Antioxidants in Sunscreen: Hype or Help?
Vitamin C, vitamin E, and the Pinnell research that kicked off the whole idea.
Antioxidants such as vitamins C and E neutralize a portion of the free radicals UV generates, but they cannot block UV themselves, so they supplement rather than substitute for sunscreen.
The classic case for antioxidants is synergy: vitamin C and vitamin E together quench more free radicals than either alone, which is why many serums pair them under a broad-spectrum SPF.
Questions we get a lot
Do antioxidants replace sunscreen?
No. Antioxidants like vitamins C and E mop up some of the free radicals UV produces, but they don't absorb or block UV, so they can't prevent burns or stop UV from reaching the skin. Think of them as a complement worn under, not instead of, a broad-spectrum sunscreen.
How should I layer antioxidants with sunscreen?
Apply an antioxidant serum (such as a vitamin C, or C+E, formula) onto clean skin in the morning, let it absorb, then apply your sunscreen as the last step. The antioxidants help neutralize free radicals that slip past, while the sunscreen does the actual UV blocking.
r/SkincareScience: 'Do antioxidants in or under sunscreen actually do anything?'