Why Sunscreen Isn’t Enough For Optimal Skin Protection

The skin is exposed to an array of environmental aggressors each and every day, both indoors and out. These often-invisible skin-damaging factors contribute to visible signs of aging such as fine lines, wrinkles, loss of firmness and skin discoloration—and they all have one thing in common: They all generate free radicals.The first environmental aggressor that usually comes to mind is UV rays, and sun damage has been proven to lead to visible skin aging. UV rays generate free radicals as well, and sunscreen only shields the skin from 55% of these damaging molecules. Ground-level ozone—which forms when sunlight reacts with the chemicals in the air—is another source of free radicals that depletes the skin’s natural antioxidant levels. Pollution such as diesel engine exhaust is also a concern, as the skin is easily exposed during everyday activities like running outside or even sitting in traffic.A new SkinCeuticals study examined the effects of these environmental aggressors combined, similar to what the skin would experience in a typical urban environment. This groundbreaking research found that signs of oxidative stress caused by free radicals from all three of these sources was significantly higher than a combination of just two (or one alone)—and revealed that SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic reduces markers of free-radical damage due to UV light, ozone and pollution within the skin by up to 41%.This is why it’s important to neutralize free radicals with a topical antioxidant and protect the skin against UV rays with sunscreen daily. Together, these two products are proven to reduce and prevent the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and discoloration caused by exposure to sunlight and pollution. The good news is, there’s a SkinCeuticals antioxidant and sunscreen for every skin type, lifestyle and preference.

Prevent: Topical Vitamin C Antioxidants

SkinCeuticals offers topical vitamin C antioxidant serums for both the entire face as well as the eye area. Every offering is formulated according to specific parameters that more than 30 years of research have proven to be necessary for optimal performance, including a specific form of vitamin C called L-ascorbic acid in a concentration of 10-20% at a low (acidic) pH. Among the SkinCeuticals antioxidant serum stand-outs for fighting free radicals are: