Women's Health - USA (2019-06)

50 / WOMEN’S HEALTH JUNE 2019

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SKINTENTION

YOUR MONTHLY MANTRA FOR

HEALTHIER, HAPPIER SKIN

“

I will

boost my

SPF with

antioxidants.

By Marta Topran”

Your sunscreen game?

Pro level. Now it’s time

to take it up a notch.

(Yes, there’s more to

sun protection than just SPF.) To

really guard your skin, you have to

address the two main issues with

sun exposure: UV light (check!)

and the collagen- and elastin-

destroying free radicals it produc-

es. That’s where antioxidants

come in. “They’re like little Pac-

Men that go around eating up free

radicals,” says dermatologist and

WH advisory board member Mona

Gohara, MD. “Antioxidants work

synergistically with SPF.”

STEP ONE

Pick Your

Power Player

While there are

tons of great anti-

oxidants out there

(vitamin E, green

tea, and resveratrol,

to name a few), Dr.

Gohara is a huge fan

of vitamin C: “It’s

tried and true in

terms of efficacy.”

Plus, aside from its

free radical–fighting

power, it boasts

additional benefits,

like building col-

you’re getting, as

with these top buys:

10% L’ O r é a l P a r i s

Revitalift Derm

Intensives 10% Pure

Vitamin C Concen-

trate, $30, loreal

parisusa.com

15% Lancôme 15%

Vitamin C Correct-

ing Concentrate, $65,

lancome-usa.com

30% Revision

Skincare C+ Correct-

ing Complex 30%,

$160, revision

skincare.com

lagen and reducing

dark spots. Go for a

stand-alone serum

versus an SPF with

vitamin C (the

antioxidants aren’t

typically as highly

concentrated) and

apply it as your first

skin-care step in the

a.m. Even better?

Choose a product

that states the exact

percentage of C,

so you know what

STEP TWO

End With SPF

The type you choose doesn’t matter,

says Dr. Gohara, as long as it’s one you can

commit to using. Olay Sun SPF 35 + Shine

Control ($20, at drugstores) squashes your

“but SPF makes me greasy” excuses. And

Neutrogena Hydro Boost City Shield Water

Gel with SPF 25 ($20, at drugstores) doubles

as a moisturizer, if you’re anti–extra

effort. Now, go crush that run—or

your typical day—safely.