What’s the big deal?
With environmental concerns high on our agenda, it might feel like there’s very little we don’t know about the impact of pollution on our health, but there are two silent sufferers: your skin and hair. Skincare expert Dr Barbara Sturm explains, “The World Health Organisation asserts that as much as 90 per cent of the world’s population now lives in areas with highly polluted air.” So there’s no better time to introduce an anti-pollution product into your beauty routine.
Why do you need it?
Dirty air and clouds of smoke aren’t the only things to watch out for when it comes to protecting your skin against the environment – digital pollution, in the form of blue light emitted from our phones and laptops, also produces free radicals. What on earth are free radicals, you ask? These are unstable, microscopic molecules that break down our skin’s barrier and dig deep into our pores, causing dehydration, dullness, pigmentation and inflammation that can lead to acne and other skin disorders.
The ageing effects of pollution are second only to UV, so, just like you wouldn’t leave your house without SPF every day, adding an anti-pollution step to your routine is more than logical. While the effects are less well known for hair, studies suggest pollution can cause dullness, scalp imbalance and slowed hair growth.