Coming directly in contact with pollution is more or less inevitable. It's everywhere, even in the air we breathe so there's no running from it. We know the adverse effect pollution has on the respiratory system but it may be surprising to note than it can do a number on your skin too. No wonder you've begun to notice more frequent breakouts and greasier skin for no fault of your own... Thankfully, you won't be at the mercy of the dirt and smog anymore with these pollution fighting skin care tips.
Never stop shielding
Make sunscreen a must-do in your daily skin care routine - this time for more than just the sun. While sunscreen fights skin darkening and photoaging, it also creates a protective barrier between the world and your skin. So any contact with skin damaging particles will do no harm. Reason enough to 'screen up!
Get your scrub on
No matter how much you may try to shelter and protect your skin from pollution, sometimes residual particles manage to make their way to the skin. To ensure that it's no big deal, make exfoliation a part of your life in a big way. Scrub your skin twice or thrice a week to deeply remove dirt that may be lodged in your skin and leave it feeling fresh again.
Add Omega-3
The fight against pollution can also work from inside out. Add more Omega-3 fatty acids in your diet with salmon, spinach, oysters and walnuts. Not only do they taste great, these fatty acids also form a strong cell membrane within the skin which transports nutrients back and forth. This barricades the skin from within, even on the most polluted days.
"Omega-3 fatty acids moisturise your skin and hair follicles for long, radiant hair and a smooth complexion," informs skin expert Dr. Rashmi Shetty in her book Age Erase.
Slip on a mask
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A side-effect of pollution is dehydrated, dry skin which all of us face at some point or another. To restore the depleted nutrients from your skin, slap on a face mask made from the pulp of 1 banana, 1 tablespoon of milk and 1 teaspoon of honey. Leave it on for 20 minutes and wash off with warm water. With its lactic acid and potassium, this mask will give your skin a boost of much-needed nourishment.
