Is air pollution damaging your skin? Yes, and a lot!

When you look in the mirror in the morning, you might wonder if that dull skin, fine lines, or sensitivity is due to... age, hormones… or just a bad night.

Young skin has a stronger protective barrier. It can regenerate and better cope with external attacks. But after the age of 40, everything slows down.

• Collagen decreases, making the skin thinner and more vulnerable.
• The skin barrier is weaker, so harmful substances can get inside more easily.
• And fewer antioxidants are added to neutralize free radicals.

That's why mature skin is more sensitive to smog - it reacts with irritation, pimples, pigment spots, or simply a loss of freshness.

It's not just outside. Dust particles and bacteria also stick to our skin from the things we use every day. A cell phone, which we touch hundreds of times a day, contains more bacteria than a toilet seat. Towels and pillows, if not washed regularly, become breeding grounds for microbes. And how many times do we touch our faces with unwashed hands?

• Mobile phone – contains more bacteria than a toilet seat (yes, really!)
  → Clean it with disinfectant wipes.
• Towels and pillows – if you don’t wash them often, they become breeding grounds for bacteria
  → Change bed sheets weekly, face towels daily.
• Unclean hands – are you propping up your chin? Are you brushing your hair back? You're transferring bacteria directly to your skin.
  → Keep touching your face to a minimum.
• Makeup brushes and sponges – build up of bacteria if you don't clean them.
  → Wash them with a mild shampoo at least once a week.
• Public transportation and doorknobs – everything you touch outside can end up on your face.
  → Keep antibacterial gel on hand.

… Everything that touches our hands can get on our skin.

Smog and dust clog pores, causing pimples and rashes to appear even if we didn't have them before. Microscopic particles cause inflammation, which manifests as redness and sensitivity. And most importantly – pollution triggers oxidative stress, which is a chemical reaction that breaks down collagen and elastin.

The result? The skin becomes tired more quickly, loses elasticity, fine wrinkles and pigmentation appear. Sometimes it is so subtle that we only notice it months later - the skin simply "looks older".

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The good news is that you don't have to move to the countryside. All you need is a few smart habits that will make your skin's job easier.

Give your skin a thorough but gentle cleanse in the morning and evening to remove particles that have accumulated during the day. All you need is a natural, alcohol-free cleansing gel and a few extra minutes – you’ll see the difference in just a week.

Before your day cream, it's great to use a serum with vitamin C or antioxidants, which protect the skin like an invisible shield. And don't forget SPF even in the city – UV radiation intensifies the effects of pollution.

In the evening, the skin needs moisturizing and regenerating care - ceramides, hyaluronic acid, oil serums. Basically, anything that will help restore the barrier.

The greatest magic happens not only on the bathroom shelf, but also on a plate. Antioxidants in foods – blueberries, green tea, nuts – help neutralize free radicals from the inside. Enough water, sleep and exercise are still the cheapest and most effective anti-aging care. All of this, of course, falls into our concept LONGEVITY 😉

✔ 1. Thorough cleansing morning and evening

• Gentle alcohol-free cleansers
• Sonic toothbrush (e.g. Foreo) 1–2 times a week for deeper cleaning
• Micellar water not enough! You also need a water-washable cleansing gel.

✔ 2. Antioxidants – a protective shield

• Serum with vitamin C, E or niacinamide
• Creams with natural extracts (green tea, resveratrol)

✔ 3. SPF even in the city

• Yes, even when it's cloudy – pollution + UV radiation = the perfect cocktail for aging.
• Ideally SPF 30–50.

✔ 4. Hydration and barrier

• Creams with ceramides, hyaluronic acid
• Oil serums in the evening → repair the skin barrier.

✔ 5. Healthy lifestyle

• Water, quality sleep, a diet rich in antioxidants (blueberries, green tea, nuts).
• Limit alcohol and sugar → these increase oxidative stress.

Your skin will reward you. And maybe next time you look in the mirror you will see yourself a little brighter, healthier, younger. 🌸 See the article on how to pigment spots!!!