Anti Pollution Skincare: How to Protect Your Skin from Air Pollution

Lathering on a substantial layer of sunscreen has probably become a part of your usual morning routine. As we all know, harmful UV rays can accelerate signs of aging and increase the risk of developing skin cancer. But what about the air pollution we encounter on a daily basis? Does that affect the health of your skin?

Unfortunately, it does. But don’t panic yet—there are plenty of products you can add to your regimen that counteract the damaging properties of particulate matter (PM) in our atmosphere. With a few small changes to your skincare routine, it’s easy to protect against the harmful pollutants that plague that majority of our cities.

Have a specific question about anti-pollution skincare? Use the links below to satiate your curiosity:

• Do I Need Anti-Pollution Skincare?
• What Should I Look for In Anti-Pollution Skincare?
• How Should I Incorporate Anti-Pollution Skincare into My Routine?
• What Should I Avoid If I Want Anti-Pollution Skincare?

Do I Need Anti-Pollution Skincare?

Even if you live in the suburbs outside of a large metropolis, it’s pretty safe to say that you should consider investing in anti-pollution skincare. While cities such as London and Beijing are infamous for their high levels of air pollution, smaller towns without visible signs of smog are still affected by the increased levels of toxic chemicals floating around our planet.

Across the world, about 2.4 million people die every year because of heavy exposure to air pollution. In fact 11.6% of all global deaths are associated with indoor and outdoor air pollution.

Dangerous particles called PM2.5 are incredibly small and can easily penetrate the tissue of your lungs, causing a wide variety of health problems. Heart disease, lung cancer, and other respiratory infections are the most common ailments caused by breathing in too much toxic air. While pollution doesn’t have the same life-threatening effects when it’s absorbed into the outer layers of your skin, it can still cause some less-than-pleasant side effects.

So how exactly does air pollution damage your skin? It turns out that PM2.5 particles are small enough to infiltrate the pores of your epidermis and disrupt the health of your skin. Unstable molecules known as “free radicals” bounce around inside your cells, destroying the natural mechanisms your body has in place that prevent you from aging prematurely. Early onset wrinkles, uneven pigmentation, hives, rosacea, and flaky skin are all possible results of constant exposure to free radicals.

Unfortunately, these pollutants are everywhere. According to the World Health Organization, 92% of the world’s population lives in places where air pollution exceeds safe limits.

We know this all sounds incredibly scary, especially if you spend most of your time in a dense urban environment. But just like the popularization of sunscreen, the important research that’s being performed on the aging effects of air pollution is simply helping us live better, healthier lives. Once we’re equipped with this knowledge, it’s relatively simple to adjust your regimen to and make anti-pollution skincare a commonplace grooming habit.

What Should I Look for In Anti-Pollution Skincare?

There are several key ingredients to look for when choosing an anti-pollution skincare product, specifically when protecting your face.

Antioxidants are the most powerful ingredient when it comes to fending off free radicals and stopping premature aging in its tracks. While you may have heard about antioxidants in reference to healthy food trends, these compounds are often included in skincare products as well. At the most basic level, antioxidants prevent free radicals from damaging the functions of your cells. Vitamin C reduces inflammation, while vitamins A and E repair collagen—the substance in your skin that keeps you looking youthful and wrinkle-free.

While there are plenty of antioxidant facial serums on the market, a true anti-pollution product should feature more than one line of defense. Because air pollution can irritate the sensitive facial skin, keep an eye out for calming ingredients as well. Soothing elements such as zinc oxide, vitamin B3, and bisabolol all help reduce redness and inflammation to give you a perfectly clear complexion.

A proper moisturizing routine is also essential to keeping the health of your skin in tip-top shape. When your cells aren’t properly hydrated, you pave the way for free radicals to enter through cracked and damaged skin. Make sure you look for anti-pollution products that include moisturizing elements to ensure all of your bases are covered.

