Safety first, beauty will follow- how to protect the skin

Skin is a shield for the body and many factors affecting her quality come from the inside. The nutrients from foods we eat, the hydration from the liquids we drink, the quality of sleep that determines the hormones – all of that can work in favor of regeneration and balanced aging. But as any other shield, skin is exposed to the unfavorable influence of external factors that can weaken and permanently damage its surface. How could we protect this precious layer that’s meant to protect us?

Skin protection

It’s not the wrinkles, the dryness, the inflammation or the breakouts we should be worried about. They’re the effect, not the root cause, of skin conditions. Skin, with all its cells and layers, is the first defensive barrier of our body being in contact with everything that surrounds it. Because of such high exposure a skin that is aged or changed only by intrinsic factors such as loss of collagen or changes in fat or bone structures that appear naturally with the passing of time, doesn’t exist. Multiple environmental factors can have degenerative effects on the quality of skin, including the level of hydration, pigmentation and complexion. The skin aging induced by environmental factors which directly impact the outer layer of the skin, epidermis, is called premature or extrinsic skin aging process.¹ Its manifestations come in the form of coarse wrinkles, thinning, laxity, solar elastosis and pigment irregularities.² Given that only around 10% of how we age is genetic³ , limiting the impact of environmental factors can be crucial for the way our skin will change over time. But let’s not panic just yet. It’s possible to have an active lifestyle and spend time outdoors without making the skin pay the visual price. How? First, let’s target the skin’s biggest environmental enemies.

How environment affects the skin?

Unlike intrinsic aging, that affects the entire body, extrinsic aging is restricted to environmentally exposed body parts, including the face, the dorsal side of the hands, or the neck. ⁴ Environmental factors can influence the integrity of the skin barrier function and accelerate an inflammatory response by increasing oxidative stress, ⁵ causing:

• loss of collagen and elastin fibers, resulting in coarse wrinkles, sagging, dehydration and skin texture changes
• dark spots and discoloration
• breakouts and acne
• clogged pores

As you can see, the environmental factors can cause every single unwanted change in the quality of your skin. The most common and most dangerous external threats are:

Solar radiation Yes, I know, you’ve probably heard a thousand times that tanning is bad for your skin. But do you really understand why? It’s not only about the potential (and potent) loss of hydration. Contributors of both intrinsic and extrinsic aging, such as mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation and the abnormality of skin homeostasis, appear as a consequence of oxidative stress and increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Regular exposure to UV radiation accelerates production of ROS and causes damage to DNA, proteins, and lipids and reduces antioxidant levels in the skin. ⁶ There are two primary types of radiation: ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB). Whereas UVB can penetrate only through the epidermis, UVA is able to go all the way through the three layers of the skin: the epidermis, dermis and subcutis. Because the photodamage can happen so deep in the skin, it can take years before it becomes visible on its surface. If you want to explore the ways sun affects your entire body, don’t miss this article.

Air pollution Although our skin acts as a natural barrier against pro-oxidative air pollutants, research shows that „prolonged exposure to their high levels can induce alterations in skin homeostasis and has been associated with aging as well as skin conditions.”⁷ The WHO considers six types of air pollutants: particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, black carbon, carbon monoxide, and ground-level ozone. According to the organization’s 2018 report ,⁸ 9 out of 10 people breathe high levels of air pollutants every single day. The most adverse effects of this environmental factor for human skin include increased production of free radicals, induced inflammation and impaired skin barrier due to loss of skin’s natural oils that would normally maintain the moisture in your skin.

