What Is Anti-Pollution Skin Care?

(contains affiliate links & 1-2 PR products, I’ve stated what they are in the article- I’ve also purchased the same PR products myself. Everything else is purchased by me.)

The anti-pollution skin care trend has been gaining popularity over the last couple of years. But what exactly does anti-pollution skincare mean?

And should you include anti-pollution products in your skincare routine or is it just a marketing gimmick? Let’s find out!

photo of anti-pollution/ antioxidant skincare products as part of an article explaining why we should be using anti-pollution products in our skincare routines

Anti-pollution skincare seems to be the new term for antioxidants.

Anti-pollution (or antioxidant- both terms seem to be interchangeable) skincare ingredients help to protect and repair environmental damage caused to the skin.

Let’s break it down so you can see why antioxidants, I mean, anti-pollution skincare is important.

Here comes the science part.

Why Are Anti-pollutants (or anti-oxidants) Important for the Skin?

Normally there is a nice balance between free radicals and antioxidants in the body.

However, when antioxidants can’t keep up with levels of free-radicals in the body something called ‘oxidative stress’ happens.

This oxidative stress creates more and more free-radicals. The free-radicals go on the war path, destroying healthy skin cells and other cells in the body.

If antioxidants can’t stop free-radicals they can cause serious damage. That’s not cool.

Where Do Free- Radicals Come From?

Free-radicals are produced from “waste products from various chemical reactions in the cell that when built up, harm the cells of the body.” (source).

Turns out free-radicals aren’t trying to find the music in us after all. (Yes, I went there).

So, the more our naked skin is exposed to UV rays, pollution and other sources of free-radicals we run the risk of creating that imbalance. Plus the possibility of long term damage to our skin.

That’s why we need to eat antioxidants in fruit and veg. Plus add some in our skincare to help counter the imbalance.

Free-radicals are produced from “waste products from various chemical reactions in the cell that when built up, harm the cells of the body.” (source).

What is an Antioxidant & Why Are They Important?

Antioxidants/pollutants stop free-radicals from destroying healthy skin cells (and other cells in the body).

I like to think of antioxidants as Pac-man and free-radicals as the little dots and the ghosts. I’ve created this handy graphic:

Graphic comparing free radicals and anti-pollution/anti-oxidants to pac-man

(this might be my finest moment)

So, antioxidants stop the process of oxidative stress. Therefore stopping free-radicals running riot in our bodies. Yay!

Sometimes though, we need to help our bodies in this never ending fight between antioxidants and free-radicals.

When our skin show signs of dehydration; sun-burn or is exposed to smog or exhaust fumes, poor diet and just general modern day living it’s time to give our little antioxidants a hand.

It’s time to call for back-up (from even more antioxidants).

Who knew all this was going on at a cellular level in our bodies? (I imagine quite a lot of people, but you know, it’s still pretty cool!).

List of Antioxidants and Anti-pollutants Ingredients to Look for in Skincare

In no particular order and not a comprehensive list. But should help you get started!

Vitamin C

Vitamin E

Flavonoids (Green Tea & Black Tea for example)

Aloe Vera

Polyphenols

Vitamin A (Retinoids including retinal, retinol etc).

Resveratrol

Coenzyme Q10

Niacinamide (Vitamin B3)

Glutathione

The Benefits of Antioxidants & Anti-pollutants for the Skin

Be patient when using any skincare.

From what I’ve read it seems it can take around 3 months for antioxidants to start doing their magic on the skin. It might take longer for you or shorter.

Some of the amazing benefits antioxidants have for the skin:

Protect against UV rays from the sun.

Repair damage caused by sun exposure.

Brighten the skin tone.

Improve firmness and reduce the appearance of wrinkles.

Increase skin hydration.

Reduce pigmentation caused by sun damage.

Can improve skin problems like dermatitis and psoriasis, for example.

Antioxidant (or Anti-pollutant) Skin Care Products

As always The Ordinary has us covered. I’ve been using a selection of their antioxidants for quite a while now.

The Ordinary have 3 main antioxidants, not including vitamin c, niacinamide etc.

Those are:

EUK 134 0.1%

Pycnogenol 5%

Resveratrol 3% + Ferulic Acid 3%

image of The Ordinary EUK 134 serum, antioxidants to protect the skin from sun damage, pollution and free radicals

I’ve used Resveratrol 3% + Ferulic Acid 3% the most from The Ordinary and always see an improvement in my skin right away as well as over several months.

I’m newer to Pycnogenol 5% but I’m liking it so far. I can’t say it is the most pleasant of skincare products but it is packed full of antioxidants to help the formation of collagen. I think this is going to be a mainstay in my routine.

I’m also newer to EUK 134 0.1%. This is another powerful antioxidant that I’ve been enjoying using. I’ve not had any irritation or breakouts from any of The Ordinary antioxidants.

Vitamin C Skincare Products

I’ve tried lots of vitamin c products. Some of my favourites are in this vitamin c post including powerful capsules from Beauty Pie, budget friendly serum from Superdrug and The Body Shop Vitamin C.

I’m currently waiting on Purito Pure Vitamin C Serum coming. The formulation sounds amazing.

Another good vitamin c serum is from Garden of Wisdom. Their Vitamin C Serum 23% plus Ferulic Acid is a really great formulation and only costs £10!

Retinoid (retinal, retinal etc.) Skincare Products

For retinoid products I really love Avene Physiolift Regenerating Night Balm. This contains retinal which works faster and better than retinol.

Another retinal product is Medik8 Crystal Retinal. I haven’t tried this yet but really want to, it sounds amazing!

Anti-Pollutant Face Mists

If you’re looking to top up your antioxidant/anti-pollutants throughout the day you could use a face mist like:

REN Clean Skincare FaceFlash Defence Anti-pollution Mist or

Evolve Beauty Daily Defence Moisture Mist (I’ve had this in PR and also purchased myself- it’s an amazing facial spray and works as a great toner too).

Anti-Pollutant Eye Products

For the eyes I have been really loving the new eye and lip contour serum from Evolve (this was sent to me in PR but I will also be repurchasing- it’s one of the best eye products I’ve used!).

Evolve Beauty 360 Eye and Lip Serum is packed full of great ingredients like green tea. I’ve been using this morning and night and it’s just lovely to use. Highly recommended!

Lumene Nordic-C Bright Eyes All in One Eye Treatment.

Sarah Chapman Eye Recovery

What About Sunscreen, Doesn’t That Protect from Pollution?

Sunscreen alone won’t protect skin from pollution but sunscreen plus antioxidants or anti-pollutants will.

I’ve been using COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream SPF50+ PA+++ which I love.

Other options for sunscreen with antioxidants/anti-pollutants are:

La Roche-Posay Anthelos 50+ SPF

Nivea UV Face Q10 Anti-Age & Anti-Pigments 50 (I talk about both of these products in this post about my favourite sunscreens here).

Ultrasun Face Fluid: Brightening, Anti-Spot & Anti-Pollution SPF 50+.

TLDR- Is Anti-Pollutant Skincare a Gimmick?

This is a jam-packed post that I hope you found useful.

But if you just want to get to the crux- no, anti-pollution (or really, antioxidant) skincare isn’t a gimmick. They work!

Antioxidants and anti-pollution skincare ingredients actually do protect and repair our skin.

So, it’s a good idea to add some antioxidants to your skincare routine. (I have a post here about creating a skincare routine that you might find useful).

And remember to eat a balanced healthy diet and drink your water ♥.

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