The Haze – 3 Ways it is a Hazard to Your Skin
After a three-year break, the haze has returned to the South East Asian region. Haze contains dust, smoke particles, and air pollutants such as sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, carbon monoxide and particulate matter. Besides affecting the eyes, nose, throat and lungs, did you know the haze can also affect your skin?
Haze particles may irritate skin and cause clog pores
High levels of dust particles and pollutants in the haze may irritate your skin, causing redness, itchiness and breakouts. Build-up of pollutants may also cause your skin to lose radiance and look dull.
Solution:
Cleanse skin thoroughly morning and evening to remove traces of dust and pollutants from skin and exfoliate regularly.
As cleansers may increase skin irritation and dry out the skin, use a gentle yet effective cleanser that removes makeup, oil and impurities, such as Obagi Nu-Derm Foaming Gel, which leaves the skin soft and thoroughly cleansed.
Once a week, use Obagi Medical Professional C Microdermabrasion Polish + Mask which exfoliates skin using ultra-fine crystals to prep the skin for a powerful infusion of Vitamin C. It not only prevents breakouts by keeping pores clean and unclogged, the vitamin C brightens up your skin and guards against free radical damage, another harmful effect of haze (see point below).
If breakouts have already occurred, try PCA Skin Clearskin, which has borage seed oil to reduce redness associated with breakouts and cucumber extract to purify and soothe the skin. It also has niacinamide to maintain moisture and brighten a dull complexion.
Haze accelerates free radical damage
Haze can cause free radical damage, a major contributor of premature aging. Free radical damage may result in loss of skin elasticity and formation of wrinkles. If you already have mature skin, it may be more susceptible to haze pollutants as its ability to combat free radicals reduces as you age.
Solution:
Step up your skin defenses with ZO Daily Power Defense. This multi-functional product strengthens your skin’s barrier and blocks out damage from haze pollutants. Armed with DNA repair enzymes to speed up your skin’s natural mechanism to repair DNA damage and protect against future oxidative damage, Vitamin E to combat free-radical damage, ceramide 6 to enhance the skin barrier system and retinol and Matrixyl 3000 to stimulate collagen production.
Haze increases exposure to UV rays
Think that the haze blocks out the sun? Don’t be fooled—the haze actually traps UV rays in the atmosphere and minute particles scatter and redistribute UV rays over the sky. In fact, you’re more exposed to UV rays on a hazy day than on a clear, sunny day.
Solution:
Apply a broad spectrum sunscreen to minimize sun damage during hazy conditions.
For example, Lycogel breathable tint SPF 30 provides broad sun protection. It contains LYCO-Complex which is made up of 12 active ingredients to hydrate, nourish and oxygenate the skin. Lycogel breathable tint SPF 30 is suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin.
Tags: Pollution, Anti-aging, UV-rays