Clearly, pollution is not the best environment for your skin to thrive in. Its long-term effects on your skin can actually be unfavorable for your overall appearance. Though planning to retire among beachy waves and serene hills to avoid air pollution for your skin may seem like an ideal plan, sadly it is not feasible.

Pollutants you need to watch out for

Are you familiar with your PMs from your PAHs? Since air pollution takes multiple forms, let's run down some of the major nasties moving around you. You need to be on guard for solar ultraviolet radiation, volatile organic compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, heavy metals, particulate matter, cigarette smoke, and ozone. All of these can have dire effects on your skin. a common pollutant in smog, PM2.5 is quite large enough to penetrate into your skin yet damages your skin barrier function at a great level. 

What exactly is anti-pollution skincare?

When it comes to protecting your skin from pollution, your best bet would be to dive into anti-pollution skincare. But what is anti-pollution skincare and how will it effectively protect your skin? 

As per experts, the term anti-pollution skincare refers to the products and skin care regimes that are intended to protect your skin from environmental stressors, particularly triggered by pollutants. The purpose of anti-pollution skincare is basically to create a protective layer around your skin's surface, counteract the effect of free radicals, and cleanse your skin to a certain level. 

Whether you live in an urban city or reside in a rural village, there are different levels and intensities of environmental pollution that you cannot escape from. Not protecting your skin from pollution exposes it to a muddled can of maggots, exacerbating already existing skin problems like eczema, acne, and rosacea. 

So, how to protect skin from pollution? An anti-pollution skincare regime works best with other skin issues, by providing a protective shield, facilitating barrier function, and promoting overall skin health. This allows for more active acne, anti-aging, and dehydrating treatments. 

Important Factors to consider

When it comes to pollution protection skin care, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. What may suit one person may not suit the other. When it comes to formulating anti-pollution skincare products targeted at Pakistani skin, there are various factors that you may want to consider. The climatic conditions of Pakistan are diverse ranging from tropical humid to dry desert areas. 

Your skin may be affected by pollution depending on the type of environment so the formulations must be in accordance. Apart from this, there are many cities, some such as Lahore that are vastly polluted. This suggests that best antipollution skin products should offer vigorous protection. 

Another important factor is the type of skin. Just like any population. Pakistani skin also varies from being dry to oily so it is essential to have a range of formulations catering specifically to a particular skin type. An all-inclusive skincare regime with prevention, protection, and reparative measures offers the best results with minimal effort. 

A guide to anti-pollution skincare regime

Cleansing

When it comes to pollution protection skincare, cleansing is the first and foremost step. You need to choose a deep cleanser that eradicates all impurities from deep within your skin surface and your pores. Opt for a gentle formula that cleanses all traces of dirt, grime, and makeup residue while also maintaining your skin's natural barrier. 

Antioxidant serum or moisturizer

Antioxidants are skincare superheroes. Therefore, incorporating an antioxidant-rich serum or moisturizer in your regime helps to protect your skin. It does this by neutralizing the damaging impact caused by pollutants in the surrounding air. 

To make sure your skin barrier is functioning properly, you need to go for products containing ceramides, Centella ascitic, aloe vera, and hyaluronic acid. These will not only repair but also reinforce the protective barrier of your skin.

Wear sunscreen

Since ultraviolet radiation is known to damage your skin at a great level, you must shield it with a layer of sun protection. Application of sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 is needed every day. 

Apply mask

It is important that you detoxify your skin with a mask on a weekly basis. The best antipollution skin products are enriched with healthy ingredients, metal chelators, activated charcoal, and other mineral clay types that help for quick absorption of impurities from the pollutants. This way your skin gets rid of all toxins and is repaired and soothed. 

Exfoliation

You should not forget to exfoliate your skin at all times. What happens is that the dead skin cells attract pollutants from the environment and trap them, congesting your pores. This leads to pimples and acne. As you exfoliate your skin, all the dead skin cells accumulated on the surface are eradicated thus creating smooth skin. 

Remain consistent

Considering your anti-pollution skincare, it is very important that you remain consistent with it. It is not a one-night wonder to rid your skin of free radicals, it is a process in itself. So, make sure you are following all processes regularly. 

The final verdict

You are continuously exposed to pollution that affects skin health. The major purpose of your skin is to serve as an immune barrier, but if this is compromised it means your skin is damaged. You can certainly not escape the pollutants that you may encounter, but you can protect your skin by following a guide of cleansing, detoxing, wearing sunscreen, and exfoliation.