Beauty
Fact-checked

At WiseGEEK, we're committed to delivering accurate, trustworthy information. Our expert-authored content is rigorously fact-checked and sourced from credible authorities. Discover how we uphold the highest standards in providing you with reliable knowledge.

Learn more...

How do I Choose the Best Antioxidant Cleanser?

Diane Goettel
Diane Goettel
Diane Goettel
Diane Goettel

When shopping for an antioxidant cleanser, it is important to find a product that is made with ingredients that are rich in antioxidants and also addresses one's specific skin needs. Antioxidant-rich ingredients that are regularly used in skin care products include white tea, green tea, papaya, lemon, orange, pomegranate, and grapefruit. There are a number of other antioxidant-rich ingredients that can be used in skin care products, which one should research before making a purchase. Assessing one's skin needs is usually as simple as spending a few minutes in the mirror. Consider whether the skin is dry, oily, or a combination of the two, as well as whether it is sensitive, blemished, or showing the signs of aging.

It is important to find an antioxidant cleanser that works well with the amount of oil that the skin naturally produces. If one has very oily skin, it is important to choose an antioxidant cleanser that can help to mange this oil. If the skin is rather dry, it may be best to choose a very gentle antioxidant cleanser that will not strip the skin of the natural oils that it needs. In this case, it may be best to choose a cream cleanser that is formulated with antioxidants.

Pomegranate extract is often included in antioxidant cleanser.
Pomegranate extract is often included in antioxidant cleanser.

One of the benefits of this kind of skin care product is that it naturally helps to manage signs of aging in the skin. Free radicals, which are targeted by antioxidants, can lead to wrinkles and sagging skin, so most antioxidant cleanser varieties are also good for aging skin. There are some cleansers that are formulated with additional anti-aging ingredients that work along with the antioxidants to reduce or even reverse some of the signs of aging. Some products can help to plump up wrinkles or fade age spots.

Antioxidant-rich skin care products are very popular.
Antioxidant-rich skin care products are very popular.

In the process of choosing an antioxidant cleanser, it is also important to remember that cleansers spend relatively little time on the face. They are applied, massaged into the skin, and then rinsed away. This means that the ingredients in an antioxidant cleanser have very little time to do much more than cleanse the skin. For those who want to treat their skin with antioxidant skin care products, it may be best to choose masks, serums, and lotions made with antioxidants. These products have much more time to sink into the skin, attack free radicals, and do their magic.

Diane Goettel
Diane Goettel

In addition to her work as a freelance writer for WiseGEEK, Diane is the executive editor of Black Lawrence Press, an independent publishing company based in upstate New York. She has also edited several anthologies, the e-newsletter Sapling, and The Adirondack Review. Diane has a B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College and an M.A. from Brooklyn College.

Learn more...
Diane Goettel
Diane Goettel

In addition to her work as a freelance writer for WiseGEEK, Diane is the executive editor of Black Lawrence Press, an independent publishing company based in upstate New York. She has also edited several anthologies, the e-newsletter Sapling, and The Adirondack Review. Diane has a B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College and an M.A. from Brooklyn College.

Learn more...

Discuss this Article

Post your comments
Login:
Forgot password?
Register:
    • Pomegranate extract is often included in antioxidant cleanser.
      Pomegranate extract is often included in antioxidant cleanser.
    • Antioxidant-rich skin care products are very popular.
      By: picsfive
      Antioxidant-rich skin care products are very popular.
    • Antioxidant cleansers may include ingredients such as grapefruit or lemon.
      By: picsfive
      Antioxidant cleansers may include ingredients such as grapefruit or lemon.
    • Papaya is a common ingredient in antioxidant cleansers.
      By: tashka2000
      Papaya is a common ingredient in antioxidant cleansers.
    • Green tea extract, one of nature's most powerful antioxidants, is often used in antioxidant skin cleansers.
      By: Liv Friis-larsen
      Green tea extract, one of nature's most powerful antioxidants, is often used in antioxidant skin cleansers.