Whenever any skin-related issue is discussed, pollution always happens to be one of the root causes of the problem, and it’s high time that we take this thing seriously. You might not realize it now, but pollution poses a great threat to your skin. Your skin gets exposed to pollution almost daily, and this exposure can cause so much damage to your skin. Air pollutants not only stick on the surface of your skin, but they also have the ability to penetrate deeper into your skin via the pores, which in turn, makes your skin look dull and lifeless. Additionally, air pollutants can cause free radical damage to your skin, which results in issues like inflammation, blemishes, premature skin aging, weakened skin barrier, reduced collagen content, etc. If you commute almost every day, your skin needs extra care and pampering.
Nobody wishes their skin to get affected by anything let alone air pollutants, and to ensure that your skin remains protected against the harmful effects of pollution; you need to adopt the following skincare habits.
Double cleanse your face
Cleansing is a crucial skincare step; it is one of the main keys to clean and healthy skin. Since your face gets exposed to a lot of things throughout the day, it becomes vital to cleanse your face properly, and merely washing your face with a face wash won’t help to cleanse your face thoroughly. To ensure that your face is squeaky clean, you should follow the double cleansing method, which involves two simple steps. The first step is to cleanse your face using an oil-based cleanser to get rid of dirt, pollutants, or makeup on your face. The second step is to wash your face using a suitable face wash to remove deep-set impurities and makeup residues from your face.
Exfoliate your face twice a week
Exfoliation is mostly associated with the removal of dead skin cells, which is true, but it can do a lot more than that. In addition to shedding the dead skin cells from your skin, exfoliants also help to remove dirt and pollution from your pores. However, skin exfoliation would only work if you exfoliate your skin twice or thrice a week. Just be very gentle while exfoliating your skin and make sure to use a mild exfoliator.
Include antioxidants in your skincare routine
Antioxidants do a wonderful job of protecting your skin against free radical damage. And the best part is you can include antioxidants in your skincare routine in so many ways. Vitamin C is an excellent antioxidant ingredient; the regular use of this ingredient will help to keep skin issues like fine lines, saggy skin, and dark spots at bay.
Wear sunscreen daily
Sun exposure is one of the root causes of damaged skin, which is why it’s imperative to wear sunscreen daily. While sunscreen doesn’t directly offer protection from pollution, it certainly plays a vital role in building a defense system against pollution. The air pollutants tend to react with UV rays, and this reaction doesn’t end well for your skin as these pollutants turn themselves into toxins, which can be really damaging for your skin. Therefore, you must wear your sunscreen daily to avoid UV damage.
Keep your skin hydrated
Hydrated skin is happy and healthy skin. Keeping your skin hydrated well enough not only helps to combat issues like acne, dryness, premature sign of aging, etc., but it also offers protection to your skin against the harmful effects of air pollution by strengthening your skin’s lipid barrier. Look for a non-sticky and lightweight moisturizer to keep your skin from looking too greasy.