No facial product is an island, and there’s something to be said about the power of skincare items to work together to bring you wonderful (or sometimes not so great) results.

It goes without saying that you should always check the ingredients in your products to make sure they’re not counteracting one another or combining to produce potentially harmful results. On the opposite end of the spectrum, some ingredients are best used together, and this is one area where antioxidants really excel.

“Every morning, protect your skin with a product containing a cocktail of antioxidants, since they often work best in synergy,” says New York City dermatologist Howard Sobel (who recommends those with vitamins A and C and coenzyme Q10, Allure.com suggests.

As long as you’re treating your skin to a nice combination of these vital ingredients, it wouldn’t hurt to get a good helping of them in your diet either. Choose foods that are rich in antioxidants such as blueberries, tea, pomegranates, red wine and olive oil.