How Air Quality Impacts Your Skin
Dimitra Karagiannidi
We've long believed that air quality is one of the most important components in creating clean, effective skin care, even though the capacity to detect and research the effects of pollution scientifically may be relatively new.
The skin, being the outermost barrier, is affected by ultraviolet radiation, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, volatile organic chemicals, oxides, particulate matter, ozone, and cigarette smoke. Air pollutants harm the skin because they cause oxidative stress. Although the human skin repels pro-oxidative chemicals and physical air pollutants, repeated or protracted exposure to these pollutants at high levels can have serious adverse effects on the skin. UV light exposure has been linked to skin cancer and extrinsic skin aging. Smoking cigarettes causes early aging and raises the risk of skin cancer, acne, and psoriasis.
Effects of Pollution on the Skin
For many years, the sun's UV rays were the only known environmental factor capable of wreaking havoc on our complexions. Another culprit has surfaced more recently: the air itself. However, unlike the sun, air pollution does not exhibit any early warning indications.
According to many studies, air pollution may significantly affect the skin, causing obvious indicators of aging like fine lines and pigmentation to show on the skin before they should.
What effect air pollution has on botanical substances developed expressly for skin care is a far less well-known aspect of this narrative.
Toxins limit oxygenation by obstructing your pores and building up on your skin. The surface contaminates your face. Your skin suffocates, loses its sheen, and flaws start to show. Additionally, exposure to free radicals, unstable molecules brought on by cellular oxidation, hastens your skin's aging process.
One last and most detrimental impact of pollution on your skin is that it regularly weakens the natural protective layer (a.k.a. hydrolipid film). Your skin becomes more reactive and vulnerable due to losing that protection. A vicious spiral then develops. You could experience the following consequences, to name a few:
Driedness and dehydration
Hyperpigmentation
Dull skin
Dilated pores and breakouts
Premature aging
How to Protect Your Skin Against Air Pollution
Remove your makeup and wash your face thoroughly twice daily to eliminate dirt and as many contaminants as possible.
Exfoliate every other evening.. Exfoliating clears your pores, removes dead skin cells, and prevents germs, pollutants, and debris from accumulating. And as an extra benefit, the things you use afterward will work even better! Our pollutant-fighting Daily Detox contains activated charcoal and mineral-rich clays to draw pollution and excess oil from the skin, while detoxifying geranium, rosemary, and basil which contain lots of chlorophyll which generates oxygen along with papaya enzymes and over 20 different botanicals.
Moisturize. Your skin needs moisturizer both day and night. The skin barrier is strengthened by regular moisturizing to reduce the risk of air contaminants penetrating skin cells and causing oxidative stress. Apply an active ingredient-packed serum to your face after washing or exfoliating it, then moisturize with a product suitable for your skin type (moisturizing cream, lotion, fluid, gel, etc.). The serum and cream work in tandem to restore barrier protection on your skin.
Daily sun protection (or a lotion with sun protection) must be applied. UV rays are harmful to the skin, but they make pollution worse! Therefore, remember to use sunscreen all year long.
Add food rich in antioxidants to your diet. Free radicals may damage skin cells and antioxidants bond to them. Garlic, almonds, eggplant, broccoli, avocado, whole grains, fatty salmon, and eggs help replenish the skin's hydrolipidic layer, support healthy tissues, and be delicious and healthful foods.
Make sure to take care of your skin and use the right products to protect it from pollution and damage! Green Chemistry has a carefully created collection of products using only botanically derived ingredients. Check them out: https://www.greenchemistryinc.com/shop