Did you know your skin can absorb air pollution? Imagine you’re downtown surrounded by idling cars stuck in traffic. Or, picture you’re out for a walk and you watch as exhaust from the factory in your town spills out into the air. We’d bet, in this imagined scenario, that your skin doesn’t feel very clean or healthy.
That’s because, even if you don’t know exactly how it’s happening on a scientific level, it’s intuitive to come to the conclusion that pollution has a negative impact on your skin. And you would be 100% right.
Pollutants like car exhaust and toxic emissions can easily pass through skin cell membranes and into the body. Plus, UV rays also have a negative impact on your skin's health. But how does pollution and UV damage affect your skin? And what can you do to counteract it?
Luckily, many skincare products have anti-pollution ingredients in them–including many of ours! So let’s talk about how to protect your skin from the elements.
How do the elements affect your skin?
Both pollution and UV rays can damage your skin in surprisingly similar ways. Pollution and UV damage can weaken your skin barrier, which is an important line of defense that protects your skin from outside irritants and transepidermal water loss. They can also both cause oxidative stress, which weakens your skin’s overall health and longevity.
Oxidative Stress
Oxidative stress occurs when there is an imbalance of antioxidants and free radicals in your skin. Both antioxidants and free radicals are naturally produced in the body, but when the skin is exposed to pollution or UV rays (and even smoking!), it can actually lower the level of naturally occurring antioxidants, causing an imbalance.
Free radicals have a direct impact on the oxygenation of your skin, and cause something called cellular oxidation. This is usually a normal and necessary function, but without antioxidants to balance this out, too much cellular oxidation due to UV rays or pollution can slow collagen and elastin production–two functions that keep skin firm and smooth that naturally slows down as we age. You might also find your pores appear enlarged and your complexion appears duller.
Oxidative stress happens when there is an imbalance of free radicals and antioxidants in your skin.
Another way this imbalance affects your skin is that inflammation happens much more easily and often. Your skin barrier also becomes compromised.
Compromised Skin Barrier Function
If you think of your skin barrier as your skin’s first line of defense, you can also say that pollution and UV rays are the attackers your skin is defending against. Continuous contact with pollution and UV rays wears down your skin barrier over time.
When your skin barrier is weak, it opens the door to many issues. First, you’ll experience more skin dryness because your barrier protects the skin from too much water evaporating out (transepidermal water loss). You might find yourself constantly moisturizing with little effect because of this.
Another concern is your skin becomes more easily irritated and inflammation is much more common. Inflammation can cause itchiness, redness, dryness, and acne. It also worsens any inflammatory skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis.
A compromised skin barrier also affects your skin’s texture. You might experience some uneven texture, congestion, and clogged pores.
Anti-Pollution Skincare: What to Look For
Antioxidants
Would you be surprised that one of the best options for pollution protection is antioxidants?
Probably not! It only makes sense to provide the skin with some much needed antioxidants when your skin is dealing with an imbalance. Antioxidants show up in skincare in a wide range of ways. If you see vitamin A, C, or E in a product, that’s an antioxidant! So are minerals like zinc, copper, and malachite. You can also look for beta carotene, niacinamide, polyphenols, ferulic acid, tocopherol, and more.
Antioxidant and vitamin rich ingredients are popular in many skincare formulations. You won't have to search hard for pollution protection!
When oxidative stress occurs because the level of natural antioxidants is lowered by pollution and UV rays, adding back in antioxidants both topically and through food is the way to go. So on top of these fantastic skincare ingredients, adding antioxidant-rich foods into your diet will help tremendously.
Barrier Supporting Ingredients
Taking care of your skin barrier is essential to your skin’s overall health and longevity. Your skin barrier is what allows or stops certain things from absorbing into your body. A strong, healthy skin barrier keeps toxins, pollution, bacteria, and more out–and keeps hydration in.
Your barrier, which is also called the lipid barrier, is made up of fatty acids, ceramides, cholesterol, keratin, and natural moisturizers. You won’t be surprised to learn that some of the best skincare ingredients for skin barrier support are oils containing fatty acids and ceramides. A common metaphor for the skin barrier is to call it a “brick wall”, as each cell creates a wall of defense that protects the layers of skin underneath. Fatty acids and ceramides strengthen those cells. Peptides also make a great addition to the barrier support team as they are amino acids and provide the skin with structural support (they firm and plump skin!).
Plant oils in particular are shown to be effective for skin barrier support. Some see natural, plant-powered skincare as simply an alternative to more traditional products. We love that in this instance, it’s actually the ideal way to support your skin. We’ll share some of our fave oils below.
