Does Living in a City Affect Skin?
City Living May Be Wrecking Your Skin — Here's How to Fix the Damage
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City living can be great — tons of activities to do, late-night food spots, and total convenience — but it could also be taking a toll on you and your body. Polluted air, contaminated water, bacteria-filled commutes, late nights, and stress can all negatively impact your skin in more ways than you may know.
Researchers have found that chronic psychological stress causes cells to age faster. That same study also reported that nanoparticles, generated from components such as internal combustion engines, cigarette smoke, and industrial processes, can all contribute to signs of premature ageing.
"Pollution levels are higher indoors than outside, so it's important to apply pollution-protection skin care twice a day — even if you are indoors."
"Pollutants are up to 30 times smaller than our pores," Dr Loretta Ciraldo, board-certified dermatologist and founder of Dr Loretta, explains. "They penetrate into skin and damage its DNA, causing ageing changes. What does this look like? People who live in more polluted Northern cities, like New York and Philadelphia, have more wrinkles than people in Southern, sunnier cities like Miami and Tampa. And when we compare age-matched peers in urban vs. rural settings, we find that city dwellers have more age spots, deeper skin creases, and more wrinkles. And the surprising reality: pollution levels are higher indoors than outside, so it's important to apply pollution-protection skin care twice a day — even if you are indoors."
However, environmental pollution and stress are not the only aspects of a fast-paced city life that have negative impacts — contaminated water can also have adverse effects to the skin.
"Contaminated water with high concentrations of minerals and even heavy metals is commonplace in America," Dr Loretta adds. "Hard water, with high levels of calcium and magnesium, is said to affect 85 percent of American homes. Washing our skin with hard water makes it drier, aggravates eczema, and can clog pores to worsen breakouts."
Thankfully, there are a number of different solutions that can help. Skincare products that contain ingredients such as antioxidants, vitamin C, and retinol can both treat and prevent skin damage caused by environmental and lifestyle stressors.
"My favourite vitamin C ingredient is argan oil — it's rich-feeling and is highly concentrated in vitamin C," shares Joanna Vargas, founder of Joanna Vargas Skincare and Salon and celebrity facialist. "It has the power to protect the skin against the sun and pollution we face daily and will repair existing damage in the skin. Traditionally, it is considered to be medicinal, and I have to say it is truly powerful!"
To help reverse and fend off the damages city living may have on your skin, we rounded up 12 products that will do just that.
1 Dr Loretta Gentle Hydrating Cleanser
"Dr Loretta Gentle Hydrating Cleanser (£25) incorporates hydrolyzed algin, a marine ingredient that absorbs metals and other microscopic pollutants from the skin surface before they penetrate into skin," Dr. Loretta explains. "It also has hydrating peptides and beneficial essential oils since just one hour's exposure to pollutants causes a six percent decrease in skin hydration."
2 Joanna Vargas Rejuvenating Serum
"I created my Rejuvenating Serum (£71) for women to sleep in," Joanna Vargas shares. "It assists the body in repairing itself after a day of stress, sun, and pollution."
3 Verso Anti-Pollution
A must have if you live or work in the city: Verso Anti-Pollution (£34) is a light mist that aids in the prevention of the premature ageing of skin caused as a result of environmental pollution. Using a powerful antioxidant, the metal-binding polymer enhances the skin's natural defence against oxidative stress, improving its ability to detoxify. Think of it as an invisible shield for your face that fends off all those pesky damaging microparticles.
4 Sakara Beauty Water Concentrate
What better way to get glowing skin than from the inside out? Sakara Beauty Water Concentrate (£28) contains rose, silica, and 72 trace minerals that will help you feel and look your best. Rose is an anti-inflammatory that also soothes the nervous system, while silica is known as "the beauty mineral" because it supports collagen production and offers hydration to your cells, giving you an even, smooth glow.
5 Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum
Vitamin C has a host of benefits, from protecting the skin from UV irradiation to supporting collagen production and promoting skin elasticity. Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum (£61) uses a powerful form of vitamin C called THD ascorbate to help improve skin's loss of firmness, the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, dark spots, and more caused by time, stress, lifestyle, and pollution, all while rapidly brightening the skin's complexion.
6 REN Skincare Flash Rinse 1 Minute Facial
With city living may come hectic schedules, leaving limited time for beauty and self-care. REN Skincare Flash Rinse 1-Minute Facial (£34) uses potent water-activated vitamin C, boswellic acid, and magnesium to help banish urban grey and photoageing, as well as signs of fatigue, all in just 60 seconds.
7 HUM Air Patrol
"Air Patrol contains esterified vitamin C, which is one of the most absorbable forms of vitamin C," shares HUM Director of Education Sarah Greenfield, RD, CSSD. "To ensure its effectiveness, we add bioflavanoids which help fight against air toxins that can destroy vitamin C. As most people know, vitamin C supports the health of your immune system — but it's also very important for healthy skin, as it aids the body in making collagen for firm and hydrated skin. I love to take a combination of Air Patrol (£7) and Flatter Me (£18) with me when I travel to keep my immune system strong and to ensure my skin stays healthy."
8 Allies of Skin 1A All-Day Mask
The world's first day mask, Allies of Skin's 1A All-Day Mask (£64), uses a powerful blend of peptides, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatories to help restore and revive tired, stressed skin to help you achieve that "eight hours of sleep" glow.
9 Drunk Elephant C-Tango Multivitamin Eye Cream
This multivitamin eye cream uses a combination of eight peptides, five forms of vitamin C, and cucumber extract to improve even the most stubborn signs of ageing around the eye area. Just gently pat a pump of Drunk Elephant C-Tango Multivitamin Eye Cream (£46) with your ring finger around your eye area and let it do its work.
10 Patchology Flashmasque Hydrate
Patchology Flashmasque Hydrate (£6) uses a blend of hyaluronic acid, vitamin B5, and betaine to hydrate, improve elasticity, soften, and smooth the skin, all while helping it better retain moisture. Perfect to use after a long day running errands or before a busy day at work, this mask will give your skin ultimate hydration.
11 Yes to Cotton Anti-Pollution Oxygenated Facial Mask
This anti-pollution oxygenated facial mask is perfect for ultrasensitive and allergy-prone skin. Using cotton extract and oxygen, the Yes to Cotton Anti-Pollution Oxygenated Facial Mask (£11) will not only soothe stressed skin, but will also provide the skin with antipollution protection.
