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Anti-Pollution Skincare All City Dwellers Need

Living in a city has its perks, but there are also hidden downfalls, especially if you’re concerned about skin ageing. Pollution is an undeniably real thing in most of the world’s cities, due to constant emissions from cars, machinery and other typical city staples. As a result, anti-pollution skincare is a bigger market than ever.

Anti-Pollution Skincare All City Dwellers Need

Whether you’re in Melbourne or Mumbai, Wellington or Washington, keeping the skin protected against pollutants is an incredibly important, non-negotiable step in your routine. It’s time to shield that gorgeous skin against the side effects of living in a city — they’re more serious than they may seem. Keep on reading to discover the anti-pollution skincare essentials you can work into your daily regimen right now.

The Ingredients

There are a few ingredients to keep an eye out for when you’re choosing anti-pollution skincare. These include essential vitamins and minerals in addition to SPF and other known protectants. Here are some must-have ingredients that’ll be well-received additions to your routine:

  • Vitamin C – Everyone’s favourite antioxidant, Vitamin C has a multitude of benefits for skin exposed to pollution. Antioxidants in general prevent against the oxidisation of the skin’s barrier lipids by air toxins, meaning fewer nasties are able to penetrate the skin’s surface and do lasting damage. Vitamin C not only does this, but encourages collagen production for a more youthful look.
  • Vitamin E – Similarly to Vitamin C, Vitamin E fends off free radicals, ensuring they can’t damage the skin on any level. It also ensures quicker skin cell turnover for a fresher, younger-looking complexion free of dry patches and even pigmentation spots, if used frequently enough. Vitamin C also boasts this amazing benefit, so either (or both!) of these antioxidants are a must-have for city skin.
  • Barrier shields –  Some ingredients can act as shields for the skin, essentially blocking off the path pollutants would take to reach and damage the skin’s deeper layers. These superstars include lanolin, glycerin, beeswax and niacinamide, as suggested by The New York Times.
  • SPF – Of course, we can’t forget our daily essential — sunscreen! Even if you’re going bare faced, facial sunscreen is something you absolutely can’t do without. Make sure you’re choosing a high SPF if you’re wearing makeup, as this will make reapplying an impossibility throughout the day — SPF50+ is always worth the purchase for skin on the face.

Cleansers

 Dermalogica PreCleanse Anti-Pollution Skincare

Anti-pollution skincare is definitely on the rise, and cleansers for this purpose in particular are dominating the beauty world. When choosing a cleanser to fend off the elements, it’s important you choose something that reaches deeply into the pores to remove dust, dirt and other environmental byproducts that may have snaked their way in there throughout the day. Double cleansing is also a great practice to get into if you live in a city, as this ensures the skin is really clear and that no nasties are trapped.

Go for the Dermalogica PreCleanse Balm if you’ve got normal to dry skin, making it the first step in your double cleansing routine. The balm consistency cuts through dirt and day-to-day grime to reveal clearer pores. Then, simply go in with your favourite gel or cream cleanser to deliver any additional benefits you’re after. Oilier skin types will love the brand’s OG PreCleanse, which takes the form of an emulsion to trap oils without over-drying.

Scrubs and Exfoliants

If double cleansing wasn’t enough, perhaps it’s time to go in with an exfoliant to really help slough away at any leftover pollutants on the skin. Whether you opt for a true scrub with gritty particles or a chemical exfoliant that can simply be swiped across the face, these will reinforce the effects of your anti-pollution cleanser if they incorporate the right ingredients.

One key facet of anti-pollution skincare is that it’s inherently anti-ageing, so the Dermalogica AGESmart range is ideal for protecting the skin. The Dermalogica Daily Superfoliant has been lauded for being a pollution routine must-have, as it relies on activated binchotan charcoal to absorb leftover residue from free radicals or pollutive particles. It’s also a uniquely fun product that you’ll enjoy using daily — try it out for yourself!

Mists and Toners

Skinstitut Multi-Active Mist Anti-Pollution Skincare

Mists are an ideal way to refresh made-up skin as the day goes on, guaranteeing the complexion stays protected against pollutants even as your SPF loses efficacy. These are must-haves to keep on your desk at work — simply spritz before you head out on your break to prevent sneaky free radical or UV damage.

The WEI Golden Root Multi-Action Anti-Pollution Mist is a fantastic addition to any desk beauty supply or purse stash, as it’s enriched with Vitamin C-packed lemon extract to ensure protection against the elements. Developed using the best botanical extracts inspired by Traditional Chinese Medicine, this mist refreshes the skin with zero nasties involved.

Other favourites include the Skinstitut Multi-Active Mist, a go-to for mature skin, and the NIOD Superoxide Dimustase Saccharide Mist, which has anti-pollution benefits for sensitive or younger skin types.

Serums

Alpha-H Vitamin C with Grapeseed Anti-Pollution Skincare

A good serum is essential to any skincare lover’s arsenal, but is even more integral when you’re facing pollution on a daily basis. Simply apply after toning and before your moisturiser or any heavier creams to lock in a whole slew of benefits.

Deliver concentrated Vitamin C to the skin with the Alpha-H Vitamin C Serum with Grape Seed, which uses a combination of innovative technology and effective plant extracts to create an effective formula. Not only will this product protect the skin against free radical damage, but it’ll also work to keep the complexion supple, elastic and free of fine lines and wrinkles.

Another serum we adore for protecting the skin is The Ordinary EUK 134 Serum 0.1%, which features unique ingredient EUK in a low yet effective concentration to ward off a whole list of pollutants. Smoke, UV light, free radicals and more are no match against this serum, which neutralises all activity before it penetrates the skin. And before you ask — yep, that really does say $14.70…

Moisturisers

Finally, don’t forget to apply your moisturiser as the final step in your skincare routine. We recommend picking up two different moisturiser formulas to really maximise protective potential — one for daytime wear that includes a quality SPF, and another for night that works to repair the skin’s barrier.

For during the day, we can’t go past the Skinstitut Age Defence SPF50+, which is ideal for absolutely any skin type. It’s lightweight, non-greasy and broad spectrum, meaning it covers all the bases and won’t irritate underlying conditions or exacerbate greasiness. Plus, it hydrates to the max, ensuring the skin stays soft and plump as it should. However, if you have an all-time favourite moisturiser, use it — just make sure it’s got adequate SPF protection, or that you supplement by following up with facial sunscreen!

Nighttime presents the perfect opportunity to repair the skin, as these natural processes are accelerated as we sleep. Fortify the skin restoration process with a moisturiser such as the Dermalogica Ultracalming Barrier Repair. If your skin has been exposed to damage from free radicals, the sun or pollutants, this product will work hard to repair it, fixing up those holes in your skin’s barrier. It also works as a shield during the day, so you can layer it with your SPF post-toning. Did we mention it’s a godsend for sensitive skin?

Will you be picking up any of our anti-pollution skincare essentials? Let us know your must-haves for battling the elements over on Facebook or Twitter.



Amanda

Amanda

Beauty Editor

A coffee addicted, YouTube obsessed Libran, I absolutely live and breathe all things beauty! I love to try new products and find myself switching things up regularly, as I continue on my ultimate quest to find the perfect flawless base and skin-care regime.


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