How Pollution in the Air Impacts Your Skin

Most recently updated 1/12/21

Wherever you live, chances are that you’re near a road, or a wood-burning fireplace, or even dust — all of which are sources of pollutants. You probably know by now that pollution and its effects on the planet are a major problem, and one we’re all trying to contend with, be it through minimizing waste or reusing as much as possible (or better yet, both). And in addition to its macro effects, pollution also works on a micro scale, impacting your body and even your skin. 

Still, while pollution seems really overwhelming (and in a lot of ways, it absolutely is) there are actionable ways to offset its effects on your skin. Rather than relegate yourself to the great indoors, a few straightforward tweaks to your skincare routine — some of which you might already be doing — will go a long way in protecting your skin. Here’s how.

How does air pollution impact skin?

We all know air pollution isn’t great for your overall health. But it goes a little deeper than that. “Air pollution, which includes gases like carbon monoxide and ozone, heavy metals, and especially particulate matter — such as dust, pollen, and smog — has been demonstrated to affect overall skin health,” says NakedPoppy research scientist Marisa Plescia. It can open a Pandora’s box of skin concerns, such as premature signs of aging (i.e. fine lines and wrinkles), inflammation, hyperpigmentation, and dehydration.

Pollution can also cause skin to be sensitized, meaning it becomes sensitive over time (versus having naturally sensitive skin type). If that sounds familiar, “Minimize exposure and compensate through appropriate skincare, which may require individuals to have specific products that help to heal the skin during this time,” says NakedPoppy skin specialist Tara Parenti. 

We know, we know: That’s a *really* long list of negative effects. To help break it down, let’s look at how exactly pollution impacts skin. There are three primary mechanisms through which the damage happens:

• Skin barrier damage
• Free radical formation
• An inflammatory response

Each mechanism requires its own defensive strategy. Fortunately, a lot of the solutions might already be in your routine. Here, we walk through how you can remove the pollution and offset its impact.

Cleanse skin every single night

If you cleanse your skin at night, you’re already ahead of the curve — congrats! The longer pollution particles hang out on your skin, the more damage they can potentially do, which is why “keeping particulate matter off the skin is a primary line of defense against pollution-induced skin damage,” says Plescia. “It is therefore important to remove any remaining particles from the skin — and the best way to remove particulate matter is with cleansing.”

That doesn’t mean you need to use a super-intense scrub. Since, as we mentioned, pollution can damage the skin barrier, instead “support the barrier by gentle cleansing,” says Parenti. Our Nourish Cream Cleanser and Refresh Foaming Cleanser do you one better; both contain quinoa extract, which leaves a protective barrier on skin to help defend against environmental aggressors.

Bring in the greenery

To cleanse the air in your home, you could spring for an air purifier — or you could bring the outdoors inside with some houseplants. 

In fact, NASA was the first to discover that certain plants can purify indoor air of pollutants and harmful chemicals. Research suggests that easy-to-grow snake plants, spider plants, and golden pothos help deplete ozone levels indoors, keeping both your air and skin clean, so get your green thumb ready and prepare to become a proud plant parent. (If you have pets, just make sure anything you grow won’t be toxic if eaten.)

Apply your antioxidants

Pollution has a few things in common with sun exposure — namely, it creates free radicals on the skin, which are those molecules that break down collagen and elastin, contribute to hyperpigmentation, and ultimately wreak all sorts of havoc. “One study found a 70% decrease in Vitamin E in the skin after exposure to the pollutant ozone,” says Plescia. 

The good news is that antioxidants, such as vitamins C and E, are an antidote to free radicals in skin, and they’re pretty easy to find. Plant oils and extracts tend to be rich natural sources of antioxidants; the NakedPoppy Revitalize Organic Facial Oil, for that reason, is brimming with antioxidants. 

Another bonus of antioxidants: Many, such as vitamins A, C, and E, are known to be powerful skin brighteners. That’s key, as some forms of pollution can cause discoloration on skin, such as dark spots.

Baby your skin

As Plescia noted, pollution can trigger an inflammatory response in skin, according to Plescia. By creating this chronically inflamed state, pollution can then damage the all-important skin barrier — hence the sensitized skin mentioned earlier.

While caring for an impaired skin barrier starts with your cleansing step, it should also inform anything else you do. For one, slow down on exfoliation or skip it entirely. “If the skin is so sensitized where there is stinging, burning and itching, temporarily discontinuing exfoliation may be necessary until the skin is healthy enough to incorporate again,” Parenti advises. “Exfoliating moderately sensitized skin won’t allow the skin to heal and can worsen the effects of environmental pollution.” 

Also, keeping your skin barrier properly moisturized can help strengthen and protect it.

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate

Hydration is an inside-out operation. While your skin certainly needs moisture to stave off dryness, it also needs hydration both topically and internally to prevent dehydration. (Here’s a breakdown of the differences between the two.) 

All to say: Drink some water. It’ll help your skin stay hydrated, counteracting any dehydrating effects of pollution in the process.

Keep applying daily SPF

Sunscreen is designed for the sun, true, but pollution and sunlight together are trouble. “Air pollution and UV radiation seem to play a synergistic role,” says Plescia. “Various studies indicate that the combination of UV radiation and pollutants might increase the negative effects of airborne pollutants.”

Plus, Parenti points out, a physical sunscreen not only reflects UV rays away from skin, but it also creates a barrier on skin, which can prevent pollutants from adhering to skin. It’s all the more reason to be diligent about applying it every day before heading outside, sun or no sun. Tinted mineral sunscreens, such as Unsun Mineral Tinted Face Sunscreen and Suntegrity Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 30, are an easy addition to your daily makeup routine.

While the prospect of preventing pollution damage to your skin can be intimidating, it’s clearly not as daunting as it seems. (Chances are, you’re already halfway there.) And while we’re still figuring out the big picture solutions, you can still face the day with the confidence of knowing you’re covered.

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Shop the story:

• NakedPoppy Nourish Cream Cleanser 💫
• NakedPoppy Refresh Foaming Cleanser 💧
• NakedPoppy Revitalize Organic Facial Oil 🌹
• Unsun Mineral Tinted Face Sunscreen ☀️
• Suntegrity Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 30 🤍