HOW CAN POLLUTION AFFECT YOUR SKIN?
UV rays and pollution play a huge role in affecting our planet as well as our skin. While we’re doing our bit to help our planet, we can also help you protect your skin from the effects of pollution and daily environmental aggressors. Check out our top tips and expert insights to help you get your glow back.
OUR LEADING EXPERT
We caught up with Kasia Tate, Global Head of Research & Development in Skincare and Make-up for The Body Shop, to talk through the complex world of pollution, environmental aggressors and the impact they have on our skin.
After obtaining an MSc in Organic Chemistry & Engineering from Krakow’s University of Technology, Kasia has developed skincare and make-up formulations for the past 17 years.
Below, she gives us an insight into how we can help protect our skin from the effects of pollution and daily environmental aggressors. She also shows us the routines and products she loves to help keep her skin feeling fresh, protected and healthy.
WHAT IS AIR POLLUTION?
Put simply, air pollution is a collection of particles and gasses that fill the air around us, both indoors and outdoors.1 Invisible to the eye, pollution is caused by many different things like industrial smog, gasses, smoke and even change in weather. And when at a high level, it’s not only harmful for the planet but for our skin too.
WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF POLLUTION ON THE SKIN?
City goers listen up! Many types of pollutants are known to cause oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is the term for when there’s an imbalance of free radicals and antioxidants on the skin. This can lead to common skin problems such as:
DRYNESS & SENSITIVITY
Free radicals are unstable molecules that have the ability to oxidize precious squalene within the skin’s protective barrier. This means your skin loses its ability to retain moisture, resulting in dryness and sensitivity.2
PREMATURE SKIN AGEING
The same oxidative stress can cause the skin to lose its elasticity and firmness which is your skin’s ‘plumpness’. This can then lead to premature ageing like fine lines and wrinkles.3
BLEMISHES
With squalene oxidized, your skin’s natural protective barrier is down. This doesn’t help when dirt, grime and oil accumulate on the skin, clogging up your pores and leading to blemishes forming.4
HOW TO HELP CLEAR SKIN & PROTECT AGAINST POLLUTION
EDELWEISS LIQUID PEEL
Our Edelweiss Liquid Peel is something of a wonder. Now made with 95% ingredients of natural origin, including edelweiss extract, it helps gently remove impurities, lifting away dirt, dust and grime from the skin. Smooth a couple of pumps onto dry skin 2-3 times a week, then peel away the excess to help clear the way to a fresh-faced, luminous complexion.
EDELWEISS DAILY SERUM CONCENTRATE
Our bestselling Drops of Youth™ concentrate just got even better. Bottled with 99% natural-origin ingredients, it only takes a few drops of our Edelweiss Daily Serum Concentrate to leave skin looking smoother, fresher, stronger* and plumped with 24hr moisture. Better yet, this light, fast-absorbing serum forms an invisible veil over skin to help protect against indoor and outdoor pollution.
WHAT IS BLUE LIGHT?
There’s some misconception surrounding blue light, so we thought we’d break it down for you. Blue light is part of the visible light spectrum. Predominantly it comes from the sun, which provides benefits such as regulating our body’s circadian rhythm and elevating our mood (you know that warm, giddy feeling you get from the sun?). Blue light is also generated by electronic devices such as mobile phones, laptops and tablets.
When looking at some of the causes of skin damage, it’s easy to point our finger at the sun, as old research has told us that the sun’s UV rays are mostly harmful. However, newer research indicates that, in addition to harmful UV rays, blue light from our electronic devices can also have an impact on our skin.
WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF BLUE LIGHT ON SKIN?
Radiation generated by blue light can lead to a loss of antioxidants on the skin which disrupts the skin’s natural protection barrier⁵ ⁶. This means your skin loses its moisture and ability to stay looking firm and fresh.
New studies show that blue light from electronic devices can lead to increased generation of ROS (reactive oxygen species). The more time we spend on our phones, tablets and laptops, the more we are exposed to ROS which are known to prematurely age and dry our skin. It goes without saying that it might be good if we all cut down our screen time.
HOW TO HELP PROTECT SKIN FROM BLUE LIGHT
Our Edelweiss Bouncy Jelly Mist is at your service. Just spritz this light, gel-to-mist formula to help hydrate your skin with 24hr moisture, helping to protect skin from pollution and the effects of blue light** – just ask the 100 women who tried (and loved!) our new mist in an independent user trial.7 Plus, it’s made with 96% ingredients of natural origin.
WHAT ARE UVA & UVB RAYS?
