September 30, 2020
Anti-Pollution Skin Care: The Anti You Can Rely on
Anti-Pollution Skin Care: The Anti You Can Rely on
While we are all aware that POLLUTION can cause an array of health issues, many studies have also shown that pollution is far from invisible when it comes to your skin. POLLUTION really is a silent skin aggressor.
Day-to-day, the skin is exposed to a cocktail of air pollutants: ultraviolet radiation (UVR), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (released into the air when burning coal and rubbish), volatile organic compounds (present in paints and car exhausts) and cigarette smoke, to name a few. These contribute to weakening the skin’s barrier and can result in breakouts, rashes and irritation. Due to being 20 times smaller than our pores, pollution particles easily penetrate beneath the skin’s surface and turn into free radicals. As free radicals are unstable molecules, they attach themselves to existing healthy molecules in the skin, before snowballing onto more and more healthy cells. As a result, this can lead to a deficit in skin elasticity and premature ageing.
While there’s no quick fix to completely banish the effects of air pollution, there are innovative methods and advanced formulas that deliver much needed nutrients and ward off smoggy city skin.
The Evening Cleanse
We all know the importance of a skincare regime to benefit and enhance our skin, but it’s equally - if not, more critical - to repeat the steps before bed too.
“Cleanse your skin before bed” has been drilled into us since the dawn of time and there’s absolute sense to it. Thoroughly cleansing will not only get rid of dirt, grime and excess oil, but it will also remove the day’s worth of environmental toxins. If you’ve had a long day in the city, there’s no harm in cleansing twice-over to feel extra fresh for bed.
Exfoliating 1-2 times a week will also give your skin a well-deserved deep clean, especially if living in a city. Exfoliators improve skin texture by removing the layer of dead skin to make room for new cells to resurface. As an added bonus, an exfoliator works hand-in-hand with your other skincare products, as it enables other ingredients to penetrate deeper to reach exactly where they are needed most.
Steam it Out
In our day-to-day lives, the skin builds up with unwanted pollution particles which can trigger a dull, tired complexion. While bathing is the perfect way to unwind after a long week, it also serves a purpose in detoxifying the body. Having a steam bath is one of the most efficient ways to help release toxins from the skin's surface and discourage the build up of debris that can create redness, inflammation and skin irritation. The steam draws out impurities from clogged pores, making them feel cleaner and more breathable.
Products Rich in Vitamin C
Vitamin C has always been a skincare staple and will continue to be the ultimate ingredient for most skin types. Over the years, this powerful antioxidant has advanced into an array of user-friendly products that reap benefits for the skin.
Products rich in vitamin C reduce the impact of invisible skin aggressors (i.e. air pollution) to deflect free radicals that play a part in premature ageing. It doesn’t stop there. Vitamin C is renowned for stimulating collagen, boosting skin’s elasticity, reducing the appearance of sun damage/age spots and providing a youthful, even looking complexion.
Consuming foods rich in vitamin C is also beneficial for encouraging and maintaining health cells and bones, however, the skin is the last organ that receives doses of vitamin C from food, so it’s crucial to top up with vitamin C boosters for extra security.
SPF
One of the more prominent environmental factors of skin damage is UV radiation. There are two types of UV rays, UVA and UVB. UVA rays have longer wavelengths that infiltrate beneath the skin and can result in premature ageing. UVB rays are shorter and can result in the likes of sunburn. Both can be as equally harmful and the skin should be safeguarded against them. UV rays, essentially, lead to DNA damage through the production of free radicals in the skin. This can lead to fine lines and wrinkles, loss of elasticity and more seriously, the risk of skin cancers.
Implementing SPF (minimum SPF 30) into your skincare regime not only shields and protects your skin from radiation, but it also helps lock in much needed moisture and deters away from damaging your skin in the long run.
Stay Hydrated and Limit Exposure
One of the best, easiest and effective pollution deterrents is simply staying hydrated.
Drinking plenty of water not only generates cell growth, improves circulation and improves skin elasticity, it also naturally flushes out toxins. If your body isn’t fully hydrated, toxins remain stagnant and can eventually have a detriment on your skin and your health.
Making slight adjustments to your everyday life can also aid in your anti-pollution skin journey. Air pollution is amplified in the city, thus, more particles build up in the skin. Something as small as opting for less busy roads to walk on where possible or leaving the house before rush hour can make all the difference to your skin.
If you were to advise a London guide, what would be on your list?
Well, As I grew up in Notting Hill, it will always have my heart and if I was recommending spots in London, a wander around Notting Hill would be high up on my list. From there it would be all the best shopping destinations, the iconic private members club, Annabels, Harrods and Liberty’s for any cute and unique gifts. I would always pop into 111CRYO at Harrods for the Cryo Facial and treatment for the ultimate recharge. Sometimes the city is great, but the beautiful secrets of the English countryside is something that should be experienced.
Your In-Flight Essentials?
I don’t have a routine per say and I am certainly not as thorough as Naomi Campbell but I would apply the Meso Infusion Lip Duo and I would always wipe my phone down with anti-bacterial wipes, in fact I do this every day, the bacteria build up is no good for the skin.
In terms of Industry, where do you see the hair industry going?
Well Instagram has changed so much and has impacted the way we consume and learn within the industry, especially with so many creatives, but I still find that a massive amount of people come to the professionals to share the knowledge on how to carry out or complete a desired look, more than ever there is power behind ‘how-to’ videos.
A very valid point and in terms of 2020?
