2016 has seen an onslaught of new beauty trends but none intrigued me more than anti-pollution skincare. Each year we're told to protect ourselves from the millions of different things causing skin damage and premature ageing, so I'm surprised that pollution-protection products haven't come sooner...
Pollution fucks up just about everything; mainly the environment and our health. However as far as I'm concerned, the biggest victim is our faces! All the smoke, fumes and dust floating around in the air causes dehydrated, dirty and dull skin and that's just a few side effects - the most terrifying is premature ageing. What worse is that, according to a recent study, living in a polluted city will make you look a year older by the time you are 40. Thanks London. And as if the problem isn't bad enough, scientists have now discovered a little thing called PM2.5, microscopic particle pollutants that stick themselves to our skin and can't be removed with standard cleansing. Urgh.
Luckily, a few years ago, the Korean skincare industry started developing anti-pollution products to help protect our skin from this evil. Europe and the US soon followed, and now some of our our favourite brands are blessing us with a variety of products - from cleansers and toners, to masks and moisturisers - to keep our skin safe. I have already racked up a few hero anti-pollution products, the first being the Daily Light Guard™ Defense Fluid Broad Spectrum SPF30 from Aveda (£34.00 aveda.co.uk / $42.00 aveda.com). This face cream has an ultra-thin consistency that blends effortlessly and leaves skin well moisturised - it also creates the perfect base for makeup application. There is also the Kiehl's Cilantro & Orange Extract Pollutant Defending Masque (£28.00 kiehls.co.uk / $32.00 kiehls.com) - a gorgeous-smelling creamy mask that instantly nourishes skin and leaves it more radiant and supple. The La Roche-Posay Pigmentclar SPF30 (£26.00 Boots / $51.99 laroche-posay.us) is another favourite. It is a weightless cream that not only protects skin but helps reduce pigmentation. Finally there is the Clinique City Block Sheer SPF25 (£18.00 Boots / $24.00 Sephora), which applies effortlessly, sits perfectly under makeup and moisturises skin whilst protecting it. It is also tinted, helping avoid that whitening effect you can get with even the best SPFs.
Luckily, a few years ago, the Korean skincare industry started developing anti-pollution products to help protect our skin from this evil. Europe and the US soon followed, and now some of our our favourite brands are blessing us with a variety of products - from cleansers and toners, to masks and moisturisers - to keep our skin safe. I have already racked up a few hero anti-pollution products, the first being the Daily Light Guard™ Defense Fluid Broad Spectrum SPF30 from Aveda (£34.00 aveda.co.uk / $42.00 aveda.com). This face cream has an ultra-thin consistency that blends effortlessly and leaves skin well moisturised - it also creates the perfect base for makeup application. There is also the Kiehl's Cilantro & Orange Extract Pollutant Defending Masque (£28.00 kiehls.co.uk / $32.00 kiehls.com) - a gorgeous-smelling creamy mask that instantly nourishes skin and leaves it more radiant and supple. The La Roche-Posay Pigmentclar SPF30 (£26.00 Boots / $51.99 laroche-posay.us) is another favourite. It is a weightless cream that not only protects skin but helps reduce pigmentation. Finally there is the Clinique City Block Sheer SPF25 (£18.00 Boots / $24.00 Sephora), which applies effortlessly, sits perfectly under makeup and moisturises skin whilst protecting it. It is also tinted, helping avoid that whitening effect you can get with even the best SPFs.