Blue light I hope that what you’re about to read will help you limit the time you spend on- line. Certain waves of blue light emitted from electronic devices including smartphones, tablets, laptops and TV screens , with daily exposure as short as 60 minutes, may cause changes in your skin. ⁹

Have you already checked you weekly screen time report? If not, I have some statistics for you. Worldwide, the average user spends 3 hours and 14 minutes looking at their computer screens and 3 hours and 43 minutes looking at their mobiles.¹⁰ What’s more, screen time accounts for about 38 to 43 % of waking hours.¹¹ Do you know what does the blue light do to your skin during that time? Unfortunately, nothing beneficial. It increases the amount of DNA damage, causes cell and tissue impairment, eye damage, skin barrier damage and accelerates photoaging. ¹²

Cigarette smoke This factor can affect your skin from the inside and out. What’s worse, you don’t have to be an active smoker to experience the negative effect of cigarette smoke for your entire body. Being surrounded by it is enough. But let’s stick to the skin. According to American Lung Association ¹³, when burned, cigarettes create more than 7,000 chemicals. At least 69 of them are known to cause cancer, and many are toxic. Cigarette smoke chronically deprives the skin of oxygen and nutrients, which makes is look paler, with uneven complexion. It damages collagen and elastin fibers, leaving your skin dehydrated, sagging, thinner and wrinkled. ¹⁴

Shield for the skin

I know you might see the outside world as one big threat for your skin now. But please, stay calm. Don’t cancel your weekend plans. Don’t take your workouts indoors. Don’t avoid sun at any cost. The impact of environmental factors is preventable and can be limited with easy-to- implement, everyday skin protection steps. Here’s what you should keep in mind:

Cleanse Cleansing isn’t only for removing make-up. When you cleanse your face, you remove the tiniest particles of impurities such as dust, dirt and chemicals from the skin surface. If your goal is to keep the pores unclogged, cosmetics well absorbed and the complexion glowing, cleansing should be the first step of your everyday skin protection self-care routine. LAST’s Cleansing Gel ¹⁵ is here to help you. Enriched with antioxidating rosemary, moisturizing acerola and additional soothing, calming, hydrating ingredients, it leaves your skin refreshed and nourished after every use.

Support your skin barrier with the right beauty regimen For the most efficient skin protection, apply the ingredients that will strengthen your its natural defense layer: antioxidants, fatty acids and ceramics boosters. Hydrate by using your products in the right order: humectants first to draw moisture into skin, emollients second to add moisturizing oils, and occlusives last to seal in moisture to prevent its loss. Don’t over- exfoliate and avoid substances that can lead to drying and irritating the skin. If you don’t know how to pick products that would meet your skin’s real needs, save time and money and simply consult it with a specialist.

Eat for your skin I love antioxidants – packed cosmetics, like LAST’s Skin Repair Serum ¹⁶ but I try to boost my intake with the foods I eat for even more skin protection. Antioxidants, such as vitamins C and E, carotenoids and selenium may help protect body cells from damage caused by free radicals, produced during prolonged exposure to environmental toxins. If you want to include more antioxidants in your diet, try to eat a variety of fruits and vegetables in different colors. Foods with darker, richer colors like orange, blue, and red tend to be higher in antioxidants – remember to leave some space for them on your plate.

Limit smoking If quitting is too much for you, try to limit the amount of cigarettes you smoke and try to avoid the smokers- friendly, closed spaces. Research ¹⁷ shows that mindfulness‐based smoking cessation techniques may help smoking cessation by teaching smokers to focus on and mindfully go through negative affective states, cravings and other symptoms of nicotine withdrawal.

Drink to cleanse You can’t avoid getting toxins into your body but you can – and should – help your body get rid of them afterwards. When you’re getting enough fluids, your kidneys can do their job of cleansing and detoxifying from harmful substances.¹⁸ Start your morning by drinking one or two cups of warm water to speed up your metabolism. Drink small portions of unsweetened drinks, preferably pure water and herbal teas throughout the day and don’t forget to include watery fruits and vegetables in your diet!

Use SPF Sunlight can be beneficial for your health and looks as long as you remember about the proper protection from overexposure. When buying a day cream, make sure it has high SPF to protect your skin from dehydration and pigmentation spots. Use it all year round, not only in the summertime, for the best and long-lasting result. ¹⁹

Adjust your beauty routine to the weather Our skin likes consistency and rapid changes in environment conditions might come as a shock. To help adapting to the new situation and avoid dryness in the winter and excess of sebum, breakouts and pigmentation spots in the summer, use to right cosmetics at the right time. During summer let you skin breathe and switch from thick creams to lighter formulas with glycolic, salicylic or mandelic acid, ingredients with antibacterial properties and pay even more attention to applying SPF. During winter, replace serums and light moisturizers with products with emollient properties that will help to strengthen the skin barrier to lock in moisture and hydration and prevent transepidermal water loss. Avoid harsh exfoliators and moderate ingredients like retinol, hydroxy acids and alcohols that can easily irritate the dry skin.

