How Pollution is affecting your Skin – Here’s How to Fix your Face
We all know how much pollution is affecting climate change, but do we know how much it is taking a toll on our skin?
When pollution comes into contact with your skin, it doesn’t just sit on the surface that you can just wipe away with a face wipe.
"Pollution can cause uneven skin tone, accelerated aging and even skin cancer," says Doris Day, M.D., clinical associate professor of dermatology at New York University Langone Medical Center.
Microscopic specks of smoke, soot, acid and other pollutants are released into the atmosphere from sources like fires, construction sites, cars and power plants.
Tiny, bite-sized particles can be up to 20 times smaller than your pores, infiltrating layers of epidermis that leads to clogged pores, dehydration, inflammation and loss of elasticity & firmness – leading to dark spots, fine lines and wrinkles.
According to Dr Zoe Draelos, the consulting professor of Dermatology at Duke University of Durham, North Carolina, ‘Pollution breaks down collagen and the lipid layer in the skin which impairs skin barrier functions.’
Clean your Face Right
You should be washing you daily anyway, but your cleansing routine should be taken more seriously if you live in a city.
Simply wiping your face will not cut it. Exfoliating and deep cleansing is the only way to rid of the harmful pollutants embedded in your pores. A mild cleanse in the morning without any hard scrubbing will help prep your skin for the day whereas a deep exfoliation at night will help demolish sweat, grease and everyday dirt that builds up in your pores.
By using an electric exfoliating brush, it will reach areas a basic exfoliator cannot, leading to a more effective result. As a final step, soak a cotton pad with toner, then wipe it across your skin. "It's especially worth doing when you're in a big city," Dr. Drealos says. "It lifts off any debris that may be left behind."
For a clean, natural exfoliating treatment, try Give Me’s Natural Mud Bubble Mask. Full of oxygen and minerals, the bubbles help dig deep in your pores to lift any soot and dirt collection.
Feed your Skin with the Right Food
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It’s so important to eat the right foods for overall health but it is equally important to eat certain foods to protect our skin. We all know that when you eat greasy food your skin will become greasy, but do you know that eating food containing antioxidants will help improve the appearance of your skin.
Eat antioxidant-rich foods such as blueberries, leafy greens and beans are super beneficial for your skin. "They play a powerful role in our body's ability to repair itself, particularly the skin," Dr. Gilbert says.
To improve elasticity and feed your skin with the nutrients that are stripped away by polluted particles, try Give Me’s Face Fix Sheet Mask. Containing collagen, antioxidant natural plant extracts & Vitiamin E to build a resistance against dirty air.
Protect your Skin
As you are aware, sunscreen protects your skin from the sun, but when skin is exposed to excessive amounts of pollution in the air, it becomes more difficult to create a barrier of protection against the sun, even on a cloudy day. UV rays become accelerants: If you have hyperpigmentation or inflammation, they'll make it worse.
Importance of sunscreen and antioxidant moisturizers double in big city’s due to the risk high volume of pollution ingestion into the skin.
