The environment on Earth is undoubtedly getting worse as time goes on. This is because of new buildings, air pollution, and even small dust particles that travel with the wind. Although it will not immediately affect your skin, it will start showing damage over time.
Do you know that pollutants are not only found outside of your house? Some, like dust mites, cigarette smoke, and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), can come from paint or refrigerants. These pollutants eventually make your skin susceptible to fine lines, acne, and even hyperpigmentation.
Thankfully, there are ways to protect your skin from all the pollutants. Let’s check them out!
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Don’t Skip Your Cleanser
After a long day, what your skin needs is a good cleansing to get rid of all the dirt and junk. Washing away the remnants of pollutants on your skin will help prevent your skin from having clogged pores, especially if you are also regularly wearing makeup.
To get the best results, try getting a cleanser with good ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid to keep your skin hydrated and salicylic acid, which is suitable for acne-prone skin. Also, since pollutants can attack the collagen in your face, it is important to use the ingredients that may help collagen production, such as hyaluronic acid or vitamin C.
Moisturize Your Skin
Being in harsh conditions will make your skin look dry and dull. Unfortunately, this will also result in looking much older than you actually are. Therefore, you must include a good moisturizer in your routines to plump up your skin and retain the moisture for an overall younger appearance.
One of the ways is applying the Aiken moisturizer to help you boost the moisture in your skin. Aiken is a well-known skincare brand for its high-quality ingredients to promote healthier skin. Besides Aiken, you can get other moisturizers to protect your skin barrier- your body’s frontline- from harmful environmental toxins.
Sunscreen is a Must!
Applying sunscreen is a vital part of your routine, even when you are staying at home. It is important to protect your skin from harmful UV rays as well as amplify the pollutants’ effects. To adequately shield against UV rays, look for a broad-spectrum composition with at least SPF 50. If you have sensitive skin, you could try the Cetaphil sunscreen, which is suitable for all skin types and contains gentle ingredients.
In addition, regular usage of sunscreen will also reduce the chance of developing skin cancer. Besides sunscreens, you can also find skincare products containing SPF. However, SPF-containing skincare and cosmetics should only be used as an addition to sunscreen but never as a substitute for it as your primary method of sun protection.
Exfoliate Regularly
In addition to a good cleanser, an exfoliant will help make your skin rejuvenate by getting rid of the dead skin cells caused by the air pollutants during your commute to the office or school. That’s why you need to have an exfoliant ready on your vanity desk. Also, you do not want your skin to look dull and appear older because you do not remove the dead skin cells, right?
Therefore, you can choose two types of exfoliants: physical and chemical. Physical exfoliants work like a scrub; they have small particles to remove impurities on your skin. Meanwhile, chemical exfoliants contain different acids to break down your dead skin cells and treat skin problems.
It is important to note that you should not exfoliate your skin often as it will counter all your efforts to make your skin look better. Instead, you should only exfoliate your skin twice or thrice a week. However, it is also important to listen to your skin’s needs and see if it can handle exfoliants. Then, you can consult a dermatologist before adding a new product into your routine for a safer choice.
Use a Face Mask as a Treat
We have already explained what you must do to care for your skin, from cleansing to exfoliating. The last step is a bonus, but it also can protect your skin from pollutants while having a “spa day” at home. Yes, you guess it right, it is a face mask! It has many benefits after being exposed to pollutants all day long.
Face mask works by penetrating the pores deeper than typical daily cleansers do. It works by drawing out dirt, oil, and other impurities below the skin’s surface, giving you a more thorough cleansing session.
Unlike other skincare products that need time to show their effect, face masks do not have to be used continuously to see the effect. It is ideal when you need immediate results because it can make your skin look and feel softer, smoother, and rejuvenate in a few minutes.
From this, it is clear that pollutants negatively affect our skin whether we like it or not. Plus, with the world constantly evolving, there are bound to be some changes that cause a rise in the pollution level. So, it is essential to take necessary precautions and avoid these negative effects to our best abilities. Good luck!