Beauty self- care has always been my way of meditating in motion. I love the sensations that come with it: the smell of products, the release of tension when I touch my body, the comfort that comes from tuning in with it. But it wasn’t until I mindfully expanded the list of things to focus on here and now to the environment that surrounds me, that I started getting the best results from my daily routine. I declare „I protect what protects me” my new favorite mantra. Are you with me?

Marzena Jarczak

An international model based in Paris. A researcher, copy writer and a journalist exploring for us the areas of neuroscience, brain, biohacking, living healthy life. Author of Out & About series discovering cultural life in Paris in all its aspects. A strong, wise personality with a growth mindset.

Read more

1. Environmental influences on skin aging and ethnic-specific manifestations; National Library od Medicine National Center for Biotechnology Information, Andrea Vierkötter, Jean Krutmann; July 2021
2. Extrinsic aging, National Library od Medicine National Center for Biotechnology Information, Fragkiski Tsatsou, Myrto Trakatelli, Aikaterini Patsatsi, Konstantinos Kalokasidis, and Dimitrios Sotiriadis; July 2012
3. Environmentally-Induced (Extrinsic) Skin Aging: Exposomal Factors and Underlying Mechanisms; Science Direct; Jean Krutmann, Tamara Schikowski, Akimichi Morita, Mark Berneburg, April 2021
4. Environmentally-Induced (Extrinsic) Skin Aging: Exposomal Factors and Underlying Mechanisms; Science Direct; Jean Krutmann, Tamara Schikowski, Akimichi Morita, Mark Berneburg, April 2021
5. How does oxidative stress affect the body?, Medical News Today; Jamie Eske, April 2019
6. Environmental Stressors on Skin Aging. Mechanistic Insights, National Library od Medicine National Center for Biotechnology Information, Concepcion Parrado, Sivia Mercado-Saenz, Azahara Perez-Davo, Yolanda Gilaberte, Salvador Gonzalez, and Angeles Juarranz, Front Pharmacol. 2019; 10: 759, July 2019
7. Environmental Stressors on Skin Aging. Mechanistic Insights, National Library od Medicine National Center for Biotechnology Information, Concepcion Parrado, Sivia Mercado-Saenz, Azahara Perez-Davo, Yolanda Gilaberte, Salvador Gonzalez, and Angeles Juarranz, Front Pharmacol. 2019; 10: 759, July 2019
8. Ambient air pollution, World Health Organization
9. Exposing Effects of Blue Light On Skin, WebMD, October 2020
10. Screen Time Statistics: Average Screen Time in US vs. the rest of the world, Comparitech, Rebecca Moody; March 2022
11. Screen Time Statistics 2022: Average Usage of Mobile, Social Media & TV, Best Writing; Tomas Laurinavicius, September 2022
12. Blue Light Protection, Part I-Effects of blue light on the skin, National Library od Medicine National Center for Biotechnology Information; Jahnna G Coats, Briana Maktabi, Mariam S Abou-Dahech, Gabriella Baki, March 2021
13. What’s In a Cigarette?, American Lung Association; July 2020
14. Slideshow: Surprising Ways Smoking Affects Your Looks and Life, WemMD, November 2021
15. LAST Cleansing Gel
16. LAST Skin Repair Serum
17. Mindfulness for smoking cessation, National Library od Medicine National Center for Biotechnology Information; Sarah Jackson, Jamie Brown, Emma Norris, Jonathan Livingstone-Banks, Emily Hayes and Nicola Lindson; April 2022
18. The Kidneys – A Basic Guide, Kidney Health Information
19. How to play sunscreen, American Academy of Dermatology Association