Living in the city and exploring foreign cities is not only exciting, but educational, culturally enlightening and full of life experiences! The downside however is pollution and pollution is only second to the sun in being public enemy number 1 to our skin!
The biggest issue is Air pollution (such as toxic particles, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide emissions from cars, and lead from factories) which contains microscopic contaminants, called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which produce “free radicals” in the skin. These strip the skin of barrier lipids, which help retain moisture and keep out dirt and other impurities.
But that’s not all, pollutants can also clog pores and compromise skin function (and a compromised skin barrier can lead to increased skin sensitivity, discomfort and especially pigmentation issues). It will also lead to premature signs of ageing, including lines and loss of firmness.
The good news is that you can minimise the harmful effects that pollution has on your skin! Here’s how:
* Remove your makeup and properly cleanse your face ; once in the morning and a double cleanse at night.
* Exfoliate your skin! – a manual exfoliation once a month and a physical (Acid) exfoliation once a week.
* Moisturise your skin morning and night.
* Apply topical antioxidants and serums rich in peptides.
* Protect your skin from the sun. I can’t stress this enough!!!
* Eat foods rich in antioxidants and healthy fats
