Unless you live somewhere way too remote to be reading our blog, then you can bet that you are impacted by pollution.
Noise, air, water, light ... unfortunately it is a part of our modern lives. Common forms of pollution include cigarette smoke, UV rays, "urban dust", diesel exhaust, and other chemical by-products.
We often hear about the health effects on our bodies, especially our respiratory system, but how pollution effects our skin is less talked about.
How Pollution Damages the Skin
Pollution is a free radical that causes oxidation and the weakening of our skin cells. Often it's particles are so small they can cause cellular-level damage that breaks down our skin's physical barrier function, specifically damaging collagen and our lipid layer.
All of this damage slows down cell turnover, weakens our protective layer and can lead to premature aging and/or other skin concerns such as:
- Dark spots
- Uneven skin tone
- Loss in elasticity and firmness
- Irritations and skin rashes like eczema
- Dry Skin
- Dull, sallow-looking skin
- Accelerated risk of skin cancer
How to Prevent the Effects of Pollution on Our Skin
The simplest way to protect the skin from the the damaging impact of pollution is to thoroughly cleanse away all the free radicals and toxins that may have accumulated in the skin and to then create a protective barrier to block other pollutants from attacking the skin.
Knowing that, washing your face at night doesn't seem like such a chore, does it?
Now, this is where antioxidants come in. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals on a molecular level, preventing them from damaging cells.
We can protect ourselves both by wearing topical products that are rich in antioxidants (such as Vitamins A, C and E, green tea or Grape Seed Oil) as well as packing our diets with antioxidant-rich foods (blueberries, leafy greens and beans are great sources of antioxidants).
4-Step Anti-Pollution Skin Care Routine
The great thing is there are lots of natural plant botanicals that boast high percentages of antioxidants and nutrients to protect and care for the skin.
Here's our 4-step plan to help you guard your skin against the damaging effects of pollution.
Deep cleanse your skin each day with a cleanser that can remove toxins and nourish skin cells.
Algae Deep Cleanse is made with mineral and antioxidant-rich seaweed extracts, conditioning botanicals, and active essential oils to cut through contamination without drying or upsetting the skin. Use in the morning and at night as your second step in double cleansing.
Exfoliate to keep pores clean from pollutants and to promote new, healthy cell growth.
Aroma Peel is our natural alternative to aggressive chemical peels. Made with a powerful-yet-gentle combination of essential oils, this exfoliant eats away at the glue that hold on to dead, flakey skin and gets deep down into pores to help purify the skin.
Feed your skin with high-quality nutrients that hydrate, replenish and encourage cellular rejuvenation.
SV23 contains vitamins, nutrients and powerful antioxidants that work with the body to more efficiently repair damaged cells and support healthy cellular growth. This formula also keeps skin hydrated and protected from external stressors, like pollution.
Use a physical barrier to keep pollution and free radicals from attacking your skin.
MerGel is made with some of nature's best antioxidants such as Organic Matcha, Sea Buckthorn, Aloe Vera, Algae Extracts and essential oils. This special lightweight lotion creates a fortress around your skin to protect it all day long. Use it on top of your other skin care products to seal them in and keep the toxins out.
And of course sunscreen. All day, every day.