Having a bad air day? We all know poor air quality can affect our health, but the effect of city living on our skin is becoming increasingly apparent.
If you’re not up for a move to the countryside, it’s probably time to introduce some anti-pollution skincare to your everyday routine.
1. We need anti-pollution skincare more than ever
Scientists suggest global air pollution increased by 5% between 2016 and 2018 alone. That heavy black dust that seems like part and parcel of city life is actually a cocktail of carbon (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons or PAH), oxides, ozone and cigarette smoke… amongst other things.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t stop there. Our skin is also subjected to further pollution from UV rays and ‘domestic’ pollution from the chemicals and cleaning products we come into contact with in our day to day life.
2. Cleansing isn’t enough
Over the course of a day these pollutants land and accumulate on the surface of our skin. Think your evening cleanse is taking care of them? You might want to think again.
While thorough cleansing is important for healthy, happy skin, these tiny particles can penetrate deep into the pores wreaking havoc with our natural skin functions. These problematic particles interfere with the skin’s protective barrier function and contribute to oxidative stress, causing damage to DNA and, over time, wrinkles and skin cancer.
3. Get a second skin
Thankfully it’s not all doom and gloom. Technology is catching up and scientists have identified a clever biosaccharide gum-4 (known as Gylcofilm) which creates an instant, transparent and breathable layer on the skin when applied.
We use this glycofilm in our SkinHit Protecting Serum with Anti-Pollution and Blue Light Actives to create a weightless ‘second skin’ that physically shields the skin against pollution and external aggressors. This protective layer prevents particles becoming lodged on the skin and makes them easier to wash away at the end of the day.
4. Don’t sleep on antioxidants
It’s thought smog can reduce the natural antioxidant levels in our skin by 25% in just a few hours, making it more important than ever top up topically.
Our SkinHit Protecting Serum with Anti-Pollution and Blue Light Actives contains a powerful and stable form of antioxidant carotenoid and vitamin E to counteract the free radicals our skin comes into contact with during the day. Helpfully this carotenoid also helps to filter out our other modern skin nemesis – blue light.
5. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate
Alongside cleansing, stocking up on antioxidants and physically blocking out pollution, one of the best things we can do for city skin is invest in a good moisturiser to keep skin well hydrated.
Moisturising boosts the barrier function of our skin, helping to keep it strong and resilient, whatever the day throws at it.
