Astaxanthin

What is it?

A carotenoid antioxidant, often algae-derived, used in skincare to help neutralize reactive oxygen species from UV, visible light and pollution exposure.

What does it do?

According to PubMed, a 12-week open-label clinical study of a topical antioxidant serum containing vitamin C, astaxanthin, fermented turmeric and vitamin E found all 32 subjects showed improvement in overall skin quality, with all subjects showing improved fine-line appearance by week 12 -- real clinical evidence for the multi-antioxidant formulation, not astaxanthin tested in isolation.

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Sources

A clinical evaluation of the efficacy and tolerability of a novel topical antioxidant formulation featuring vitamin C, astaxanthin, and fermented turmeric

Important disclaimer

This page provides general skincare information and is not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Ingredient interactions and evidence summaries reflect published, cited sources — not a personal assessment of your skin. For medical skin conditions, rashes, pregnancy/lactation questions or persistent concerns, please consult a licensed dermatologist or HPCSA-registered practitioner.