While some have the option of retiring to the countryside and living it up at spas everyday, not everyone has the luxury of crisp, clear blue skies. Whether you realise it or not, the reality is that a large percentage of us live in big cities where issues like pollution impact us. Even the blue light from our smartphones and computers can have a disastrous dermal effect on our skin. But thankfully, there’s a new category of skincare – anti-pollution skincare – that specifically targets these issues. To get the 411 on what sort of havoc pollution can cause for our dermis, and what we can do about it with over-the-counter elixirs, keep scrolling.
How Does Pollution Affect Our Skin?
Skin is our largest organ and serves as a protective barrier. It’s forever on defense to help protect us against attacks from invaders, including the sun’s brutal UV rays and – yep, you guessed it – environmental pollutants. Sometimes, though, it’s a bit too much for our skin to handle, and so we begin to see the effects.
While UV rays are the primary culprit, pollutants damage the skin in a similar way. When the UV rays from the sun hit our skin, it causes free radical damage by releasing free radicals in the skin. The free radicals then go on to release scavenger molecules which attach themselves to healthy skin cells. These scavenger molecules are responsible for causing the disintegration of healthy skin cells which leads to premature aging, sun spots, and pigmentation. This causes a chain reaction that degrades our collagen and elastin. Likewise, pollution causes inflammation, damages collagen, disrupts the skin barrier, and may consequently accelerate aging. Pollution can also have short-term effects, like redness, rashes, and inflammation. It may even worsen conditions such as eczema, acne, and even skin cancer.
What Exactly Is Anti-Pollution Skincare?
The goal here is to serve as backup for your skin’s natural defenses. The anti-pollution skincare products are formulated with intensive, highly-selective group of ingredients to defend against free radical damage that occurs at a deep level. They also contain ingredients to seal the skin so it’s less penetrable, to begin with.
A lot of anti-pollution skincare products are also formulated with SPF to shield our skin from the sun’s rays, as well as soothing ingredients to calm irritation and inflammation. Some products are marketed specifically as anti-pollution, but many other skincare products already have these noble qualities. When in doubt, look for barrier-strengthening ingredients and antioxidants such as peptides and ceramides. And SPF, obvio.
The Best Skincare Routine To Fight Against Pollution
In The A.M: Barrier-Boosters, Antioxidants, And SPF
Cleansing in the morning is up to you. Some prefer to dive right into their regimen, some prefer to wash, and others prefer to simply wash with water. Whatever the case, it’s best to start with antioxidant-rich serum or/and toner, and layer it with a moisturising product that strengthens the skin barrier. Seal the deal with an SPF as it serves as a shield to ward off harmful rays from the sun as well as your digital devices.
In The P.M.: Cleanse, Treat, Moisturise
Cleansing your face before going to bed is non-negotiable as it helps to remove dirt, makeup, and debris that gets stuck in your pores that you don’t want to bring to bed. If you don’t want to have clogged large pores, pimples, bumpy skin, and premature aging, you need to cleanse your face thoroughly. After patting dry, apply a skin treatment such as an exfoliant or retinoid. Exfoliating products formulated with AHAs and BHAs help in sloughing off dead skin cells, revealing a newer, brighter complexion underneath. These exfoliants can be alternated with retinoids to improve cell turnover to correct and protect. Follow up with a moisturiser to hydrate your skin.
Better safe than sorry!
Featured Image: Instagram