In terms of what we are to see in 2020, things are going to be super creative and we will see a wider awareness for people doing their own thing and it will be expressive and artistic. People will move away from the overtly glamorous looks and will create looks they can tailor to their everyday. As it’s currently Award Season which is the busiest time of the year leading up to the Met Ball, hairstyles are certainly more elaborate, and everyone loves an up do. I would say the most timeless look has to be the blunt bob, it comes around year on year, but it is effortless and timeless.
Outside of hair, what other industries are you into?
I am hugely into Interiors and I would describe my style as 60s/70s glamour, think elaborate and dramatic but I often fantasise about 80s Dallas and Joan Collins and I have to reign myself in. I also love Baking; it is the ultimate way to relax and I find that it is my meditation and therapy. If I’m in the USA I would bake a lot of cookies as everyone is obsessed with then over here and in the UK, I would bake more traditional styles like a lemon tart or an apple tart – it allows for me to be creative outside of my job.
Finally, the best advice you have ever received?
It would have to be from my grandfather, he would often say to me “it’s not how well you’re doing but how well people think you’re doing”. I haven’t successfully implemented it however you can look to Instagram today and people see our work and are blown away by it, but we can be so hard on ourselves and not appreciate our own work ourselves.
While we are all aware that POLLUTION can cause an array of health issues, many studies have also shown that pollution is far from invisible when it comes to your skin. POLLUTION really is a silent skin aggressor and those living in a highly polluted area can speed up the ageing process by 10 per cent than those who reside in the countryside.
Day-to-day, the skin is exposed to a cocktail of air pollutants: ultraviolet radiation (UVR), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (released into the air when burning coal and rubbish), volatile organic compounds (present in paints and car exhausts) and cigarette smoke, to name a few. These contribute to weakening the skin’s barrier and can result in breakouts, rashes and irritation. Due to being 20 times smaller than our pores, pollution particles easily penetrate beneath the skin’s surface and turn into free radicals. As free radicals are unstable molecules, they attach themselves to existing healthy molecules in the skin, before snowballing onto more and more healthy cells. As a result, this can lead to a deficit in skin elasticity and premature ageing.
While there’s no quick fix to completely banish the effects of air pollution, there are innovative methods and advanced formulas that deliver much needed nutrients and ward off smoggy city skin.
The Evening Cleanse
We all know the importance of a skincare regime to benefit and enhance our skin, but it’s equally - if not, more critical - to repeat the steps before bed too.
“Cleanse your skin before bed” has been drilled into us since the dawn of time and there’s absolute sense to it. Thoroughly cleansing will not only get rid of dirt, grime and excess oil, but it will also remove the day’s worth of environmental toxins. If you’ve had a long day in the city, there’s no harm in cleansing twice-over to feel extra fresh for bed.
Exfoliating 1-2 times a week will also give your skin a well-deserved deep clean, especially if living in a city. Exfoliators improve skin texture by removing the layer of dead skin to make room for new cells to resurface. As an added bonus, an exfoliator works hand-in-hand with your other skincare products, as it enables other ingredients to penetrate deeper to reach exactly where they are needed most.
Steam it Out
In our day-to-day lives, the skin builds up with unwanted pollution particles which can trigger a dull, tired complexion. While bathing is the perfect way to unwind after a long week, it also serves a purpose in detoxifying the body. Having a steam bath is one of the most efficient ways to help release toxins from the skin's surface and discourage the build up of debris that can create redness, inflammation and skin irritation. The steam draws out impurities from clogged pores, making them feel cleaner and more breathable.
Products Rich in Vitamin C
Vitamin C has always been a skincare staple and will continue to be the ultimate ingredient for most skin types. Over the years, this powerful antioxidant has advanced into an array of user-friendly products that reap benefits for the skin.
Products rich in vitamin C reduce the impact of invisible skin aggressors (i.e. air pollution) to deflect free radicals that play a part in premature ageing. It doesn’t stop there. Vitamin C is renowned for stimulating collagen, boosting skin’s elasticity, reducing the appearance of sun damage/age spots and providing a youthful, even looking complexion.
Consuming foods rich in vitamin C is also beneficial for encouraging and maintaining health cells and bones, however, the skin is the last organ that receives doses of vitamin C from food, so it’s crucial to top up with vitamin C boosters for extra security.
SPF
One of the more prominent environmental factors of skin damage is UV radiation. There are two types of UV rays, UVA and UVB. UVA rays have longer wavelengths that infiltrate beneath the skin and can result in premature ageing. UVB rays are shorter and can result in the likes of sunburn. Both can be as equally harmful and the skin should be safeguarded against them. UV rays, essentially, lead to DNA damage through the production of free radicals in the skin. This can lead to fine lines and wrinkles, loss of elasticity and more seriously, the risk of skin cancers.
Implementing SPF (minimum SPF 30) into your skincare regime not only shields and protects your skin from radiation, but it also helps lock in much needed moisture and deters away from damaging your skin in the long run.
Stay Hydrated and Limit Exposure
One of the best, easiest and effective pollution deterrents is simply staying hydrated.
Drinking plenty of water not only generates cell growth, improves circulation and improves skin elasticity, it also naturally flushes out toxins. If your body isn’t fully hydrated, toxins remain stagnant and can eventually have a detriment on your skin and your health.
Making slight adjustments to your everyday life can also aid in your anti-pollution skin journey. Air pollution is amplified in the city, thus, more particles build up in the skin. Something as small as opting for less busy roads to walk on where possible or leaving the house before rush hour can make all the difference to your skin.