Saturday, July 24, 2021




How does Anti-Pollution skincare work and why is it important? I promise, it is not as complicated as it sounds! First, what does pollution actually do to our skin? 

Pollution disrupts our natural skin barrier which causes skin sensitivity, discoloration, premature aging skin, and even an increased risk of skin cancer. Car fumes, cigarette smoke, subway emissions, and even the blue lights from our phones are all forms of pollution that our skin is exposed to on a regular basis. 

Similar to SPF, our skin needs that extra layer of protection to prevent our skin from potential damage. Now, where can we find anti-pollution specific skincare and how much is it going to cost? Well, you are probably already using products that include key ingredients that fight against pollution without even realizing it. 

Here are 3 ingredients to make sure is included in your skincare that helps protect your skin against pollution: 

1.)    Vitamin C 

 Vitamin C is an antioxidant that protects the skin against free radical damage. Vitamin C gets absorbed into the skin’s cells which provides protection from the inside out. This antioxidant also helps the production of collagen within the skin, which promotes elasticity and hydration used for strengthening the skin. The most common way to use Vitamin C in a skincare routine is with a Vitamin C serum. A popular Vitamin C serum I recommend, is the C-Frima Day Serum from the brand Drunk Elephant. This product is enriched with Vitamin C used to neutralize pollution, environmental stressors, and the damaging effects of free radicals.  C-Firma™ Vitamin C Day Serum – Drunk Elephant 

  1. )   Algae

Algae is created with essential vitamins and minerals that helps the natural moisture within our skin to protect and repair the skin. Algae is also used to improve blood circulation in the skin to help create a natural detox from unwanted waste our skin is exposed to while making sure proper nutrients reach the skin’s cells. A great product that is infused with algae is the Osea’s Undaria Algae Body Oil. This product is enriched with both Algae and Vitamin C, ideal for complexions that are exposed to environmental pollution. This is because it uses the ingredient algae to eliminate the impurities while creating firm, hydrated skin. OSEA Undaria Algae Body Oil

3.)    Malachite Extract 

I find Malachite Extract to be one of the most fascinating anti-pollution ingredients as it comes from a gemstone, used to provide the skin-nourishing elements such as zinc, copper, and manganese. Those elements in malachite extract act as antioxidants used to fight against free radicals as they create a natural detox. When it comes to an everyday skincare product that incorporates malachite extract, I recommend the Goop Beauty’s G-Tox Pore Purifying Tonic. This product is a toner created with the key ingredient being malachite extract to help detox the skin from pollution while encouraging cellular defense. goop G.Tox Malachite and AHA Pore Refining Tonic

Skincare can be challenging and frequently on an expensive side. It has become modern knowledge to make sure our products are free of damaging chemicals, such as parabens or sulfates, but it is just as important to make sure our products include key ingredients as well. The idea of anti-pollution skincare can come off as complex, however, the easy guide is to make sure your skincare products include these essential anti-pollution ingredients, which are often common ingredients that are already included in your routine.