The best beauty buys to protect your skin from pollution
Let’s talk dirty. To be clear, I mean whether urban grime can have a negative impact on your complexion. I ask because recently a survey by Westfield’s How We Shop, a retail trends platform, revealed more than 70 per cent of Brits are worried about the effect of air pollution on their skin. Is that a legitimate concern or are we just falling for marketing hype as more products reference ‘anti-pollution’ on their labels?
First of all, air pollution comes in various forms and can include gases such as nitrogen oxides and organic compounds called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, both mainly caused by the action of combustion (still with me?). Another type most of us have heard of is particulate matter, a mix of tiny solid particles or liquid droplets, some of which we can see, such as dust and soot, with others invisible to the naked eye. Not surprisingly, sources of pollution include road traffic, building work and industrial processes.
Skincare expert Sarah Chapman, founder of the Skinesis line, is increasingly formulating products with pollution in mind. ‘There’s growing scientific evidence of its potentially harmful impact on skin,’ she says. ‘Research shows that it can compromise the skin’s barrier, cause free radical damage and accelerate ageing. It can also influence and exacerbate conditions such as atopic dermatitis, psoriasis and acne. One study even revealed participants living in polluted urban areas had about 20 per cent more hyperpigmentation than those residing in less polluted rural areas.’
So if you’re not about to up sticks and go to live in the Outer Hebrides (which, incidentally, is something I often contemplate during periods of maximum modern-day stress), what can you do to help defend your skin?
For starters, commit to regular and meticulous cleansing, especially at night. Don’t overdo it though and disrupt your skin’s barrier. I regularly use Simple cleansers but I tried and liked Skinesis Rapid Radiance Cleanse for its de-clogging action in a rinse-off formula. Ingredients include lactic and salicylic acids, fine clays and detoxifiers, plus a blend of essential oils.
Skinesis Rapid Radiance Cleanse, ￡43, Sarah Chapman
Next, be moisturiser-savvy. While you don’t have to scan for the term ‘anti-pollution’ in a product name, do seek out moisturisers that boast antioxidants. That’s because pollution can cause oxidative stress, which occurs when there’s an imbalance between free radicals and your body’s antioxidant defences. A good example is Dr Sam’s Flawless Vitamin C NAD+ Serum, which contains a powerhouse of vitamin C along with vitamin E and ferulic acid to fight free radical damage.
Dr Sam’s Flawless Vitamin C NAD+ Serum, ￡62, Dr Sam Bunting
When starting out with active ingredients, you may want to use on alternate days. Or if you find vitamin C a bit sensitising – I sometimes do – you can always try products with niacinamide (vitamin B3) or bakuchiol, which both have antioxidant effects, instead. And of course if you’re pregnant, when selecting products from cleansers to moisturisers, check they are suitable and safe.
Another must is a daily facial sunscreen. UV light, in combo with pollution, represents a double whammy of infernal, external assaults. La Roche-Posay Anthelios Age Correct SPF50 is worth a nod as it contains anti-pollution and anti-oxidation ingredients.
La Roche-Posay Anthelios Age Correct SPF50, ￡32.50, Boots
And last, but certainly not least, make sure your diet is packed with skin-supporting, antioxidant-rich foods, which are often helpfully flagged up by being highly colourful – think carrots, dark green leaves, tomatoes, apricots and blueberries. Personally, while I’m vowing to be a lot more committed to looking after my inner well-being, I’m serious about contemplating moving to the Outer Hebrides. Not because there’s less pollution there, but because I’m finding city life today a wee bit bonkers. But that’s another story.