A method for characterizing an oxidative stress protective capacity of an antioxidative substance, wherein the oxidative stress protective capacity is a topical oxidative stress protective capacity relative to human skin, the method comprising: assigning a first score indicative of an oxidative stress protective capacity of an antioxidative substance, the first score being based on a performance of the antioxidative substance in a first antioxidative efficacy test, wherein the first score is based on the performance of the antioxidative substance in the first antioxidative efficacy test relative to a standard and wherein the standard is indicative of unprotected human skin; assigning a second score indicative of an oxidative stress protective capacity of the antioxidative substance, the second score being based on a performance of the antioxidative substance in a second antioxidative efficacy test relative to a standard and wherein the standard is indicative of unprotected human skin; and totalling the first and second scores so as to provide a total score characterizing the topical oxidative stress protective capacity of the antioxidative substance, relative to the human skin, wherein the first and second antioxidative efficacy tests are selected from the following five tests: Test 1: UVB irradiation of human skin measuring damage by formation of sunburn cells, wherein the ability of each antioxidant to protect against UV induced oxidative stress is determined; Test 2: radical scavenging capacity measured by photochemilluminescence, wherein the ability of the antioxidant to suppress free radical formation is determined; Test 3: low density lipoprotein pro-oxidative systems measuring primary oxidation by-products, wherein the antioxidant's ability to suppress lipid oxidation is determined; Test 4: microsome pro-oxidative system measuring secondary oxidation by-products, wherein the antioxidant's ability to protect against cell membrane oxidation is determined; and Test 5: UVB irradiation of keratinocytes measuring DNA damage, wherein the antioxidant's ability to protect against UV induced oxidative stress is determined. assigning a first score indicative of an oxidative stress protective capacity of an antioxidative substance, the first score being based on a performance of the antioxidative substance in a first antioxidative efficacy test, wherein the first score is based on the performance of the antioxidative substance in the first antioxidative efficacy test relative to a standard and wherein the standard is indicative of unprotected human skin; assigning a second score indicative of an oxidative stress protective capacity of the antioxidative substance, the second score being based on a performance of the antioxidative substance in a second antioxidative efficacy test relative to a standard and wherein the standard is indicative of unprotected human skin; and totalling the first and second scores so as to provide a total score characterizing the topical oxidative stress protective capacity of the antioxidative substance, relative to the human skin, wherein the first and second antioxidative efficacy tests are selected from the following five tests: Test 1: UVB irradiation of human skin measuring damage by formation of sunburn cells, wherein the ability of each antioxidant to protect against UV induced oxidative stress is determined; Test 2: radical scavenging capacity measured by photochemilluminescence, wherein the ability of the antioxidant to suppress free radical formation is determined; Test 3: low density lipoprotein pro-oxidative systems measuring primary oxidation by-products, wherein the antioxidant's ability to suppress lipid oxidation is determined; Test 4: microsome pro-oxidative system measuring secondary oxidation by-products, wherein the antioxidant's ability to protect against cell membrane oxidation is determined; and Test 5: UVB irradiation of keratinocytes measuring DNA damage, wherein the antioxidant's ability to protect against UV induced oxidative stress is determined. Test 1: UVB irradiation of human skin measuring damage by formation of sunburn cells, wherein the ability of each antioxidant to protect against UV induced oxidative stress is determined; Test 2: radical scavenging capacity measured by photochemilluminescence, wherein the ability of the antioxidant to suppress free radical formation is determined; Test 3: low density lipoprotein pro-oxidative systems measuring primary oxidation by-products, wherein the antioxidant's ability to suppress lipid oxidation is determined; Test 4: microsome pro-oxidative system measuring secondary oxidation by-products, wherein the antioxidant's ability to protect against cell membrane oxidation is determined; and Test 5: UVB irradiation of keratinocytes measuring DNA damage, wherein the antioxidant's ability to protect against UV induced oxidative stress is determined.