Skincare In The City
Whether you live in the city, are planning a last minute summer break there, or are just visiting for the day it's important to make sure you have the right skincare regime for when you're in the city. You may think that you skin doesn't need any extra care when you're in the city, that it does in a town or out in the country, but that's not actually true.
According to the World Health Authority, air quality worldwide is deteriorating. Their Urban Air Quality Database covers 1600 cities, across 91 countries, and has found that half the urban population are living is areas where pollution is 2.5 times higher than the recommended safe limit. It was recently revealed that Oxford Street in London had the highest levels of nitrogen dioxide levels in the world. While pollution can cause a number of health problems, including asthma, it also has a harmful affect on skin. Pollutants, like cigarette smoke, car exhaust fumes and smog, increase the number of free radicals in the air, these are highly unstable molecules which attack DNA and cause cell damage. Free radicals interfere with the skin's ability to produce collagen, which keeps skin firm and plump. Pollution can also cause skin problems like sensitivity, dryness and redness.
In countries like Bejing, which are so heavily polluted their levels of pollutions are sometimes too high to be measured, Facemasks, as they protect the user from inhaling dangerous pollution particles, finer than the width of a human hair. While pollution has reached that level in the UK, it's still important to follow these steps to protect your skin from the damaging affect of pollution.
How To Protect Your Skin
First look at the products you're already using, you need a skincare regime packed with antioxidants in order to properly protect your skin. Antioxidants are key when it comes to fighting free radicals, as they help to neutralise the damaging affect they have on DNA. They also help to keep skin hydrated allowing to perform at it's best. UV light increases the number of free radicals, so it's important that you pack your SPF. Our Aqua Physics Daily Defence Cream contains a mineral UV filter to instantly protect your skin from harmful UVA and UVB rays, it is also infused with vitamins A and E to stimulate skin repair and protect the skin from environmental aggressors.
If you've noticed that your skin is becoming irritated, perhaps your more prone to redness or your face is feeling tight and dry, then strip back your skincare products completely. Look for products which are fragrance free and contain no harsh chemicals.
Cleansing, as always, is very important. While sleeping in your make-up is never recommended it's important to properly cleanse your face after a long day pounding the pavements and taking in the sites. Why not try a two step cleansing routine, involving a cleanser and a hydrating toner, to really make sure you remove all the grime, dirt and impurities from your pores. Our Lift Off Purifying Cleanser actively protects against free radical damage, while restoring the skin's natural pH level and eliminating the build up of impurities, which can lead to spots and blemishes.