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In short, the answer is yes, it really does! Whilst pollution is invisible, the effects of it on our skin start to become very visible over time. You may already have seen some of the effects but haven’t realised that they have been triggered by pollution.

We all know that our lifestyle is linked to our skin health. Certain lifestyle choices can cause premature ageing of our skin for example, too much sun and not enough sun protection, stress and smoking all contribute to skin ageing. Studies have found now that the air we breathe can now be thrown into that mix too!

Pollution is not just a problem in cities. Areas in the countryside can have pollution too.

Road traffic, coal-burning, coal-fired power plants, oil combustion, metal smelting, painting, the farming industry and smoking all contribute to air pollution. Air pollution is any form of pollution that creates a particle in the air, the problem being that many of these particles are small enough to enter the skin.

How does it affect my skin?

Airborne pollution particles are tiny, in fact 8-10 of them can fit into one pore in your skin. This is where they get stuck and can start to cause damage in your skin leading to visible signs of skin ageing. Once these tiny particles become lodged in our pores they oxidize the surrounding lipids and tissue, compromising skin health and accelerating visible signs of skin aging such as accelerate brown spots, fine lines and wrinkles from forming.

Tiny pollution particles can also strip the skin of barrier lipids, which help retain moisture and keep out dirt and other impurities. Once your skin barrier is compromised, this can lead to increased skin sensitivity, discomfort and pigmentation issues.

What can I do to protect my skin?

The good news is that the skin – when healthy – is a pretty good filter of what's good versus what's bad on its own. We can’t escape from pollution but there are steps you can take to keep your skin healthy, smooth, protected and even-toned in the face of pollution. These steps are daily steps because our skin is exposed to air pollution everyday. The following steps not only help to combat the effects of air pollution but they are actually 4 key pillars of a good skincare routine. Following these will transform your skin in so many ways.

Step 1: Double Cleanse

Giving your skin a good double cleanse every evening will help to remove any pollution particles that may be stuck on your skin along with dirt and makeup. Start with a precleanse, rinse, then apply your favorite cleanser, rinse again, and you’re done! Put a headband on, get your products ready and cleanse and cleanse again. You can in fact just use your normal cleanser twice however there are some specific precleanse products available.

For the precleanse try Dermalogica Precleanse Balm. This deep cleansing balm-to-oil melts away impurities and make-up from the skin.

And then for your cleanser try Special Cleansing Gel. This refreshing lather thoroughly removes impurities, without disturbing the skin’s natural moisture balance.

Skin

PreCleanse Cleansing Balm

balm-to-oil emulsifyer

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Step 2: Exfoliate

Using an anti-pollution powder exfoliant like Dermalogica Daily Superfoliant to your evening regimen is perfect for combatting the effects of pollution. It helps detoxify pores and prevent the adherence of skin-ageing pollutants for firmer, healthier-looking skin. It is gentle enough for daily use and strong enough to do its job! Exfoliating helps to clear away dead skin and unclog pores which will help to clear those trapped airborne particles from your pores. Daily Superfoliant contains activated Binchotan Charcoal that binds to pollutants deep within pores and removes them.

Daily Superfoliant

Step 3: Pile on the antioxidants.

In general, pollution weakens your skin. Antioxidants, along with peptides and vitamins, help strengthen the skin and neutralize the primary triggers of skin ageing. Look for products that contain ingredients like antioxidant White Tea, as well as vitamins A, C and E which are all antioxidants. Among a whole host of skin benefits, antioxidants cling on to the free radicals generated from air pollutants. These free radicals damage your skin by clinging to your collagen, weakening your skin elasticity.

A brilliant source of vitamin C for your skin is found in Dermalogica Biolumin C serum. Not only does this deliver a shot of antioxidant vitamin C into your skin but you will also notice your complexion will start to glow and your fine lines and wrinkles will start to look less visible!

Biolumin-C Serum

Step 4: Don't forget sunscreen!

Just because you're protecting your skin from pollution doesn't mean you should skimp on sunscreen. UV rays are still a top contributor to signs of skin ageing, so wear an SPF30 or higher daily. Wearing an SPF is not just a summertime thing. Harmful rays from the sun are emitted 365 days a year even on a cloudy day!

There are a whole range of SPF products for different skin tones and types.

SPF Products

If you find your skin becomes irritated and sensitive you can reinforce the skin's naturally-protective barrier. Giving your skin a helping hand will return your skin back to good health in no time. We love Dermalogica Barrier Repair for this. Barrier Repair is super popular at the moment. It was recently featured in Caroline Hirons Winter skin care kits and is proving to be a firm favourite with so many people.

Barrier Repair is basically a moisturiser that as the name suggests, can repair a damaged skin barrier. It creates a shield against environmental assaults to help prevent further damaging assaults. Silicones reinforce the skin's lipid barrier layer and it provides a smooth, even base which is ideal for preparing skin for make-up application.

Barrier Repair

Does my skin really need protecting from pollution?