How to Protect Your Skin from Air Pollution

With great job opportunities, easier transportation, and convenience, more and more of us are moving into cities. It’s no wonder why so many people prefer the urban lifestyle - more opportunities to meet people, plenty of things to do, and an array of interesting cuisines right at your fingertips.

City-life can be fast-paced, fun, and empowering, but what if it comes at a big cost? It’s no secret that city residents are exposed to more air pollution than those who live in rural areas. What you might not realize, however, is that it’s wreaking havoc on your skin.

Despite city residents being more likely to protect themselves from sun exposure, studies have shown that they show more signs of premature aging compared to their rural counterparts. Let’s explore how living in a city can expose you to unwanted skin issues and what you can do to protect yourself.

How Air Pollution Damages Your Skin

First, it’s important to understand that air pollution concerns any harmful chemical, physical, or biological agent that is present in the outdoor or indoor air. Yes, that means you’re not completely safe from air pollution even when you’re indoors!

Okay, so we know what air pollution means, but what specifically in the air is causing harm to our skin? Well, the answer to that question is “many things”. Think about all of the pollutants you come into contact with regularly - cigarette smoke, smog, car exhaust, industrial fumes, nanoparticles, and UV rays.

The effect these pollutants have on your skin ranges from premature wrinkles, dryness, hyperpigmentation, acne, enlarged pores, and a reduction in collagen production. Free radicals, which can be found in air pollution, are tiny reactive particles that, in search of electrons to stabilize themselves, damage our skin.

When the free radicals try to stabilize themselves by bonding to molecules in our bodies, it causes oxidative stress, which damages our cells. This causes inflammation, premature aging, and collagen destruction.

How to Protect Your Skin from Air Pollution

The good news is, it’s not all doom and gloom. There are many proactive skin care measures you can take to reduce your exposure to harmful free radicals and protect your skin from air pollution.

Cleanse your skin - Thoroughly cleansing your skin will remove more than just dirt, bacteria, and makeup - it’ll also remove pollutants such as nanoparticles that try to burrow into your pores.

It takes time for these pollutants to damage your skin, and it can be prevented with a good cleansing routine. If you were wearing a layer of makeup, sunscreen, or other lotions, it may be beneficial to double cleanse, ensuring you remove these products as well as penetrate your skin’s pores.

Use antioxidants & SPF - It’s no secret that SPF protects your skin from sun damage, but did you know you can protect your skin from damage caused by free radicals by incorporating antioxidants into your skincare routine?

Always apply SPF whenever you’re going to leave the house. Sun damage is the biggest cause of facial aging, and this can be caused by passive skin exposure, not just by excessive tanning. This tinted sunscreen offers SPF 30 protection, with a sheer tint to avoid white streaks.

Antioxidants have many benefits, including reducing inflammation, stimulating collagen production, brightening your skin tone, repairing the skin, and fighting against free radical damage, and minimizing signs of aging. Eat more antioxidants in your diet and use them in your skincare. We recommend this vitamin C brightening serum.

Add an extra layer of protection - GLOWBIOTICS brand new Probiotic Anti-Pollution + Firming Treatment was specifically formulated to protect the skin during the day against inevitable harmful pollutants in the environment. It creates a web-like matrix to shield the skin from harmful eco-factors as well as protects the skin from infrared thermal exposure. As an added benefit – it contains a skin tightening complex for an instant firming effect that increases with each use. It took us over 3 years to perfect, and it shows (literally)!

Repair with amino acids - Amino acids help stimulate antioxidants, hydrate your skin, and protect your skin from pollutants. Amino acids help to repair your skin by preventing pollutants and irritants from penetrating the skin.

Hydrate with serums & moisturizers - Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! One of the biggest negative causes of air pollutants on the skin is dehydration, increasing your risk of skin conditions like eczema, rosacea, and psoriasis.

It’s important to rehydrate your skin after cleansing to restore your skin barrier, which keeps harmful irritants out. People with dry skin are at a higher risk for skin damage from air pollution. Use serums to preserve your skin barrier and moisturizers to hydrate. We recommend this lightweight moisturizer that’s suitable for sensitive skin.

Order Now to Explore Glowbiotics Anti-Pollution Skincare Products

Try out our anti-pollution skincare products, such as our probiotic anti-pollution + firming treatment. This product is the ultimate defense against sun damage and air pollution.

At GLOWBIOTICS, we’ve combined antioxidants, amino acids, probiotics, hydrating hyaluronic acid, and many more ingredients that fortify the skin barrier, so you no longer have to sacrifice hydrated, plump skin for city life. Explore our full range of products from our environmental & sun protection skincare line.