Astaxanthin is the fat-soluble pigment found in salmon and in algae.

Astaxanthin

What it is: Described as the ultimate antioxidant by New York dermatologist Dr. Kenneth Mark, astaxanthin is up to 1,000 times more potent than vitamin E. It is also found in nature as the fat-soluble pigment found in salmon and algae.

Why it looks promising: “This is a retinoid form of vitamin A and has all the typical benefits of retinoids — providing antioxidant protection and stimulating cell renewal,” Murad says. And according to a recent study, astaxanthin decreased hyper-pigmentation by more than 40%, Mark says.

Status: More clinical trials are necessary to prove its effectiveness.

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