By Yoana
How does pollution affect your skin?
Anti-Pollution skincare is the buzzword of the moment in the beauty industry. But how does pollution affect our skin, and what do we need to look for to protect our skin from pollution?We love the hustle and the bustle of the city, but it seems we’re only just realising the adverse effect it can have on our skin. Pollution levels are at an all-time high, for example London’s Oxford Street has the worst pollution levels in the world – with 10x the legal limit of nitrogen dioxide. All those chemical, dirt and dust particles can not only make your skin feel unclean and irritated, it can also affect how the skin ages.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology found that high levels of nitrogen dioxide are linked to increases in age spots and hyper pigmentation. Pollution can also break down the skin’s natural barrier, leaving it exposed to free radical damage, which can damage the DNA of your skin, leading to damaged elastin fibres, impaired collagen synthesis and melanin production.
The resulting sagging skin, wrinkles and age spots can make your skin look up to 10x older than those who live in less polluted areas!
Starting an anti-pollution skincare regime
Cleansing your skin every night is essential to remove dirt and toxins from the skin’s surface. All ZO Skin Health and ZO Medical cleansers are the first step in your anti-pollution skincare regime, and remove dirt and oil without leaving a residue.Exfoliating also works to give your skin a deeper clean, and help your serums and other skincare products penetrate the skin. Offects Exfoliating Polish is ideal for all skin types, and contains vitamin C, A and E for antioxidant protection and to help achieve glowing skin.
An antioxidant serum is crucial to protect skin against pollution damage. Antioxidants interact with free radicals, and stops them from damaging the skin. Vitamin C is a great anti-oxidant and is also essential to produce collagen. ZO Medical C-Bright 10% Vitamin C Serum provides a high dose of stabilized pure vitamin C, perfect to reduce the effects of pollution on the skin. The addition of coenzyme Q10, another powerful antioxidant, helps to defend against other environmental triggers that cause inflammation.
The last step in your anti-pollution skincare regime should always be an SPF – many people forget that their skin needs UV protection all year round, and an SPF adds an additional layer of protection to your skin. Zo Skin Health Oclipse® Sunscreen + Primer SPF 30 gives daily multi-defence protection from UVA rays, UVB rays and HEV light, as well as continuous antioxidant protection against free radical damage and the harmful effects of IR-A rays.
