lines, wrinkles, discoloration— is never a pretty sight.

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The skin around your eyelids is the thinnest on your body, and as such is most subject to daily and relentless damage from ultraviolet exposure. Choosing and using the right protective eye cream can delay the visible signs of aging around your eyes and keep this delicate skin supple and hydrated

Michigan plastic surgeon Anthony Youn, MD, recommends ZO® Medical Hydra firm Eye Brightening Repair Crème. Designed specifically for the under-eye area, the dream cream helps minimize the multiple signs of aging around the eyes, including puffiness, dark circles and fine lines.

“Puffiness under the eyes can be caused by several issues, including fatigue, fluid retention, seasonal allergies, excess salt intake, and of course, heredity,” Youn says. “The cause of dark circles can include darkening of the skin from chronic rubbing or a genetic predisposition. Additionally, some people with thin under eye skin can have darkening from underlying blood vessels that are visible,” he says. “Volume loss or hollowing under the eyes can cause shadowing that can create a dark appearance.”

Hydrafirm contains caffeine, enzymatic vasodilators and coenzyme A, which rapidly reduce the appearance of puffiness around your eyes. Active Vitamin A and biomimetic proteins encourage natural collagen production to help restore skin’s elasticity. Collagen is the skin’s main structural protein.

All you need is a pea-sized amount for the entire under-eye area. Apply it in the morning and before bed starting as early as your 20s. Blend the cream gently with your fingertips, and be careful to ever pull or tug on the skin around the eyes. With continued use, your delicate eyelid skin will become firmer for a more youthful look.