Your skin is a dynamic organ that not only serves as a protective barrier, but is also home to a living ecosystem of microorganisms, collectively known as the skin microbiome. When balanced, this microbiome helps regulate immune responses, suppresses pathogenic microbes, and supports skin barrier integrity. Learn why you need antioxidants in your skincare products to help keep your skin strong and healthy.
How Oxidative Stress and the Skin Microbiome Are Intricately Linked
Oxidative stress happens when there’s an imbalance between free radicals⎯unstable molecules generated by UV rays, pollution, and even internal stress, and your skin’s ability to neutralize them with antioxidants. However, oxidative stress, driven by both external and internal factors, can destabilize this balance and cause irritation, inflammation, and accelerate aging.
Common triggers of oxidative stress include:
- UV radiation (UVA/UVB)⎯Generates ROS (highly reactive molecules) that damage DNA, proteins, and lipids.
- Pollution and environmental toxins⎯Increases ROS and cause chronic inflammation.
- Psychological and metabolic stressors⎯Raises overall oxidative stress in the body.
ROS are highly reactive molecules that initiate lipid peroxidation, degrading cell membranes, and impairing barrier function. This disruption creates an unsuitable environment for beneficial microbes, while pathogenic bacteria like Cutibacterium acnes thrive under inflammatory conditions. Acne-related bacteria create biofilms which are protective shields that resist the body’s defenses and topical treatments, allowing breakouts to persist and upsetting the skin’s microbiome.”
How Antioxidants Help Your Skin’s Microbiome
Antioxidants block harmful molecules before they can damage cells. This helps protect the skin’s balance, calm inflammation, support healthy immune function, and promote restoration of microbial diversity. By maintaining this harmony, antioxidants help your skin stay calm, clear, and better equipped to resist environmental stressors, which is why you need skincare products with antioxidants that balance your skin’s microbiome, like our Bioberry Infusion™ Collection. The products in our Bioberry Infusion™ Collection help:
- Calm reactivity and reduce visible redness.
- Disrupt acne-causing biofilms for clearer, more balanced skin.
- Support the skin’s natural defense system against inflammation.
- Enhance skin’s natural resistance to UVA/UVB damage.
- Work together with sunscreen for added protection against pollution, light, and oxidative stress.
- Prevent visible signs of aging caused by environmental and internal stressors.
- Fade the look of dark spots and discoloration.
- Reduce dullness by targeting excess melanin and oxidative stress.
- Give your skin a more even-toned, radiant complexion.
Healthy skin starts with balance. Shop skincare products from our BioBerry Infusion™ Collection today!
