As the world begins to upon up after a lengthy pandemic, we are once again exposing ourselves to high levels of pollutants. At the same time, the skincare community has become growingly concerned about the effects of pollution on our skin as we become more conscious of what is actually in the air that we breath. Read on to see how pollution could be the invisible enemy that is the root to all of your skincare ailments and how exactly you can fight it.
Pollution. What is it and what is it doing to your skin?
Airborne pollutants known as particulate matter (PM) include soot, dust and smoke. Often these airborne pollutants are invisible but can be seen in the air in high concentrations. These particles can seep into your pores and cause your skin to feel dirty. What's worse is smaller particulate matter will penetrate the skins layers and cause oxidative stress. Oxidative stress caused by pollution can weaken the skins barrier and trigger inflammation. The oxidation of the skin in the lipid layer causes essential collagen to be broken down into the skin causing a loss of elasticity and firmness. Even if pollutant particles are too big to enter the skin and its deeper layers, they can still disturb the upper layer and cause dehydration, sensitivity, uneven skin tone, dullness, acne and premature aging. Pollution has been known to be a large contributor to the causation of skin pigmentation issues, uneven skin tone and dullness and the formation of wrinkles.
Live in the City or have Sensitive skin? Stay extra vigilant.
Unfortunately, for those living in the city there is no way to avoid pollution altogether. It was found that those who lived in the city and looked after their skin still experienced more dehydration despite using the same products of those living in rural zones.
If you're a city girl/boy with sensitive skin, perhaps its time to start making some changes to your routine. When you have sensitive or inflamed skin your skin barrier will be weaker than other skin types; becoming more prone to pollutants being able to enter the body via the skin and cause internal cell damage. It might be time to start thinking about extra precautions against those environmental stressors...
It's not all grey! Here's how you can fight the effects...
Thankfully, there are many easy habits which we can adapt for our lives than can lead to our bodies experiencing less cell damage in our lifetimes from pollution. At the end of the day it's all about protection, prevention and killing the pollutants. How to fight the effects of pollution:
There are many routes to fighting pollution. Through oral, internal and eternal through skincare routine, diet and exercise and lifestyle. The aim is to block as many pollutants as possible from invading skin by maintaining a healthy barrier function. Here's some basic advice that will help you to protect your skin from pollutants and combat its effects. Here's some basic advice that will help you to protect your skin from pollutants and combat its effects.
But first...SPF.
Wearing an SPF is the only certain way you can protect yourself from most pollutants entering your skin/body. Sunscreens help to create a physical and chemical barrier that other skincare products just wont be able to offer you. SPF 30 no less and don't forget to reapply throughout the day. Simple as that.
Anti-Oxidants are your friend
The effects of pollution on your skin can be treated from both the inside and outside. Consuming antioxidant rich foods like berries, nuts and thick leafy greens can help to combat the effects of pollution by neutralising free radicals that meet the skins surface and limit the amount of internal cell damage that pollutants cause. Adopting a morning skincare routine rich in antioxidants will help your skin throughout the day to repel the pollution you will face. Look out especially for vitamins C and E; best of all if in combination.
Hydration is always key
Dry and dehydrated skin can make the skin barrier vulnerable and more prone to pollutants entering the skin. It is also one of the biggest contributing factors to premature aging. And because there is a difference between dry and hydrated skin, a combination of drinking enough water, staying in cooler conditions and adopting a hydrating nigh time routine must be utilised in order to maintain a hydrated and non-dry skin barrier. Look for a deeply hydrating treatment as one of your weekly facials; focusing on rehydrating the skin as a part of your night time routine is essential as your skin can lose a lot of its moisture throughout the day.
Just don't smoke...Please.
We're not going to explain this. If you're smoking and you're worried about the health of your skin then we suggest addressing other aspects of your health first. #factsdontcareaboutyourfeelings
Opt for double cleansing in the evenings
Using an oil based cleanser first followed by a water based cleanser is the best technique in ensuring that you cleanse your skin of most impurities. If you have sensitive skin and you're worried about irritating your skin, we recommend only double cleansing when you've have 'pollutant intense days' i.e. been out in the city or done a lot of commuting that day.
Keep your home environment clean
After a long day of activity, we welcome into our homes a lot of unwanted pollution that can build up and become regular residents to our skin. Regular cleaning and quality control of your homes air can help to limit the amount of pollution found in your home. Household pollution is particularly shown to be a large contributing factor to communicable diseases.
Investing in an air filter and indoor house plants like snake, spider and aloe vera can help to combat the effects of indoor pollution. These plants are easy to keep and great for mental clarity though there is some debate about how much they actually benefit the cleaning of your homes air.
Utilise effective treatments
Both home and spa treatments can be highly effective in combating pollution related skincare issues. Opt for a more intense treatment once a month if possible and utilise at home facials 2-3 times a week. We suggest breaking your at home facials into 3 types: exfoliating, hydrating and brightening. For a brightening facial, try our Thanaka Powder Infused City Cleanse Face Mask; formulated with Spirulina, Vitamin C and Hyaluronic Acid to help fight the effects airborne pollutants.
Diet, Lifestyle and Supplements
A lot of our skincare ailments can be cured without the skincare. Following a diet that's rich in antioxidants with plenty of water can help the body to naturally produce a healthy amount of collagen and hydration . Weekly cardio sessions that get you sweating have also been found to help regular pore size and healthy blood flow to the skin which can optimise your skin to be able to fight any harmful pollutants that may come its way.
Supplements like collagen, CoQ10 and regular top ups on vitamin C are also an effective way to ensure that the health of your skin barrier is well maintained and able to fight against the majority of pollutants. Supplements that help to keep the skin barrier in good health is what we are aiming for.
Skincare Ingredients to look out for:
Designing your skincare routine around pollution is a sure way to prevent premature aging, dullness, acne and excessive oiliness to the skin. Work towards including some of these ingredients into your routine and you're off to a winning start:
Antioxidants C, D, E and B3
CoQ10
Ceramides
Fatty Acids
Niacinamide
Hyaluronic Acid
Glycerin
Panthenol
Other things to consider:
Do not over exfoliate or use perfumes on the skin. Such common activities cause unnecessary skin irritation that can dehydrate and strip the skin of its natural oils which are there to protect your skin barrier. Any further damage to the skin barrier is asking for trouble so try to avoid these bad habits!
If you want to know more about the effects of pollution and how to treat it, visit our Instagram @tanakaskin where we post more digestible content.
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