The effects of pollution on your skin

The effects of pollution on your skin is courtesy of: createyourbeauty.co.uk

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The effects of pollution on your complexion

You might be fortunate enough to live out in the countryside, waking up each morning to a fresh breath of air before shortly checking on your cows and chickens but in all likelihood you don't and the sound of traffic is your ever reliable alarm clock.
You might even be interested to check out the levels of pollution from city to city here.

Living in hectic cities with large industries and bolstering populations, the air you're skin and hair is exposed to each day is a real hazard.
Ozone layers pollutants such as carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide are among the many airborne pollutants that cause the degradation of skin quality. We're not trying to make you fear leaving the house but dehydration, premature aging, acne, irritation, they're real symptomns and well they're not very nice are they?

Preventing pollution skin irritation: solution 1 – remove make-up and cleanse skin.

After a long day in contact with polluted air, never forget to perfectly remove every last residue of make-up and thoroughly clean your skin. Please keep in mind these two steps are complementary, you need to clean the skin after removing make-up and we can't properly clean the skin without focusing on removing the make-up specifically first – well of course unless you wear no make-up at all you lucky natural beauty you!

Removing make-up

To remove make-up, first of all we recommended not rushing through the process, attacking your face quickly and vigorously with make-up removal wipes is going to cause damage and irritation by itself. Take your time and be extra careful with sensitive areas especially around the eyes and eyelids.There are a few different methods you can use to remove make-up and some of it will come down to your specific skin type and any allergies you might have.

A few laps using a make-up remover wipe will cleanse your skin of foundation, blemish concealer, and eye make-up. We recommend looking for options that do not contain alcohol as otherwise you risk drying up your skin and causing irritation. As effective as make-up wipes are this does not signal the end of a good routine, next up use warm water and a face wash specifically made for removing make-up. Skipping the last step can leave your pores still clogged with residue caused by pushing dirt into the pores when using the wipes, this can lead to unwanted pimples and blackheads breaking out.

Now that the make-up has been removed it's time to prepare for cleansing, and we would advise you to consider using a skin toner to prepare your skin for the process. Just put a few drops on a cotton pad and then gently wipe your skin before moving onto to using your favourite cleansing product.

Micellar water is a fantastic option that not only helps remove the dirt and debris from your skin but also hydrates your skin too, however whatever cleansing method you choose to use make sure to moisturise afterwards to help repair any damage or dryness caused by the day. Quick tip – it tends to work best applying moisturiser to slightly damp skin as this helps to lock in the moisture.

Well now your skin should be ready for bed and as long as you keep a good regime with pillows cases and sheets being swapped out regularly you are well on your way to maintaining a pure complexion.

Preventing pollution skin irritation: solution 2 – Remove free radicals and detox using anti-oxidants.

Every day, our skin is prone to multiple enzymatic reactions. These reactions use oxygen to generate energy and thus contribute to and maintain our bodily functions. At the same time, these reactions also produce free radicals that cleanse the body by permanently removing old or defective cells. As maintaining optimal levels of these free radicals is essential for the proper functioning of the body, they can then become harmful if they are produced in excess. This can lead to a deterioration of cells which then unbalances the delicate synergy between other cells in the body, which in turn can contribute to the appearance of premature ageing. These unstable molecules are not only generated routinely by our bodies, but are also triggered by external elements such as pollution which causes the body to produce more free radicals..

The best line of defence against damage from free radicals are anti-oxidants. They work to stop the destruction of cells and stimulate the production of more anti-oxidants within our own bodies. The most known anti-oxidants are vitamins C and E, coenzyme Q10 and polyphenols which can be attained through consuming a balanced diet and additional supplements where needed.
In addition to cleansing your skin every morning and evening, it's important to also pamper it with a moisturiser packed with active ingredients to fight cell oxidation! No ingredient protects against all types of free radicals, so in a lot of products you will find a blend of ingredients to try and give you a broader range of protection – we would also recommend you use a product with SPF protection to protect from any harmful UV damage.

Additional effects of pollution on the hair

If pollution has consequences for the quality of your skin and the overall appearance of your complexion, you can imagine that your hair might also be at risk. The pollutants in the air around us can make our hair more brittle, cause faster regrowth as well as reducing the level of radiance we ideally want to have. Part of the reason for this is that our scalp circulation can be negatively impacted due to a build up of contaminants.

Anti-pollution solution: clarifying shampoo

To combat lacklustre hair, once or twice a month, swap out your usual shampoo with a clarifying product. As the name suggests, this specific shampoo will clarify the hair, that is to say eliminate all residues that might be clinging to it. To be sure, shampoo and wash twice per session on these days and then afterwards massage your skull for a few minutes to help re-oxygenate your scalp.

Well there you have it, a couple of straightforward tips to help protect your beauty against the challenges living in the modern world presents – or you could always just move to the Highlands![/text_output][/vc_column][/vc_row]