When Nerida Joy—aesthetician to Jennifer Garner, Jessica Simpson and many other A-Listers—tells you to use a skin-care ingredient, you listen. And when she tells you she loves an ingredient, you stop everything and start slathering it.
“Flavonoids are an ‘unsung’ hero in skin care. They are powerful phytonutrients that protect and feed the skin valuable, rich nutrients,” says Joy, explaining that flavonoids originate from plants such as fruits, vegetables, grains, roots and flowers. “They offer so much support to our skin in all seasons and climates.”
Featured Experts
- Nerida Joy is a celebrity aesthetician
- Emme Diane Burg is an aesthetician and founder/CEO of Emme Diane
What does a flavonoid serum do?
“I think the better question is, what don’t they do?” says Emme Diane Burg, aesthetician and founder/CEO of Emme Diane. “I normally try to avoid describing any ingredient as a ‘powerhouse’ in skin care. That word gets thrown around a lot. But flavonoids really do offer a wide range of benefits, depending on the specific type.”
Joy particularly likes the ingredient for “nurturing” sensitive skin by supporting the circulatory system and strengthening the capillary (aka blood vessel) walls. “They can calm and regulate cellular activity,” she adds. “Plus, they are a powerful antioxidant that strengthens, brightens and nurtures delicate skin types.”
As an all-encompassing antioxidant, flavonoids can help neutralize free radicals caused by environmental stressors like UV rays and pollution. “This process helps prevent oxidative stress, which can lead to premature aging, like fine lines and wrinkles,” Burg explains. “Plus, they take anti-aging benefits one step further by also preventing the breakdown of collagen and elastin.”
Beyond that, flavonoids have strong anti-inflammatory properties, making them ideal for soothing irritation and reducing inflammation. “That’s great for anyone dealing with conditions like rosacea or acne or just sensitive skin in general,” says Burg. “Along that same note, they can also boost the skin’s natural healing process, making them beneficial for repairing all types of damage like sunburns and acne.”
And finally, flavonoids support the skin’s moisture barrier, which is important for maintaining a healthy, hydrated complexion, Burg says. “A strong moisture barrier is truly the foundation of good skin, so any ingredients that support it are a win in my book!”
How do experts recommend using a flavonoid serum?
Like all antioxidant products, Burg thinks flavonoid serums are “amazing” for the skin. But she does stress that other complexion considerations are needed. “I always stress to my clients that it’s more important to have a balanced skin-care routine that includes antioxidants, anti-aging and anti-inflammatory properties, instead of chasing after trendy products or ingredients. Flavonoids are great for addressing these concerns, as are so many other amazing ingredients that offer these properties as well.”
The real key, Burg says, “is to build a thoughtful skin-care routine that addresses your specific concerns and has ingredients that play well together, instead of chasing one specific ingredient and expecting it to solve all of your problems.”
What should consumers look for when using the ingredient?
Joy prefers flavonoids in a serum form via a compound delivery system. “I personally use flavonoids daily in my skin-care regimen, and they are a very important preparation step in my custom salon facial treatments,” she adds.
