We’ve all heard how bad pollution is for the planet, but what about our skin? From dullness and breakouts to premature aging, pollution leaves its mark on our skin.
The fix? Anti-pollution skincare with climate-smart technology designed to combat the effects of pollution and the world around you.
So, what is pollution really doing to your skin?
The Impact of Different Types of Pollution on Skin
Pollution is defined as anything that contaminates water, land, or air through substances that adversely harm the environment and human health [1]. The majority of these threats are practically invisible, and yet they lurk all around us: 🆘
Smog
The hazy layer of grayish-brown mist that blankets cities like Los Angeles and Beijing is visible air pollution [2]. 😶🌫️ It’s a cocktail of:
- Ground-level ozone: Created by a reaction between sunlight, nitrogen oxides (from car exhausts), and organic compounds (like industrial emissions and other sources).
- Particulate matter: Tiny particles of dust, soot, and other pollutants that can penetrate deep into your skin.
- Nitrogen dioxide: A gas produced by burning fossil fuels that contributes to skin oxidation and inflammation.
The effects of air pollution from smog can speed up external aging and exasperate issues like irritation, dehydration, discoloration, and more.
Artificial Light
Light pollution doesn’t just dim the stars; it also dims your glow. ✨Fluorescent lighting, streetlights, and blue light emitted from smartphones and televisions can all trigger oxidative stress, photoaging, and disrupt barrier function [3].
Research even shows that late-night exposure to artificial light interferes with your body’s melatonin production (the sleep hormone) [4]. Poor sleep throws your skin's natural rhythm out of whack, hindering its ability to repair and rejuvenate overnight.
Water Pollutants
Unfortunately, water pollution is a global issue that affects both developed and developing countries [5]. Industrial waste, agricultural runoff, and sewage are all major contributors to this problem.
Drinking, swimming, or bathing in it can strip your skin’s natural defenses, leaving it vulnerable to dryness, inflammation, premature aging, and even lesions or infections [6].
Cigarette Smoke
Cigarette smoke releases toxins into the atmosphere, like nicotine, tar, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, and benzene [7].
When it comes to cigarette smoke pollution and skin, it can cause premature aging, reduced blood flow, inflammation, delayed wound healing, and a compromised immune system [8].
Indoor Pollution
We tend to think of pollution as an outdoor problem, but it can find its way inside, too. Indoor pollution can stem from everyday products [9], such as :
- Household cleaners, paints, and air fresheners
- Building materials like asbestos or formaldehyde
- Dust mites and dander
- Mold and mildew
- Gas stoves and cooking activities
Phew! That’s a ton of potential pollutants your skin has to fight. Fortunately, you’re not powerless against them. 💪🏻
5 Best Anti-Pollution Skincare Products
Thanks to stricter regulations and growing awareness, air pollution levels have decreased quite a bit in recent years [10].
Here are our top anti-pollution skincare picks to get you started:
1. Clarifying Polish
The Clarifying Polish is a mini spa treatment for your face. It gently buffs away pollution and impurities that dull your complexion. Its blend of sugar crystals and nourishing ingredients leaves your skin refreshed and ready to glow.
Next, an anti-pollution serum…
2. Smoke Alarm Drops
Discover how to protect your skin from air pollution with Pour Moi Skincare’s Smoke Alarm Drops. This award-winning product creates a shields against smoke pollution, preventing those tiny, glow-zapping particles from penetrating your skin and causing damage.
3. Climate-Smart Day Cream
The stratum corneum is your skin’s thin, protective layer. Pollution weakens it, making you more vulnerable to damage and irritation. The best way to bolster its defense? Moisture. 💦
After decades of research, we’ve found that different climates call for different skincare. For instance, someone in a bustling, urban city like New York has different complexion concerns than someone in Sedona.
Our Climate-Smart Day Creams deeply hydrates your stratum corneum. It helps your skin withstand pollution, no matter your environment.
4. Botanical Reverse Mask
Love your screen time but hate what it does to your skin? 🤳Pour Moi's Botanical Reversal Mask is your digital detox in a jar, protecting against blue light damage that accelerates aging.
5. Rose Moisture Mask
Your skin deserves a little luxury, especially when fighting pollution. The potent brightening agents in our Rose Moisture Mask fortify your skin against external stresses while cultivating self-care.🫧
6 Habits to Complement Anti-Pollution Skincare
What else can you do to combat pollution and skin damage?
Here are six tips to reinforce your anti-pollution skincare:
- Eat a diet rich in antioxidants, which help neutralize harmful free radicals that damage skin cells and prompt premature aging, inflammation, and dullness [11].
- Exercise regularly to detoxify, boost circulation, and reduce stress.
- Wear broad-spectrum sunscreen with blue light protection every day.
- Prioritize sleep to maximize your skin’s overnight repair and regeneration functions.
- Use air purifiers, water filters, and nontoxic cleaners to minimize the effects of air pollution indoors.
- Avoid peak pollution hours like the morning and afternoon rush, when car emissions and industrial activities are most prevalent.
Conclusion: Guard Your Glow with Pour Moi Skincare
Pollution’s impact on your skin is as real as the economic boost Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour has on every city she visits [12]. 🎤 It may be a hazy world sometimes, but your skin doesn’t have to follow suit.
By understanding the different types of pollution, choosing anti-pollution skincare, and shifting your habits, you can be your best ally in the fight against pollution.
Discover Pour Moi’s Climate-Smart® Skincare solutions today!
References
[1] US. NOAA’s National Ocean Service Education: Nonpoint Source Pollution. Noaa.gov. Published 2017.
[2] What Causes Smog? Caltech Science Exchange.
[3] Furukawa JY, Martinez RM, Morocho-Jácome AL, et al. Skin impacts from exposure to ultraviolet, visible, infrared, and artificial lights – a review. Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy. 2021;23(1-2):1-7.
[4] Artificial light interrupts circadian cycle. Uclahealth.org. Published January 12, 2022.
[5] Harlin J. Globally, 3 billion people at health risk due to scarce data on water quality. UNEP. Published March 19, 2021.
[6] Fontus Water Treatment. The Impact of Water Quality on Your Skin and Hair: Tips for Healthier Hydration. Fontus Water Treatment. Published March 31, 2024.
[7] Toxins in Tobacco Smoke. www.canada.ca. Published July 26, 2023.
[8] Smoking and its effects on the skin | DermNet NZ. dermnetnz.org. Published November 2016.
[9] Dealing With Indoor Air Pollution? - Columbus Energies. Columbus Energies. Published September 2, 2024.
[10] U.S. Air Pollution Rates Decline but Pockets of Inequities Remain. Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. Published January 17, 2024.
[11] Lobo V, Patil A, Phatak A, Chandra N. Free radicals, Antioxidants and Functional foods: Impact on Human Health. Pharmacognosy Reviews. 2010;4(8):118-126.
[12] Kopstein J, Espada M. The Staggering Economic Impact of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour. Time. Published August 23, 2023.