As city air becomes more toxic, sales of a new type of product are booming – The Guardian
With an annual recording of 4.2 million deaths on account of pollution, we have now reached a point where most of the world is living in toxic environments. Pollution in our air is a top cause of several health hazards which can also have an effect on the skin. There are many different forms of pollution; one example of how it can impact the skin is through the oily molecules from nitrogen oxide gas that measure at 400th of a millimeter which is 20 times smaller than the diameter of skin pore; this allows them to easily seep through causing problems like chronic inflammation. The good news is that experts are beginning to put their research towards discovering which ingredients contain high concentrations of antioxidants that reduce inflammation and oxidative stress. Let’s dive into the basics of anti-pollution skincare solutions in order to ensure that our complexion remains as least affected as possible.
What is Anti-Pollution skincare?
All things considering, anti-pollution skincare is bound to be a rising trend, but what is it really? Similarly to every product we buy, we cannot accept that it fights pollution because it says so on the bottle. Finding the most effective anti-pollution skincare begins with learning about the ingredients that have been proven to do so. To give you a head start, some of these ingredients include Dandelion, Prebiotics, Algae, Vitamins C & E, and also mineral blockers. Not only is it another reason to choose mineral over chemical sun care, but you can now reap the benefits of skincare, sunblock, and anti-pollution all from a single product. A couple of the best-reviewed products for pollution-fighting include SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic Serum working to reinforce the skin’s natural protection against free radicals and Caudalie VineActiv Overnight Detox Oil promising to repair any damage to the skin caused by free radicals throughout the day.
Choosing the Right Product For You
This growing trend is quickly filling up the market with an overwhelming number of choices. Finding the right product may require some trial and error, but this doesn’t mean that you can’t have an idea of where to start. Seeing as most skincare ingredients have multi-tasking benefits, you should set out to gain an understanding of the variety of potential results they may perform when exploring anti-pollution ingredients. From there, you should be able to find a few ingredients that appear to be compatible with your skin. For example, dandelion not only has detoxifying properties but can also soothe acne and calm irritation. Multi-tasking ingredients are beneficial as it’s not only easier to gain a thorough understanding of everything you are using but are also less likely to cause irritation and sensitivity.
DIY Anti-Pollution Skincare
Since the main purpose of anti-pollution is to avoid toxins, consumers that prefer DIY natural skincare will probably be interested in some kitchen made remedy options. In addition, the ingredient-conscious movement is expanding which means that DIY is on the rise and “no longer just a niche pursuit”. We’re going to keep this simple assuming that not everyone reading is a homemade cosmetic expert. Let’s take a look at some accessible pollution-fighting ingredients that you possibly already have in your kitchen. Using tea infusions are highly recommended due to their high content of antioxidants that help our skin fight free radicals, like green or white tea. These can be used in masks or homemade moisturizers. Banana and honey are good choices for homemade masks. Rosewater can be used as a refreshment spray or toner and aloe vera gel is a great and affordable natural moisturizer that can easily be used on its own. With DIY becoming a trend in itself, brands such as 23 skin are dedicating their brands to offering ingredients rather than products. Brands like these serve as an opportunity to experiment with pollution-fighting ingredients that you wouldn’t find in your local supermarkets such as pink clay or seaweed powder.
With experts regarding the anti-pollution skincare trend as “a nice idea, but not a regulated term”, we are only being reaffirmed of what we already know about the beauty industry; don’t buy into product labels. Of course, this doesn’t mean that you should dismiss them at all costs, “but even a little information is better than none”. By the looks of things, this trend is not going anywhere, and as a result, neither is the research developing on solutions which means we should be keeping an eye out for interesting new ingredients that might make a helpful contribution to fighting the effects of pollution on our skin.
If you are unaware of the ingredients in the products you use, there is a good chance that you are already including pollution-fighting in your skincare routine.
