Quick answer
Sunscreen blocks UV. Antioxidants handle what gets through — and the pollution that sunscreen does nothing about.
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1. They neutralise free radicals
UV and air pollution generate free radicals in skin — unstable molecules that damage collagen and drive pigmentation. Antioxidants neutralise them. Sunscreen and antioxidants solve different halves of the same problem, which is why they are used together rather than instead of each other.
The common ones
2. Vitamin C, vitamin E, niacinamide, ferulic acid
Vitamin C — the best-studied, also brightens over time. Unstable; buy small, opaque, air-tight packaging.
Vitamin E — works alongside vitamin C, stabilising it.
Niacinamide — gentler, also helps barrier and oil.
Ferulic acid — mostly a stabiliser for vitamin C.
How to use
3. Morning, before moisturizer and sunscreen
Morning, on clean skin, before moisturizer and sunscreen. Daily. The benefit is cumulative and preventive — you are avoiding future damage, not reversing yesterday's.
Why it matters here
4. Dhaka's winter air is a daily free-radical load
Dhaka's air is among the worst in the world from November to March. That is a free-radical load on skin all day, every day, that no sunscreen addresses.
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Frequently asked questions
Which antioxidant serum suits oily, acne-prone skin?
A niacinamide-based antioxidant serum usually suits oily, acne-prone skin well, since it is lightweight and also helps manage oil. If using vitamin C, pick a thin, gel-based formula rather than a heavier oil-based one.
How can I tell if a vitamin C serum is genuine?
Check that the batch code on the bottle matches the box, and watch for a sudden color change to dark brown or orange. Packaging that uses clear glass instead of opaque, air-tight packaging, or a sour, metallic smell, is also worth questioning.
Does Dhaka's air pollution make an antioxidant serum more necessary?
Air pollution increases free radical exposure on the skin, and an antioxidant serum helps neutralize some of that damage, so it can be a useful extra layer in high-pollution areas. It is not a substitute for sunscreen, so both should be used together.