The present invention is in the field of antioxidants and relates to cosmetic or pharmaceutical, preferably dermatological, compositions or homecare product comprising or consisting of a
synergistic combination of a specific
antioxidant and an effective amount of 1,2-heptanediol and / or 2,3-heptanediol or of a specific alkanediol or a mixture of two or more different specific alkanediols and the use of said compositions as a cosmetic, for
personal care, as a pharmaceutical or homecare product, in particular for
scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS), for inhibition matrix metalloproteinases expression and / or for inhibiting
interleukin 8 (IL-8)
secretion. Additionally, the present invention relates to the use of 1,2-heptanediol and / or 2,3-heptanediol or of a specific alkanediol or a mixture of two or more different specific alkanediols for enhancing the antioxidative effect of an
antioxidant in a cosmetic or pharmaceutical, preferably dermatological, composition or homecare product, and / or for enhancing the antioxidative effect of a cosmetic or pharmaceutical, preferably dermatological, composition upon application.