How pollution affects skin
In polluted cities, dirt and fine particles sit on the skin and mix with oil and sweat, which can clog pores and dull the skin. Pollution and UV together are also linked to oxidative stress that can affect skin tone and texture over time.
A practical routine
A practical routine for polluted cities: cleanse thoroughly at night, twice if you wore sunscreen or makeup; use an antioxidant serum such as vitamin C, moisturiser and broad-spectrum SPF 30+ in the morning; and keep the barrier healthy with a simple moisturiser.
- 1Night: cleanse thoroughly; if you wear sunscreen or makeup, cleanse twice
- 2Morning: gentle cleanser, an antioxidant serum such as vitamin C, moisturiser, broad-spectrum SPF 30+
- 3Keep the barrier healthy with a simple moisturiser; irritated skin reacts more to everything
- 4Wash your face after long commutes and before bed
What to avoid
In polluted cities, avoid scrubbing hard to remove dirt, which damages the skin barrier and increases irritation, going to bed without cleansing, and adding many new products at once. Irritated skin reacts more to everything, so gentle, thorough cleansing is the goal.
- Scrubbing hard to remove dirt, which damages the barrier
- Going to bed without cleansing
- Adding many new products at once
Get a routine for your own skin
Saundarya AI is an AI skin analysis and grooming app that reads a single selfie and returns a personalised report: face shape, skin type, detected skin concerns with the visual evidence behind them, a morning and night skincare routine, product picks at three budgets, and an 8-week improvement plan.
Generic advice is a starting point. A scan reads dullness, congestion and sensitivity on your own face, shows the visual evidence and a confidence score, and builds a morning and night routine around it. The first full analysis is free.
This is general cosmetic guidance, not medical advice. See a dermatologist for skin that is painful, spreading, scarring or not improving after 8-12 weeks.