How to Protect Skin from Pollution

We all know by now that alcohol, smoking, unhealthy eating habits, and UV rays speed up the aging process of skin. But now there’s another factor that contributes to aging that is not easily avoidable - air pollution.

So how does pollution damage our skin? The skin on our face has a natural lipid (fat or oil) barrier, which is essentially a magnet for pollution particles. These toxic particles can enter our skin and bodies through our pores, contributing to free radical damage by breaking down collagen (the fibers that keep our skin bouncy and full). Free radicals can also damage the natural lipid layer, causing dryness, redness and irritation, and worsening inflammatory skin conditions such as acne, eczema, and psoriasis.

So what can you do to protect your skin?

Think of how dirty your car gets after leaving it out for one day, now imagine all of that dirt and dust on your skin. Without proper cleansing, these microscopic pollution particles will build up and wreak havoc on your skin. To remove all that gunk, use our BLUE LOTUS 4-in-1 Cleansing Milk on your face, neck and décolleté. It’s gentle enough to use regularly without stripping the skin, and effective at removing makeup and dirt.

Regular exfoliation is necessary to remove dead skin cells and prevent pores from clogging, which can lead to blemishes and blackheads. Deep clean with our BLUE LOTUS Seed Mud Mask + Exfoliant, revealing bright, smooth skin. This mask contains antioxidants to help fight free radicals, as well as ingredients to purify and detoxify skin.

Studies have shown that people living in areas of high pollution are more prone to dehydrated skin. During the day, use our BLUE LOTUS Essential Daily Moisturizer SPF 30 to hydrate and protect. The BLUE LOTUS extract is a powerful antioxidant which will help fight free radicals, while the SPF protects against harmful UVB and UVA rays. It wears wonderfully under makeup without leaving a greasy feeling or white tint. While you sleep, your skin cells regenerate and cell turnover increases, which is why night time is perfect to apply ingredient rich products. Our BLUE LOTUS Brightening Serum contains 9 powerful plant extracts to even out skin tone, brighten, and fight free radicals.

What you consume can greatly affect your skin so it is important to fuel your body with plenty of vitamins and nutrients. Many fruits and vegetables contain high levels of water and  antioxidants such as berries, carrots, spinach, kale, broccoli and sweet potatoes, which will help keep your skin hydrated and plump. Even red wine and dark chocolate that is at least 70% cacao contain great amounts of antioxidants. Essentially, eating a diet rich in colorful fruits and vegetables will benefit your overall health and wellness.

Unfortunately we cannot escape the pollutants in the air, but with the right products, we can take steps to protect and prevent these harmful particles from further damaging our skin.