If this all sounds like a lot to keep track of, Colorescience has the perfect product that combines all of these key ingredients into one lightweight serum. The Sunforgettable Total Protection Face Shield SPF 50 is formulated to protect you from as many environmental aggressors as possible, keeping your body’s natural defenses on high alert to fend of harmful pollutants.

In addition to all the essential ingredients mentioned above, this sheer cream guards you face from blue light and infrared radiation as well. LED lightbulbs and digital devices such as our phones and laptops constantly emit blue light—and an overexposure of this light can advance the process of aging. Similarly, too much infrared radiation can increase unwanted wrinkles and age spots.

Luckily, our Face Shield has got you covered. Oil-free, hypoallergenic, and made from 100% chemical-free active ingredients, this exceptional formula is the perfect primer to get you ready to face the bustling city. Not to mention, the SPF 50 knocks out the extra step of applying sunscreen during your morning routine so you can maintain healthy, pollution-free skin with one simple product.

How Should I Incorporate Anti-Pollution Skincare into My Routine?

Adding anti-pollution skincare into your routine is simple, especially with the Sunforgettable Total Protection Face Shield. After cleansing your face in the morning, apply a layer of this protective serum all over your face and gently rub it in. If you have dry skin and want an added layer of moisture, be sure to apply your favorite moisturizer before indulging in the Face Shield.

After you’ve properly created a protective barrier against toxic air pollutants, you’re safe to resume your normal makeup routine. Whether that involves liquid or powder foundation, corrective concealer or bronzer, our SPF 50 Face Shield functions as the perfect primer and preps your skin for smooth, crease-free coverage all day long.

Even though you’ve taken the proper steps to protect yourself before heading out the door, an important step in anti-pollution skincare is getting rid of the grime that collects on your face once the day is done. While you may have successfully stopped free radicals from damaging the interior of you pores, that doesn’t mean air pollution won’t affect your skin at a surface level.

Make sure you thoroughly wash your face again before bed to wipe away any toxins or particles that can cause acne, irritation, and a dull complexion. Before getting cozy under the covers, pat on a few pumps of our Anti-Aging Serum to lock in all the nourishing ingredients your face enjoyed during the day.

Apart from slathering on a hearty dose of Colorescience anti-pollution products, maintaining a healthy lifestyle adds another barrier against the upsetting effects of air pollution. Maintaining a well-balanced diet, getting enough exercise, sleeping for seven to nine hours every night, and not smoking cigarettes all vastly improve the health of your skin. Because when it comes down to it, no amount of anti-pollution serum can reverse all the effects of mistreated skin. Preventing premature aging requires a diligent and holistic routine—skincare products are merely one step in establishing equilibrium.

What Should I Avoid If I Want Anti-Pollution Skincare?

Now that you know what you should look for, it’s also smart to understand what products you shouldn’t use if you want an effective anti-pollution skincare regimen.

To begin with, avoid anything with chemical preservatives, parabens, or dioxins. You’re trying to ward off toxic molecules from settling into your skin, so why would you actively smear it all over your money maker? Products with these ingredients have been linked to skin irritation, developmental complications, and even brain damage.

It’s also critical that you stay away from products with synthetic colors. If you notice a product label includes either FD&C or D&C and is then followed by a color and a number, it’s completely synthetic. Ingredients like D&C Red 27 are incredibly irritating to the outer layer of your skin, and it’s even banned in many other countries.

Lastly, opt for products that are fragrance-free. Oftentimes fragrances use alcohol to get that fresh scent you crave, but it can be incredibly drying on your sensitive facial skin. As mentioned earlier, dry skin paves the way for a wide variety of problems—one of the most important being premature aging.

At Colorescience, we always want you to put your best face forward. That’s why the Sunforgettable Total Protection Face Shield is free of all these harmful additives. Our first products were initially crafted to protect delicate post-procedure skin, so we’re experts at creating makeup that matches your natural beauty with natural ingredients.

While you’re busy protecting our planet from pollution, make sure you take a minute to examine the effects of that same pollution on your own skin. Block out damaging toxins with confidence when you opt for a Colorescience product to spearhead your anti-pollution skincare routine.