SPF and Blue Light Protection
We have to state the obvious. One of the best things you can do to protect your skin from the elements is wear SPF daily. While pollution can take its toll on your skin, UV damage is the most significant yet avoidable cause of skin concerns like hyperpigmentation, damaged skin cells, inflammation, and sagging, crepey skin (due to how UV damage breaks down elastin and collagen production).
Blue light from the sun and LED screens can accelerate skin aging and cause hyperpigmentation.
Another form of light other than UV light we’re exposed to daily is blue light. Just like UV light, the main source of blue light is the sun, but we can also have exposure to it through LED screens like TVs, computers, and smartphones. Some new research found that like UV light, blue light can accelerate skin aging and cause hyperpigmentation.
Luckily, there are a number of skincare ingredients that protect your skin from blue light exposure. Blueberry seed oil is what we use in some of our products to provide protection. We’ll talk more about it below.
Natural Anti-Pollution Ingredients We Love
Moringa
Moringa oleifera is the star of Supermoon Serum’s anti-pollution complex. Why? Well, it’s a botanical vitamin C packed full of antioxidants, plus it has anti-inflammatory properties. It prevents the adhesion of particles to the skin, thus preventing oxidative damage caused by environmental pollutants, providing a protective shield on the surface of the skin.
Find it in: Supermoon Serum
Colloidal Oatmeal
Colloidal oatmeal is another antioxidant-rich ingredient (vitamin E) and is also filled with fatty acids–two components that signify this ingredient’s ability to deeply hydrate the skin by creating an occlusive layer over it.
This means colloidal oatmeal has both antioxidants and is barrier supporting. It’s also a skin super soother and is a fave for those with chronic skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis.
Find it in: Putty, Jade Moon (oat oil)
Raspberry Seed Oil
Raspberry seed oil is filled with vitamin A and E, meaning it can neutralize free radicals through its antioxidant properties. On top of that, raspberry seed oil has Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids making it great for skin barrier protection. Like colloidal oatmeal, it’s also an occlusive.
Find it in: Face Glow, Jade Moon
Blueberry Seed Oil
Not only antioxidant-rich thanks to the vitamin A and C found in the ingredient, blueberry seed oil also provides protection from blue light. We use a blueberry seed oil called Blueberry NECTA that is proven to absorb blue light and help shield your face from its damaging effects. It’s also one of our upcycled ingredients!
On top of protection from the elements, this oil can brighten dull skin and minimize dark spots.
Find it in: Berry Rich Face + Eye Cream, Jade Moon
Non Nano Zinc
Many minerals are particularly good at shielding skin from the elements. Non nano zinc is no exception. Though you might be more familiar with zinc oxide, one of the most well known active ingredients in mineral sunscreens, non nano zinc still has tons of protective properties. Not only is it anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, antioxidant-rich, and hydrating, it provides 28x the skin’s natural protection against the sun’s UVA and UVB rays.
While the zinc content in our products doesn’t negate your need for an SPF, it does add a layer of protection. Non nano zinc also helps with soothing inflammation and combating the bacteria that causes acne.
Copper
Copper is an essential mineral involved in the process of collagen and elastin production. Having copper in your skincare contributes to the structure of your skin barrier and increases collagen production. Copper also absorbs deeply into the skin, offering instant hydration and cell therapy. Wondering about antioxidants? Yep, copper has those too.
Find it in: Face Food
Malachite
Malachite, a potent healing gemstone, detoxifies and rejuvenates the skin through its antioxidant properties and high copper content. Research on the malachite extract we include in our products demonstrates its ability to purify the skin by trapping air pollutants such as toxins, solvents, and heavy metals.
This ingredient also helps defend the skin against oxidative damage!
Find it in: Supermoon Serum, Face Food
Sun + Pollution Safety Tips
There’s more you can do for your skin health beyond skin care products. Here are some other ways to protect yourself against UV rays and pollution.
To minimize sun exposure:
- Wear broad-brimmed hats and lightweight clothes that cover your skin
- Spend time in the shade when you can
- Check the UV index and stay in when it is high (or reapply your SPF much more frequently)
To protect from pollution:
- Check the air quality index and stay in on days it is high
- Triple cleanse at the end of the day to exfoliate and remove any forms of dirt, debris, and pollution still on the skin
- Avoid smoking
- Eat antioxidant-rich foods (try this pesto recipe or this vegan chocolate mousse)
Protection on the Go
It’s helpful to have a supply of anti-pollution skincare on you wherever you go. Our award-winning Supermoon Serum comes in a mini size so you can protect your skin anywhere, any time.
Supermoon’s not-so-secret special ingredients are moringa and malachite, two of our favourite anti-pollution ingredients that detoxify skin and prevent oxidative damage. Always on the go? Get huge protection in a little bottle!
