Your skin goes through a heck of a lot each day when free radicals damage cell membranes and structures. It weathers pollution and UV, not to mention the free radicals that damage your cells as a result of consuming alcohol and fried foods, and from using tobacco products.
It’s true, some degree of free radical damage is a fact of life. You’d have to hibernate in a hobbit hole for life if you wanted to make sure your skin never came into contact with UV and pollution! But that doesn’t mean there aren’t nurturing steps you can take to keep the oxidative stress on your skin to a minimum.
First, though, let’s look at how pollutants damage your skin.
How Pollution Destroys Skin Integrity
Pollutants enter the skin and reduce the naturally-occurring levels of antioxidants in the body, whilst also triggering oxidative stress. This harms your skin cells, which become less effective at self-repair and reproducing new skin cells and fibroblasts (collagen and elastin).
According to studies, airborne pollutants are now linked with common signs of aging including lines, wrinkles, and “age spots” that show up in the form of brown spots and patches across the face. Skin dryness and dehydration are also strongly associated with pollutants.
What should an anti-pollution skincare routine look like?
Antioxidants are the answer when it comes to preventive and restorative protection against free radicals. Antioxidants cling onto free radicals before they have a chance to start dismantling your skin cell function.
Antioxidants that can protect skin integrity in the face of pollutive damage include:
Vitamin C: powerful free-radical-suppressing antioxidant and collagen-inducing powerhouse. Treats and prevents skin changes associated with photoaging.
Vitamin E: fat-soluble antioxidant that protects lipids (essential fats that keep your skin hydrated) from free radical damage.
Vitamin B3 (Niacinamide): mitigates oxidative stress by fortifying the outermost layer of skin from pollutants, and reducing skin inflammation.
(Vitamin A) Retinol: smoothens out fine lines and wrinkles that come about due to UV damage and lifestyle choices that give your skin a rough ride (alcohol consumption and smoking, for example).
Ferulic Acid: also known as hydroxycinnamic acid, ferulic acid is a skin-protecting antioxidant that repairs damage that has already occurred across the skin. Can potentiate the effects of vitamins E and C when used in conjunction with these.
Your Antioxidant Antidotes
SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic
- Helps to reinforce the skin’s natural protection against free radicals.
- Proven to give 8X environmental protection.
- Clinically proven to reduce combined oxidative damage from free radicals generated by UV, ozone, and diesel exhaust by up to 41%
Obagi C 10% Serum
- Powerful antioxidant containing L-ascorbic acid (Vitamin C).
- Effective protection from UV damage as it brightens and treats pigmentation.
- Stimulates collagen production for firmer, smoother skin.