How to stop pollution adding YEARS to your face

You may be diligent about applying your anti-wrinkle creams and staying out of the sun, but your efforts could be in vain due to the ageing affects of pollution on the skin. 

And even if you don’t live in a big city, indoor pollution from wood-burning stoves,  gas cookers and  cleaning products can be an equally damaging culprit. 

Now Trilogy’s in-house skincare expert Corrine Morley has revealed just how damaging pollution can be – and how to combat the effects.

‘Our skin plays an important role as a barrier against pollution in the environment,’ she told Femail. 

‘Air pollutants rob the skin cells of oxygen and encourage free radicals to form. Nitrogen dioxide, smoke, soot and carbon dioxide are very common in cities and the tiny particulates can easily infiltrate the skin barrier, penetrating to the deeper layers and causing damage.

‘New evidence shows that exposure to pollution generates free radicals that can damage and age the skin in the same way as harmful UV rays from the sun do. 

‘Often implicated as a cause of dullness and uneven skin tone, air pollutants are sometimes found in even higher levels indoors than outside, so it’s important to protect your skin even if you’re mostly inside.

Here Corrine shares her top seven tips for pollution-proofing your skin, to coincide with the launch of the new Trilogy Rosehip Transformation Cleansing Oil.

Double cleansing your skin, especially if you’re wearing make-up, will prep it to absorb restorative products overnight (stock image)

1. Use antioxidant products 

‘Antioxidants are a vital component of modern skincare to help protect against ageing and tissue damage caused by pollution and environmental free radicals,’ Corrine explained. 

‘Antioxidants protect the skin by binding with free radicals, preventing them from attaching to healthy skin cells in a process termed quenching. 

‘This helps ensure the integrity of these cells, promoting healthier, more radiant-looking skin. 

To protect your skin, Corrine recommends facial oils containing antioxidants and vitamins to help subdue glycation and prevent free radical damage, recharging and revitalising skin at a cellular level.

Air pollutants: the sources

 UVA/UVB radiation from sunlight.

Tobacco smoke

Blue-violet light from digital devices, flat-screen TVs and lightbulbs.

Particulate Matter (PM) is a range of air pollutants from different sources; nano-size particles from vehicle emissions are considered some of the most harmful.

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) from exhaust fumes, especially diesel, cigarette smoke, wood and solid fuel burning.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) from car exhausts, industrial emissions, paint and varnish.

Oxides, including nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulphur dioxide (SO₂) and carbon monoxide (CO) from combustion engines, eg, cars and lorries.

Low-Level Ozone (O₃) is formed by the interaction of sunlight, PAHs, VOCs and NOx.

2. Beat inflammation  

‘If the skin becomes over-sensitised, its natural protective barrier is weakened, creating inflammation, which allows more pollutants to penetrate,’ Corrine explained. 

She recommends a soothing, anti-inflammatory serum to strengthen the weakened barrier of sensitive skin and a broad spectrum SPF.

3. Double cleanse 

‘Double cleansing might be necessary, especially if wearing make-up,’ Corrine explained. 

‘Thoroughly removing make-up along with daily grime is essential to keep skin clean, fresh and healthy. 

It also prepares the skin for maximum absorption of much-needed repair products such as night creams and oils.

4. Embrace the super cleanse 

You don’t need to do this every day, but now and then it’s nice to give skin a “super cleanse”,’ Corrine explained.

‘Women in Asia have long known about the impact air pollution can have on their complexions, so their cleansing rituals can be much more intensive than ours. 

A super cleanse is best done at night, and involves double cleansing with a balm and then a cream.  

Follow with a rich moisturiser and an antioxidant facial oil, followed by a replenishing night cream 

 5. Use clay in your routine  

‘A weekly exfoliation and mask treatment are good additions to your usual routine. 

‘Look for a mask containing Kaolin clay, which is brilliant for dull, tired skin. 

‘Kaolin deeply cleanses and purifies, thoroughly removing soot and other microscopic particles that can build up in the pores of the skin.’

A weekly exfoliation and face mask will help to thoroughly cleanse the skin of pollutants and lift away the dead cells that cause dullness (stock image)

A weekly exfoliation and face mask will help to thoroughly cleanse the skin of pollutants and lift away the dead cells that cause dullness (stock image)

6. Make time for facials – at home or in the salon

Of course, you might want to entrust the job of repairing your skin to a professional with a trip to the salon. 

‘There are some really effective facial treatments for deep cleansing and helping to eliminate waste from the skin. A good facial can really boost the skin’s radiance,’ Corrine added.

‘That said, you don’t have to spend a fortune at high-end salons – can do a great job at home too, if you’ve some good quality products and take an hour or so out for some personal pampering time.’

7. Swap to a cleansing oil 

Corinne suggests switching your heavy creamy cleanser for a light refreshing cleansing oil during the warmer months. 

This will gently but effectively dissolve daily dirt and make-up without stripping the skin of moisture which can leave it tight or dry, another red flag for the appearance of wrinkles.

Trilogy Rosehip Transformation Cleansing Oil, £21.50, contains antioxidant rich papaya seed oil. Available from trilogyproducts.co.uk       



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