How To Pollution-Proof Your Skin

You might be doing all the right things for your skin — cleansing, hydrating, applying SPF — but there’s one sneaky factor that’s often overlooked: pollution.

Whether it’s city smog or car exhaust, environmental pollutants don’t just affect the planet. They can take a visible toll on your skin, too. In this blog, we share tips on how to protect the skin from pollution.

How does pollution affect the skin?

Pollution takes many forms. Gases, liquids, tiny particles and airborne matter can work their way into the skin through pores, hair follicles or oil and sweat glands.

If you’re wondering, “How does pollution age my skin?”, the answer lies in oxidative stress.

Once pollutants make their way into the skin, they can damage its barrier and trigger an oxidative stress response, reducing the skin’s natural antioxidant reserves and disrupting its overall balance.

Oxidative stress may lead to visible signs of skin ageing, such as uneven skin tone, fine lines, sagging and dryness. Besides premature ageing, chronic exposure to air pollution may trigger or worsen different skin conditions, including:

• Inflammatory skin diseases
• Itching disorders
• Airborne contact dermatitis, which can lead to visible redness, flakiness or dryness
• Alopecia or hair loss or thinning
• Vitiligo, a pigmentary disorder characterised by white or lighter patches on the skin
• Melasma, a form of hyperpigmentation often seen as patches of darker skin
• Skin cancer

How to protect your skin from pollution  

Although we can’t completely avoid pollution in our daily lives, we can give our skin the support it needs to face those external stressors. With the right habits, it’s possible to minimise the impact pollution has on the skin’s appearance. 

Below are a few simple steps you can take to help keep your skin clear, radiant and resilient.

1. Double cleanse

Double cleansing is especially important at the end of a long day when your skin has been exposed to daily grime. 

Begin with an oil-based cleanser to gently melt away makeup, sunscreen, excess oil and pollution particles sitting on the surface. Then, use a water-based cleanser to eliminate any remaining residue or impurities. 

Opt for gentle, nourishing cleansers. Using harsh soaps may remove your skin’s natural oils and compromise the skin barrier, leaving it more exposed to environmental stressors.

2. Don’t skip exfoliation

While daily cleansing is essential, it’s not always enough to fully remove the buildup of dead skin cells, trapped pollutants and pore-clogging residue. That’s where exfoliation comes in.

There are two main types of exfoliation: 

• Physical — It involves using tools like soft scrubs or cleansing brushes to manually lift away dead skin cells.
• Chemical — It uses ingredients like AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids) and BHAs (beta hydroxy acids) to help loosen the bonds between dead skin cells, encouraging them to shed naturally.

For most skin types, exfoliating two to three times a week is enough to maintain a healthy-looking glow without compromising the skin barrier.

3. Use antioxidants

Antioxidants like vitamins C and E play a vital role in protecting the skin from everyday environmental stressors. Serums and essences with vitamin C can support a brighter, more refreshed-looking complexion by defending against free radicals and diminishing visible signs of ageing.

Vitamin E is another potent antioxidant that helps shield your skin from oxidative damage. Much like vitamin C, its levels can rapidly diminish after UV exposure, making daily replenishment essential for maintaining skin integrity and resilience.

4. Moisturise twice a day 

Proper hydration strengthens the skin barrier, your first line of defence against environmental stressors. When the barrier is well-supported, it can better prevent air pollutants from penetrating the skin and triggering oxidative stress.

Moisturise twice a day, every morning and night. Here’s what to look for in a moisturiser:

• Ceramides — These are lipids that help repair and fortify impaired skin barrier function.
• Hyaluronic acid — This moisture-binding ingredient keeps the skin dewy and plump while strengthening the skin barrier.

5. Always finish with sunscreen

Applying a broad-spectrum sunscreen every morning helps safeguard against both UV damage and photopollution, the combined impact of pollution and sun exposure.

Apply sunscreen as the last step in your morning skincare routine. If you're spending time outside, remember to reapply it throughout the day for continued protection. Look for lightweight formulas that offer protection without clogging pores.

Build a pollution-proof skincare routine with Medik8

With air pollution on the rise, protecting your skin has never been more crucial. At Medik8, we make it simple to build a personalised routine that works for your lifestyle. Our dermatological skincare formulas are made with professional-grade active ingredients. From cleansers to sunscreens, our science-backed range is designed to support different skin types and target a variety of concerns.

Shop online and enjoy free shipping on all orders over $150.

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