New research from Clarins ranks Maine, New Hampshire, and Nebraska as having the best air quality for skin health due to the number of good air quality days and exposure to fine-particle pollutants. This rating places New York ninth in the US, with Utah, California, and Georgia facing poor air quality conditions. Rupesh Shah, founder of the London Lip Clinic, explains how toxins like nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide can penetrate the skin barrier, leading to oxidative stress and premature aging. As a result, skin-care experts provide tips for protecting and detoxifying the skin from harsh pollutants.
Tips for protecting and ridding skin of pollutants include the use of hydrating facial cleansers that remove impurities and maintain skin’s natural barrier. Keeping a hydrating facial mist on hand can help maintain skin hydration and soothe irritation, while prioritizing anti-oxidants can reduce damage to the skin’s barrier and shield it from toxins. It’s also important to use sunscreen with anti-pollution properties to reinforce protection against pollutants and sun damage. Using a detox face mask once a week can help remove impurities and address common skin issues associated with poor air quality.
Hydration is key to ensuring skin remains moisturized from within, with the recommendation to consume at least four to six cups of water each day. Shah suggests getting two or three chemical peels a year to improve skin tone and texture, as exfoliation is essential in preventing a buildup of dead skin cells from exposure to pollution. Wedgwood at Emma Wedgwood Aesthetics in London performs treatments such as the Obagi Blue Radiance Peel, microneedling, and Fraxel laser treatments to address aging and sun-damaged skin. These treatments aim to stimulate the skin’s natural healing response and improve skin health.
Marla Ibrahim, US national education director and skin expert at Clarins, emphasizes the importance of creating an anti-pollution skin-care routine in states with low air quality to protect the skin’s surface and detoxify it. Use of cleansers with hydration power, like CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser, can effectively remove pollution, dirt, and makeup while preserving the skin’s natural barrier. Serums or moisturizers rich in vitamins C, E, and A can help reduce damage to the skin’s barrier, and using antioxidants like SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic can neutralize free radicals and improve skin appearance. Reapplying sunscreen throughout the day in high UV locations is also recommended for added protection against pollutants and sun damage.
