17/12/2019
How To Protect Your Skin From Pollution?
Pollution is probably one of the biggest inconveniences of urban living. Just like UV light, pollution is a serious risk to your health and of course, your skin. Thankfully, there’s now a whole host of ways to protect your skin from pollution.
Here are the anti-pollution way essentials you’ll need to win the battle against free radical damage, repair damaged skin barrier and beat skin-scavenging pollutants for good.
HOW DOES AIR POLLUTION DAMAGE YOUR SKIN?
Pollutants generate free radicals on the surface of the skin which can lead to sensitivity. When the level of free radicals exceeds our skin’s defence mechanisms, the skin cells are placed in a state of oxidative stress.
Pollution leads to damage and depletion of everything your skin needs to be healthy and younger looking. Here is a number of problems pollution can cause your skin:
- Pigmentation spots
- A dull, uneven complexion
- Wrinkles
- Enlarged pores
- Red, sensitive skin
- Dry skin that feels itchy and/or taut
Breathing in polluted air is the most direct route for air pollution to get into the body. You can help reduce this damage by not smoking and by eating rich diet full of antioxidants to keep your body and skin healthy.
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO PROTECT YOUR SKIN?
Remove your makeup and properly cleanse your face twice a day to remove dirt and get rid of as many pollutants as possible.
Exfoliate your skin once or twice a week. In addition to unclogging your pores and removing dead skin cells, exfoliating prevents pollutants, dirt and bacteria from building up. And as an added bonus, the products you apply afterwards will be all the more effective!
If your skin is getting too dry, you must apply cocoa butter. It helps to promote skin’s elasticity and reduce scarring. To keep your skin healthy, apply it twice a week for skin nourishment.
FIY, centuries-old natural ingredients like honey, antibacterial propolis and beeswax can help fight oxidative damage from free radicals and work as a skin barrier (essentially what the fancy anti-pollution products are doing, without the name).
Protect your skin from the sun. We can’t stress it enough: applying sun protection (or a cream that includes sun protection) on a daily basis is essential. Not only are UV rays harmful to the skin, but they also amplify the effects of pollutants! So, make sure to apply sunscreen every day, year-round.
Eat foods rich in antioxidants and healthy fats. In addition to being delicious and good for you, garlic, almonds, eggplant, broccoli, avocado, whole grains, oily fish and eggs help restore the skin’s hydrolipidic film and promote healthy tissues.
