Holy Grail Beautyy . . .: ByTerry

The Polluageing Skin Trend

We are all know that our environment impacts our skin's health. From cigarette smoke to exhaust fumes it all takes its toll on our skin and its inherent health and appearance.

Skincare and beauty consumers in China are focusing on their air quality and its subsequent effect on their skin with targeted anti-pollution skincare products. Particularly face masks are being used with not just a dirt removing function but an actual premise of 'cleaning' the skin and over 30 percent of Chinese interviewed stated that pollution is a huge concern to their skin's appearance.

The sheet mask is the 'most wanted' skincare product due to its ease of use, having lots of options for consumers to choose from and the inclusion of superior quality ingredients, which appeals to the savvy customer. In 2017, 15% of new products launched were face mask formulations as recorded by Mintel Global New Products Database.

What we are really talking about here is Free Radicals and Antioxidants.

So what are free radicals? Free radicals were brought to the public's attention some time ago and now they are back at the forefront of skincare news under the euphemism 'Pollu'aging'. They are the chemical particulates leftover from damage to our skin once it's occurred, causing inflammation from pollution, being in the sun, smoking, taking legal and illegal drugs and poor diet etc. This in turn causes dull, aged, thickened, uneven tone and rough textured skin. That is why you need an effective barrier skincare system to combat the daily stressors our skin gets bombarded with.

What are antioxidants? Products containing ingredients such as Vitamin E, Vitamin C, SPF 15 or higher daily and reapplied, retinol, stem cell products and peptides counteract the damage caused by oxidation to a living organism like our skin, to clean up the free radicals that will in turn reduce the inflammation of the skin that free radicals cause. It comes down to healing the skin with targeted antioxidants because free radicals are impossible to completely avoid every day. SPF is essential to have a barrier between your skin and cancer causing UVA/UVB rays. Having a thorough skincare regime is key to keeping your skin at its best and armed to deal with environmental stressors. Sheet masks are just one way of getting the ingredients you need, below are some cruelty free antioxidant hero products.

Products to try