Anti-pollution skincare is not new, but lately it became sort of a trend now that you can’t surprise savvy customers with anti-aging promises alone. But is investing in anti-pollution beauty products really necessary? Let’s try and get it figured out together.
Leading dermatologists agree that ground-level ozone may be one of the major contributing factors to accelerated rates of skin aging process. Consisting of UVA and UVB solar radiation, car gas emissions, and other organic compounds, this volatile mix can make your complexion appear dull and even cause inflammation in the top layers of the epidermis. That would explain why my skin always feels bumpy and itchy after I spend some time in particularly smog-filled areas. However, contrary to popular belief, it’s not just the urban areas that experience increased levels of air pollution.
For instance, I live in a small town in the Midwest right on the shore of Lake Michigan. You’d think that a rural area such as ours would have the cleanest air. Well, think again! Last year my mother-in-law sent me an article that mentioned some very interesting points regarding our air quality. As it turns out, our beautiful county, famous for its scenic dune beaches and picturesque sunsets, is one of the worst places to be. If not for Michigan weather, it could be way worse.
So, what exactly does anti-pollution skincare do to help improve the skin? As it turns out, the whole “anti-pollution” thing is just a marketing trick, but it’s actually a good one that benefits us all. Anti-pollution skincare is essentially antioxidant-rich beauty products that help neutralize free radicals commonly present in the smog more effectively. However, if such products didn’t have the anti-pollution sticker on them, the companies would have to invest heavily in marketing strategies to educate consumers that antioxidants are a must for a city dweller’s beauty regimen. Alternatively, putting “anti-pollution” sticker on the box is kind of self-explanatory, isn’t it?
You might have seen me talking about the new Decleor Hydra Floral Anti-Pollution Hydrating Gel Cream [$67 for 1.7 oz, available here] on Snapchat. I also included it in my Mother’s Day gift guide, because it’s simply an outstanding product that will work for many different skin types. With its lightweight texture and pleasant light floral fragrance, it feels like splashing your face with cool water oh a hot day: a most refreshing and positively quenching experience.
What makes this cream unique is the lightweight water-based gel texture combined with micro-droplets of nourishing essential oils. Decleor Hydra Floral Anti-Pollution Hydrating Gel Cream provides the skin with 24-hour long hydration and soothing comfort, making it appear more youthful over time: plumper, well-rested, and even-toned.
I’ve been using this moisturizer for the past few weeks and have nothing but good things to say about it. While not necessarily an anti-aging powerhouse, it’s a great product to have in your beauty pantry for those days when you feel like your skin could benefit from anti-pollution skincare. Just remember to follow a simple beauty mantra: antioxidants and SPF in the AM, retinoids in the PM, and your skin will thank you 🙂
You can purchase Decleor Hydra Floral Anti-Pollution Hydrating Gel Cream at Decleor, Dermstore.
Have you tried anti-pollution skincare before? What are some of your favorite antioxidants in cosmetics? Let me know in the comments below!
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The name Hydra Floral makes this something I’d run from but you describe it so well that I’d be willing to change my mind.
The fragrance is very minimal so I think you might be able to tolerate it.
There are so many things that are bad for our skin, but this sounds like a great way to minimize some of that. I love light gel formulas in my skincare, too.
If it’s not one thing, it’s something else, right? Always something to protect our skin from 🙂
I’ve been really intrigued by this brand lately. I was reading somewhere that Adele’s makeup artist uses Decleor on her when prepping her skin.
I think I read that too, and then instantly remembered that i used to buy their skincare in Russian pharmacies back in the day.
I do think anti-pollution is important…regardless of what a survey might say, although i’m sure testing proves it. I was convinced the first time I went to LA and wiped my face with toner and found out how much more dirt was on it. It’s horrifying. My skln really does feel grimy when I’m in a more polluted city.
I know that antioxidants work wonders for protecting the skin from pollution.
What will they come up with next? This sounds really good for the skin actually.
I’m excited about this release as well!
This was a great, informative post! A friend of mine goes back to India every few years to visit family, and the city is so polluted that when he’d wash his face at the end of the day, his washcloth would turn black from the smog! I’m all for antioxidants to combat and neutralize the effects of that!
I’m glad you found it helpful, Sammi! My sister went to China to support our Olympic team a few years ago and she had a hard time breathing there – Beijing air was too polluted. I’m glad there is at least antioxidant-loaded skincare to help combat all of those free radicals.