UVA and UVB rays are ultraviolet rays that carry radiation from the sun to the earth. Though they’re not classed as a type of pollution, they can still have a negative impact on the skin. And although the two types come from the same sunny source, they actually have some key differences…
To start, UVA is around 95% of the sun’s UV rays whereas UVB is around 5%. UVA affects the inner skin cells in the top layer of the skin, including dermis. UVB, on the other hand, affects skin cells in the top layer of the skin. When it comes to getting a golden tan, we tan immediately under UVA rays but burn when we’re not careful. With UVB rays, there’s a delay in tanning, sunburn and blistering (but we still have to be super careful). The long-term effects are not too dissimilar, with both UVA and UVB rays often premature skin ageing and some skin cancers are common.
What effects do uva & uvb rays have on skin?
DARK SPOTS
One of the most common causes of dark spots is said to be from spending too much time in the sun, either when it’s at its hottest (around midday) or for lengthy periods of time. (That explains why mum is always telling us to not stay in the sun for too long.)
HYPERPIGMENTATION
Hyperpigmentation comes in the form of speckles, freckles and sometimes blemishes on the skin. If you’re experiencing new speckles, it could be from overexposure to UV. Luckily, we have tips for reducing the appearance of hyperpigmentation.
PREMATURE AGEING
Like pollution, UV rays can weaken your skin’s natural moisture barrier, leading to dryness and premature skin ageing. Though ageing is natural (you know we love to celebrate it), it’s still important to keep skin protected and looking healthy.
HOW TO HELP PROTECT SKIN FROM UVA & UVB RAYS
It’s not a myth – daily SPF is the best way to protect your skin from UV rays. (If you fancy learning a little more on the subject, feel free to read up on how to help protect your skin from the sun.)
One way to do this is to always apply SPF on top of your moisturiser. Our Skin Defence Lotion SPF 50+ PA++++ is our best protection ever. It combines 24hr moisture with high SPF and pollution protection. Use this on top of your everyday SPF to help protect your skin.
“A good protective routine doesn’t have to be a chore. I’m a single mum with a very busy schedule yet there are steps I follow every day.”
– Kasia Tate, Global Head of Research & Development in Skincare and Make-up at The Body Shop
KASIA’S ULTIMATE POLLUTION PROTECTING ROUTINE
STEP 1: CLEANSE
Start your routine with our Tea Tree Skin Clearing Facial Wash. It works hard to wash away excess oil and grime so you can enjoy that squeaky-clean feeling every time.
STEP 2: EXFOLIATE
Dirt, dust and grime don’t stand a chance with our Edelweiss Liquid Peel. Use 2-3 times a week to gently peel away impurities and pollutants for feel-good smoothness.
STEP 3: MASK
Take a moment of calm 2-3 times a week with our Japanese Matcha Tea Pollution Clearing Mask. It gently exfoliates the skin, leaving it feeling refreshed and purified.
STEP 4: SMOOTH
Apply our Edelweiss Daily Serum Concentrate morning and night to help smooth things over and help protect your skin from indoor and outdoor pollution. All it takes is a couple of drops.
STEP 5: PROTECT
Always wear protection. Our Skin Defence Multi-Protection Lotion is our best ever. It’s light, provides SPF 50+ PA++++, pollution protection and 24hr moisture.
STEP 6: ON-THE-GO
Spritz our Edelweiss Bouncy Jelly Mist while you’re out and about to help protect skin from pollution and the effects of blue light.** Now that’s what we call handy.
*Skin that looks plump with moisture, with a smooth surface. Skin looks re-energised and refreshed.** Blue light means light emitted from electronic devices. Our mist does not provide sun protection.
1 https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/pollution/
2 J.Krutmann, Wwi Liu, Li Li, Xiaochuan Pan, M.Crawford, G.Sore, S. Seite. Pollution and skin: From epidemiological and mechanical studies to clinical implications. J of Dermatological Science 76(2014)163-168.
3 M.E. Darvin, J.W. Fluhr, M.C.Meinke, L. Zastrow, W.Sterry. J. Lademann. Topical beta-carotene protects against infra-red-light induced free radicals. Royal College of Physicians 2011, volume 2, Issue 2.
4 D.-M.Pham, B.Boussouira, D.Moyal, Q.I.Nguyen. Oxidization of squalene, a human skin lipid: a new and reliable marker of environmental pollution studies. J of Cosmetic Science 2015, 37. 357-365.
5 Evan Austin, A.Huang, T.Adar, E.Wang, J.Jagdeo. Electronic device generated light increases reactive oxygen species in human Fibroblasts. Lasers in surgery and medicine, Wiley. February, 2018.
6 M.E. Darvin. Blue – Violet light irradiation dose dependently decreases carotenoids in human skin, which indicates the generation of free radicals. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity. 2015, 579675.
7 User trial results over a 4-week period: 100 women aged 25-40.