How Air Pollution Disrupts your Skin (& What you Can Do About it)

We’re well aware by now that air pollution wreaks havoc on our health and environment, but did you know that pollution can also cause damage to our skin? *Gasp*

You'll see more and more skincare brands offering anti-pollution products, but it's hard to know what these products offer and how they help your skin in the long run. Luckily, this isn’t the case when you’re a member of the Clean Skin Crew. Transparency and cleanliness are basically second nature to us.

When you choose Luma & Leaf, you can feel free knowing that each product is formulated to protect your skin against the environmental stressors you encounter every day. Gone are the hours spent pacing the beauty isles of Target trying to figure out which products are more than cute boxes. We’ll deliver a skincare routine that addresses a host of concerns (and comes in Instagrammable packaging) to help you look and feel your best.

How Air Pollution Damages your Complexion

There are various types of pollution in our environment that affect our health and, in turn, our skin. Smog, or outdoor air pollution that hangs over a city, is often produced by vehicle exhaust, building heating systems, agricultural and waste incineration systems, and cigarette smoke. You know, just all the pungent outdoor smells that make a city smell like... a city.

The above processes produce harmful gases such as methane, carbon monoxide, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) - a.k.a. big science words that mean ‘nasty.’ These gases break harmful material into very tiny particles, known as particulate matter, that are then released into the air. The particles are so small they can fit through the pores of your skin. Some are even small enough to deposit into our tissues and organs, creating dire health consequences. Is your skin crawling yet?

When these tiny particles hit your skin, they don't act like rain droplets on a rain jacket where they hit the surface and roll off. Your skin is more like a sponge, allowing these tiny particles to seep into your skin through your pores and cause damage that you aren't even aware is happening.

Damage to your skin cells comes in the form of free radicals. Free radicals are basically unhealthy cells that bounce around and cause damage to other cells. We knew we needed to create products that targeted free radicals and saved your skin from all of the above.

 

The Price you Pay for Pollution

So, what happens when the toxins from our air get absorbed into our skin? Nothing fun, we’ll tell you that.

Air pollution in urban areas have been known to contribute to:

• Premature aging
• Uneven skin tone
• Skin cancer
• Dark spots
• Acne
• Wrinkles
• Collagen break down
• Inflammation
• Dehydration
• Decreased elasticity
• Impaired skin barrier

If you weren’t already on the skincare routine train, hopefully you’re realizing you need to be now. All aboard!

How to Prevent and Repair Skin Damage from Air Pollution

After all that stressing news, here’s the positive part - skin damage from air pollution isn't inevitable. There are several steps you can take to protect your skin from the harmful effects of pollution. 

 

Step 1: First and foremost, never underestimate the power of a good wash. Use a gentle cleanser (like Hydraglow Cleansing Gel) every morning and night to remove toxins from the surface before they have the chance to sink in. 

Step 2: Follow your cleanser with a serum that’s formulated with antioxidants to protect your skin from free radicals. When you layer on an antioxidant-rich serum after cleansing, you’re preventing damage caused by air pollution and giving your skin much-needed vitamins. Click here for a glow-inducing serum, or click here for an acne-targeting serum. We’ve got something for all skin types. 

Step 3: Seal the deal with a moisturizer that keeps skin radiant, healthy, and most importantly, protected. Moisturizers are necessary for everyday wear to ensure the first two steps get locked in with a loving layer of hydration. Whether you need Relief & Repair Moisturizer or Luminous Light Moisturizer, we’ve got you covered. 

 

Make sure your skincare routine is strong and clean to prevent air pollution from having a fighting chance. Luma & Leaf doesn’t stand for skin damage, and you shouldn’t either.