Take your skin protection to the next level by pairing these two product, creating the ultimate weapon in the fight against premature aging.

When it comes to protecting your skin from the dangers of sun exposure, everyone knows that sunscreen is a daily non-negotiable. But it’s not the only thing you should be incorporating into your morning routine to fight UV-related premature aging. Studies suggest that sunscreen filters only protect skin from up to 55% of free radicals. At the same time, topical antioxidants work to neutralize free radicals and protect against UV damage. This means that combining a sunscreen with an antioxidant serum can create that one-two punch, providing you with complete protection from environmental damage. Sounds pretty good, right? Before you stock up on an antioxidant/anti-aging sunscreen duo, here’s everything you need to know about using these powerhouse ingredients and how to find out which one is best for your skin type. What are antioxidants? Antioxidants are naturally occurring vitamins and minerals (such as vitamins A, C, E and B3) that protect against free radicals, which are unstable molecules that come from air pollution, chemicals and ultraviolet radiation (UV rays). They wreak havoc on your skin (and other cells) in their quest to find an electron to feel whole again; this damage includes attacking collagen and weakening elasticity. Essentially, antioxidants protect skin from this.

Why are antioxidants good for the skin?

Consuming antioxidant-rich foods helps the body shut down these highly reactive molecules; topical antioxidants, like vitamin C serums, do the same for your skin since it’s constantly battling harsh free radicals caused by environmental factors. Their main job is to neutralize those free radicals and protect your skin from damage. Topical antioxidants also help with brightening, calming irritation and smoothing fine lines.

How can I prevent wrinkles and protect my skin?

UV rays—especially longer-wavelength UVA rays—damage collagen fibres, which leads to premature wrinkles and rough skin texture. Sunscreens work to prevent UV rays from entering the skin, but the radiation that does manage to penetrate sets off a chain reaction of damaging events due to the presence of free radicals. Antioxidants also protect us from sun damage but in a different way; they intervene at a later stage, working hard to disrupt the chain reaction. Pairing a powerful antioxidant serum with your SPF can amplify your protection from the effects of sun exposure while helping to prevent (and even correct) fine lines and wrinkles.

Which antioxidant is best for my skin?

Read on to learn all about antioxidants and which product is best for your skin concerns—and type.

Vitamin C

Often referred to as the holy grail of skincare, vitamin C (also known as L-ascorbic acid) is an essential vitamin. This means that your body needs it to function properly. However, your body can’t produce it; it needs to be ingested (fruits and vegetables) or applied topically (skincare). When applied topically, it protects your skin from free radical damage and prevents and treats signs of premature aging, such as fine lines, wrinkles and brown spots.

One of SkinCeuticals’ most powerful anti-aging vitamin C serums is CE Ferulic, which features a cocktail of 15% pure vitamin C, 1% vitamin E and 0.5% ferulic acid. When you add ferulic acid to vitamins C and E, it gives eightfold photoprotection because it’s a stabilizing compound. This is one of the best vitamin C serums for normal, dry and sensitive skin types.

Niacinamide

Niacinamide (also known as nicotinamide) is one of two versions of vitamin B3. This water-soluble essential vitamin isn’t synthesized in the body, which means to reap its benefits, you must ingest it or apply it topically. Niacinamide is found in many foods—mostly meat—and is a powerful antioxidant with anti-inflammatory properties. When it’s applied to the skin, niacinamide is the very definition of a multi-tasker, offering various benefits that make it ideal for a variety of skin types and complexion concerns. Whether it’s boosting hydration, fading hyperpigmentation, restoring cellular energy or repairing damaged DNA, there’s not much it doesn’t claim to help with. In short, it’s incredibly restorative.

If you suffer from hyperpigmentation, consider adding a powerful serum with serum with niacinamide to your regimen, like SkinCeuticals Discoloration Defense. It works to target visible discoloration while improving stubborn brown spots thanks to potent and proven anti-discoloration ingredients such as niacinamide, tranexamic acid and kojic acid.

Vitamin E

Found in everything from silky eye creams to potent serums, vitamin E is an oil-soluble antioxidant that occurs naturally in our bodies and comes in several forms. In skincare, the most common forms are tocopheryl acetate and tocopherol. Topical vitamin E has two main benefits: It’s an antioxidant, combatting free-radical damage, and a skin hydrator, working as a humectant (to absorb water into the skin) and an emollient (to trap moisture in the skin).

Look for a vitamin E face cream, like SkinCeuticals Face Cream With Vitamin E. Whether your skin is dry or oily, the lightweight formula works on all skin types and is particularly efficient for anti-aging and acne concerns. It helps correct visible signs of age-related skin damage while boosting lipids and firming skin.

Retinol

Since retinoids are derivatives of vitamin A, they are considered part of the antioxidant family. As a result, anti-aging retinol cream provides multiple benefits for almost every skincare concern imaginable, from uneven skin tone to rough surface texture to fine lines and wrinkles, and is said to improve skin luminosity as well; a retinol cream for acne can be highly effective at keeping blemishes under control.

Try incorporating a retinol face cream , like SkinCeuticals Retinol 0.3 Refining Night Cream, into your nighttime routine once or twice a week. While you should be wearing an SPF of 30 or higher every day, it’s especially a must when retinol is part of your regimen. Retinol can increase skin’s photosensitivity, leaving it prone to sunburn, so it’s imperative to slather on a broad-spectrum SPF in the morning when you’ve used retinol the night before.

Why is it essential to wear sunscreen every day?

As a society, we’re more aware of layering on sunscreen in the summer, when the days are longer and temperatures rise. But it’s important to remember that sun care is a year-round necessity. Rain or shine, summer or winter, sun protection should be worn daily because UV rays, which cause premature skin aging and skin cancer, don’t take days off. Here are some factors to consider when choosing sunscreen for your skin type.

If you have acne: Oil-free, non-comedogenic and fragrance-free formulas fare better for battling breakouts. The best sunscreen for acne-prone skin is something like SkinCeuticals Sheer Physical UV Defense SPF 50. Once applied, the liquid becomes transparent and absorbs immediately, leaving skin smooth and matte.

If you have oily skin: Wondering which is the best sunscreen for acne-prone skin ? Since you want to avoid heavy oils that can clog pores, look for a lightweight formula with oil-absorbing properties, like SkinCeuticals Sheer Physical UV Defense SPF 50. The 100%-physical sunscreen is formulated with titanium dioxide and zinc oxide and has a shine-free matte finish, even on the most humid days.

If you have sensitive skin: The delicate and sensitive skin around the eyes is prone to sun damage, burning and wrinkles, which is why this area requires special care. Mineral-based sun blockers (zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide) that sit on top of your skin to physically block the sun’s rays offer gentle, non-irritating protection. This is why it’s considered the best sunscreen for sensitive skin . SkinCeuticals Physical Eye UV Defense SPF 50 uses both filters; its tinted formula instantly brightens dark circles and also contains ceramides, which help seal and moisturize the delicate skin under the eye.