Pollution is everywhere right now; it’s on the tv, on the radio and there’s no doubt that it’s is definitely on the rise. Nowadays, you don’t have to have live in the city for your skin to be affected by air pollution. Even our daily cooking, cleaning and driving activities can affect the radiance of our skin. But don’t worry, you don’t need to avoid even the slightest speck of irritant; you just need to make your skin stronger by adapting your skincare to your daily routine!
Where Does Pollution Come From?
Pollution is most places. Alongside damage from UV rays, the other harmful factors to be aware of when out and about are city smog, cigarette smoke, household chemicals, fuel emissions and pretty much anything that’s in the air, but shouldn’t be.
How Can Pollution Affect My Skin?
As pollution particles tend to be a lot smaller in size than our pores, these tiny irritants can slip straight into our skin and mess up our the complexion renewal process. This can lead to age spots, premature ageing, increased sensitivity, breakouts and the obvious side effect of dullness.
The Pollution Solution
1) Double Cleanse Skin
It may sound like common sense, but I can’t stress this enough how imperative it is to use a good cleanser. To avoid pollution having a huge impact on your skin, a double cleansing routine is a great way to remove the accumulation of dirt and grime on the skin.
If you’re new to double cleansing, it really is as simple as it sounds. The first step involves an oily cleanser to remove the top level of makeup and oil, while the second step should be water-based to rid your skin of any sweat and foreign impurities. Worried about about cleansing or concerned you haven’t got the time? It’s perfectly fine to leave the double cleansing until the evening, but don’t forget to cleanse your skin the morning after, too.
For the first cleansing phase, our customers love the DHC Deep Cleansing Oil – Facial Cleanser, especially for removing stubborn makeup.
To finish your cleanse, I highly recommend: Bioderma Sensibio Mild Cleansing Foaming Gel for sensitive skin, La Roche-Posay Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel for imperfection-prone skin and Decleor Aroma Cleanse 3 in 1 Hydra-Radiance Smoothing & Cleansing Mousse for dry and dehydrated skin.
2) Apply SPF
Protecting your skin with an SPF is another vital way to fight the dulling effects of pollution. Even if you’re not heading into scorching hot heat, this protective veil will hinder the process of pollution particles attacking your skin cells, helping your skin to regain its health, strength and radiance over time.
If you’re looking for a daily SPF that sits beautifully on bare skin, or underneath makeup, the Shiseido Urban Environment UV Protection Cream Plus SPF50 is a great starting point. Or for those looking for an easy application option, I swear by the La Roche-Posay Anthelios Anti-Shine Invisible Fresh Mist Spray SPF50+.
3) Antioxidants are essential
What are antioxidants? Well, they’re ingredients or substances that get rid of damaging oxidising agents such as smog, cigarette smoke and pollution, to stop them from harming our skin cells. Antioxidant ingredients include vitamins C and E, green tea, niacinamide and resveratrol; keep an eye out for these in your skincare, as they’re essential for strengthening up your skin cells in the fight against pollution.
Whether you choose to lather on an antioxidant-infused serum before you head out of the door, or you choose to use to use an intensive antioxidant night treatment to replenish your skin, choose wisely and make it count.
If you’re looking for a daily dose of protection in serum form, you can certainly get that from the Avene A-Oxitive Antioxidant Defense Serum as it uses sensitive skin-friendly pre-tocopheryl to fight environmental damage plus ascorbyl glucoside, a derivative of vitamin C, to defeat grey tones and dullness.
Personally, I love NIOD Survival 0, just because it was made to protect your skin from all of the pressing environmental factors that can induce photo-ageing and dullness. Plus, it helps to combat the effects of infrared blue light from late night mobile browsing, which as a social assistant is something I need to start putting to bed – literally.
When it comes to skincare, is pollution something that’s important to you? I’d love to hear all about how you protect your skin. If you need any other recommendations, you know where I am. Feel free to ask me and the team your beauty questions over on Twitter with #AskEscentual
Discover More:
• 5 Skincare Essentials Recommended By The Experts
• 5 Tried & Tested Cleansers We Love Using
