Silymarin
A milk-thistle-derived antioxidant, best known as the namesake active in oil-focused vitamin C serums, studied for helping skin look protected against visible environmental stress. It is extracted from milk thistle seed and is most often formulated alongside vitamin C and ferulic acid rather than on its own, rounding out an antioxidant blend built for daytime use under sunscreen. It is also associated in early research with the look of a clearer, more even surface on oilier skin types.
Studied for
- ·Antioxidant support against the look of environmental dullness
- ·The appearance of a clearer, more even surface on oily skin
- ·Supporting the look of skin protected from visible UV and pollution stress
- ·The look of a more even-toned complexion with continued antioxidant use
How it’s thought to work
A plant polyphenol studied for antioxidant activity that pairs with vitamin C and ferulic acid to support the appearance of protected, even-looking skin. It is thought to help neutralize the free-radical stress linked to UV and pollution exposure, the same rationale behind most daytime antioxidant serums. Its oil-friendly formulation also makes it a common fit for lighter, non-aqueous vitamin C serums that skip a water phase.
In a small trial, silymarin cream was linked with a more even looking skin tone and lighter looking dark patches over the study.
The treatment of melasma by silymarin cream. BMC Dermatology, 2012.
View on PubMed (PMID 23031632) ↗Questions
- Is silymarin the same as milk thistle supplements?
- It comes from the same plant, but a topical silymarin serum is formulated for the skin’s surface, and the two are not interchangeable.
- Does silymarin work on its own?
- Most of the evidence and most formulas pair it with vitamin C and ferulic acid rather than using it alone, so it is best thought of as part of an antioxidant blend.
- Is silymarin good for oily or blemish-prone skin?
- It shows up in some formulas aimed at oilier skin for the look of a clearer, more even surface, though the evidence here is more limited than for its antioxidant role.