This Serum is Your Sunscreen's Best Friend

What's the most hard-working product in your skin care regimen? Nope, not a moisturizer. It is, in fact, a serum—and while serums come in a mind-boggling array of iterations (firming, hydrating, brightening, exfoliating, and on and on), consider the antioxidant formulation most crucial to your skin's overall health. "Ultraviolet radiation, pollution, and blue light from computer screens all cause oxidative stress that can directly destroy DNA and lead to faster aging in earlier onset of skin cancer," says dermatologist Dusan Sajic. "For this reason it is important to use antioxidants that will neutralize the free radicals that are generated through through these mechanisms." And because free radicals are generated by so many things that SPF can't block, it's extra important to use an antioxidant serum in the daytime under sunscreen. As New Orleans dermatologist Mary Lupo says, "antioxidants plug the holes in protection from free radical damage," making skin more resilient to the nasties in the environment.

Antioxidant serums aren't just about protection. Vitamin C, for example, "may also work to brighten the skin and improve the overall complexion," says dermatologist Marisa Garshick. The most potent, and proven, antioxidant ingredients—including Vitamins A, C, E, and B3 (niacinamide), green tea polyphenols and resveratrol—benefit skin in myriad ways, including reducing fine lines and dark spots, and preventing collagen degradation. But remember, in the long game there is no such such thing as a quick fix. "I explain to my patients that you don’t get immediate results," says Florida dermatologist Melissa Lazarus. "These products prove their effectiveness over time." Here are ten of the best ways to get started.