Tackle pollution with ease

Here's how you can protect your skin from pollution...

Pollution not only affects our health but our skin and hair as well. With rising pollution levels and worsening quality of air and water, our skin is more prone to premature ageing. Pollution can cause an uneven skin tone, dryness, dehydration, wrinkles, dark spots, sagging skin and collagen deterioration. Today, as the market develops, we are seeing brands introducing products and treatments that are specifically designed to protect the skin from pollution.

To combat pollution-related problems, here are a few suggestions that can help improve the quality of your skin and hair:

* Polluted and contaminated water along with shampoos, sprays, setting lotions and over-drying processes damage the hair. Polluted and contaminated water forms a mineral layer on top of the cuticle, leading to less flexibility of the hair and the ends becoming dry. It can also lead to premature greying and balding. Hence, choose products and treatments which contain natural oils and moisturising agents like rosemary, amino acids and sea algae (which is rich in protein).

* Chemical pollution, industrial fumes, dust and UV rays together damage the human DNA in the long run. Free radicals form in large quantities and start eating up live cells in the body. This DNA damage leads to a lot of changes in the skin. To combat pollution-related damage, nature offers abundant ingredients and extracts to protect the skin. Marine plankton is an ocean extract that eats up carbon dioxide and releases oxygen.

* Anti-pollution skincare regime is on the rise, with people looking for oxygen facials to deal with rising pollution levels. An oxygen facial delivers oxygen to the deepest layers of the skin. Not only do you get the life-restoring powers of oxygen, but the facial promotes hydration and delivers essential antioxidants, nutrients and botanicals to your skin. A popular rejuvenating therapy is the ‘oxygenique therapy’ that acts as the ultimate delivery system for taking in vitamins, nutrients and minerals deep into the skin, thereby increasing the benefits of topically applied skincare solutions exponentially.

* Look for antioxidant treatments and spas that work as hydrating agents for hair. One way to prevent surface skin damage from free radicals is through antioxidants. A good example of hydrating spa therapy is one that uses Moroccan oil, which is infused with antioxidant-rich argan oil and Vitamin E. It helps to repair damaged hair and deeply moisture it from the follicle to the tip.

* Sometimes due to pollution, the skin becomes oily, agitated and congested. Charcoal treatment is the perfect solution for this. Activated charcoal draws bacteria, chemicals, dirt and other micro-particles to the surface of the skin, helping you achieve a flawless complexion. It is also very effective for treating and managing acne.

(The author is beauty expert, VLCC)