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How I Protect My Skin From Pollution: A Skincare Guide To Living In London 

The opinions expressed in this article are the writer’s own and do not reflect the views of Her Campus.
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at KCL chapter.

Having suffered from acne throughout my teenage years, it is safe to say that skincare is my forte. I have tried what feels like hundreds of creams, serums, and medications, all claiming to miraculously cure you of acne overnight, only to wake up the next morning confronted with the same image in the mirror.  

Acne was not only a physical insecurity for me growing up, but it also impacted my mental self-image, self-esteem and self-love. It was always a measure of comparison against unrealistic images on social media, and of course, the girl with flawless skin who claims to wash her face with nothing but a bar of soap.

Since overcoming this period of chronic spots and pimples, I have now become more aware of the aging process of our skin and how our exposure to UV light and pollution can prematurely age us. From Botox to serums, our society works tirelessly to fight the natural aging process to appear healthy and youthful for longer – a completely unrealistic expectation.

Luckily, there are skincare products which can combat these issues. It took me years to acutely refine the products that work best for me, so you can imagine my anxiety upon moving to London knowing the grime and pollution would disrupt years of cultivating my skincare routine. So, I did my research and I have summed up my findings in this article, so you don’t have to!  

So, how does the pollution in London affect your skin? We all know that pollution can be inhaled and causes respiratory and inflammatory issues in the lungs. However, what if I told you that pollutants also pass through your skin cell membranes and diffuse into the body? This has been explained by Dr. Adam Mamelak, a board-certified dermatologist based in Austin, Texas. In short, imagine rubbing petrol on your skin every day, that is essentially what the pollution in London is doing!

The microscopic pollutants dissolve the oil sitting on the surface of your skin, penetrating and blocking your pores, causing oxidative stress and producing molecules called ‘free radicals’.

According to Mamelak, our natural metabolic processes respond by producing antioxidants to neutralise any damage from the free radicals. However, when an external factor such as pollution or UV radiation is brought into the equation, there is an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants, as explained by Dr. Kellie Reed, a board-certified dermatologist at Westlake Dermatology in Austin, Texas. This essentially causes skin damage such as increased sensitivity, collagen loss, more advanced wrinkles, and of course, acne.  

In becoming aware of the extent of the damage pollution causes, you, as I was, must feel compelled to combat the possibility of leaving London at the end of your degree having aged 20 years whilst having the same acne issues as your 13-year-old self. With this in mind, here is my morning skincare routine that is protecting my skin from the dirt, dust and grime of London.

  1. I use a gentle cleanser to remove any sweat and grime that has accumulated on my skin overnight. Which cleanser you use depends on your skin type, for example, I use a tea-tree based cleanser from Superdrug as I have oily skin.  
  1. Next, I use a toner to provide a deeper cleanse of my pores. A few years ago my cousin recommended the Clean & Clear Deep Cleansing Lotion for Sensitive Skin which I absolutely cannot recommend enough. This product worked wonders for my acne and it’s only £2.29 on Amazon! 
  1. I then apply an antioxidant serum; the most popular type is a serum with vitamin C that binds to free radicals before they can damage skin cells. I use the Origins’ Ginzing™ Into The Glow Brightening Serum, with Vitamin C. This product is a bit expensive (it was given to me as a present) so I would otherwise recommend the Revolution 12.5% Vitamin Super Serum for a more affordable option.
  1. Finally, I use an SPF moisturiser to protect against UV damage, regardless of the weather. I use the Byoma Moisturising Gel-cream SPF 30 which is lightweight, vegan and cruelty-free, and contains hyaluronic acid for moisturising the skin.  

Alongside a morning skincare routine, a night-time routine is crucial for removing the dirt and grime of the day and battling those spots that, despite all your efforts, have managed to break through.

I use the same cleanser and toner as mentioned above and then at this stage, I use a tea-tree serum which combats sebum and oily skin. However, this step can be adapted depending on your skin type. You may have dry skin and therefore would require hydration such as a hyaluronic acid moisturiser, for example, but this is up to you.  

After this step, if I do have any spots, I use the Dots for Spots patches available on Amazon which are a type of hydrocolloid patch which draws out the spot fluid overnight, (usually) leaving the spot as a flat blemish in the morning. If I have any spots which are healing, I use Bio Oil which contains vitamin A to promote cell turnover, speeding up the healing process.  

Of course, these are the products that work best for my skin. I have learnt over the years that just because a product works amazingly for someone else doesn’t mean it will for you, so finding the best skincare routine will take some trial and error. I have also figured out that less is more. Overwhelming your skin with different chemicals and products will only irritate it, so finding the few products which work for you will likely give the best result. With that being said, I’ve outlined the type of products you can use to help protect your skin; the brands and price range are up to you! Treat skincare as a little treat to yourself, it’s your time in the morning and the evening to look after yourself and your skin, so have fun with it!   

Ellie Hughes is a writer at the Her Campus at King's Chapter covering the Wellness verticals on the site. Her writing covers areas such as mental and physical health, sex and relationships and general wellbeing advice to make you feel accepted, confident, and supported throughout your university journey. Although she is only a first-year student, her articles provide an insight into the daily anxieties and stresses of university life and how to combat these in healthy ways. Whether you’re just starting off or ending your adventure at King’s, Ellie’s articles will provide comfort, advice and support on how to stay mentally and physically healthy during a time of such change and uncertainty. Ellie is a first-year English student at King’s College London after studying English Literature, Maths and Product Design at A-Level. Having studied such a diverse range of subjects, she has an acute ability in understanding issues from various angles which is transferred into her perceptive advice regarding wellness in her articles. Although she hasn’t written professionally before, having studied English Literature at the highest level throughout her education, she displays confidence and eloquence in her writing, particularly when discussing gender, femininity and sexuality which she based her coursework on. Her independent studies centred around the use of sex and sensuality in exploring traditional gender roles; her research into feminist theory and the misrepresentation of women within literature is carried into her articles as explores the power of femininity and our sexuality and how to embrace that. Beyond Her Campus, Ellie enjoys buying overpriced oat chai lattes from cute coffee shops, haunting bookstores, socialising with friends, rewatching her staple TV series (Gossip Girl of course) and exploring London with her boyfriend. She loves going out for the day, experiencing new things, and eating yummy food (which she can’t afford) but will happily trade clubbing for a cosy night in watching Harry Potter.