Protecting Skin from Environmental Pollution with Essential Oil Plant-Based Solutions
You and I share a common concern: safeguarding our skin from the harmful effects of environmental pollution. As we gaze out of our windows, we are not only met with the beauty of nature or the urban skyline but also the invisible forces, and sometimes not so invisible, that impact our bodies. Floating chemicals, electromagnetic frequencies, and relentless ultraviolet radiation (UVR) all pose a significant threat to our skin, accelerating aging and causing cellular damage. Even the blue light emitted by our beloved mobile devices and computers contributes to free radical damage. But fear not my friends, we have a powerful shield at our disposal – antioxidants. In this article, we’ll take an exploration of diet, essential oils and botanical antioxidants, delving into their beneficial role in protecting our skin from the perils of environmental pollution
Oxidative damage is what both pollution and UVR have in common
Antioxidants inside and out
Antioxidants derived from botanical sources offer a highly effective solution for protecting our skin from the damaging effects of free radicals. Our dietary choices play a crucial role in establishing this defense. By embracing a wholesome, nutrient-rich diet abundant in colorful vegetables and fruits, we lay the foundation for safeguarding our skin. Furthermore, supplementing our diet with concentrated nutrients extracted from these foods further enhances the resilience of our skin. The importance of a high antioxidant diet in promoting skin health has gained significant recognition, with plant-based nutrients and extracts leading the way in the natural and organic skincare revolution. This holistic approach, which I often refer to as "beauty-outside-inside-out," reflects the philosophy of overall well-being that I have passionately advocated since 1991. Over the years, I have extensively written about this concept, including a series of articles featured in Skin Inc in 2009 (Click for Parts One, Two and Three).
Evidence supports the impact of certain food compounds on preventing oxidative damage to our bodies and skin.
Diet is skincare
Let's talk about the role of diet in protecting our skin from pollution and blue light. Trust me, what we put in our body matters just as much, maybe more, as what we apply to our skin. Picture this: you've cranked up the heat and the room is now way too hot. Instead of turning the heat down, you rely solely on the air conditioner to bring the temperature back down. Not quite effective, right? Well, the same goes for our skin – if our diet isn't up to par, even the best botanical ingredients may struggle to do their job.
There's plenty of evidence to support the impact of certain food compounds on preventing oxidative damage to our bodies and skin. Think beta-carotene, lutein, lycopene, and astaxanthin – these are just some of the compounds known to shield us from the sun's harmful ultraviolet radiation (UVR), preventing sunburn and other sun-related hazards. Much of what we've learned regarding the use of antioxidants to protect from sun damage can be applied to safeguarding our skin from environmental pollutants and blue light. Oxidative damage is what both pollution and UVR have in common. So, it's safe to assume that the antioxidants we trust for sun protection can lend a hand in fighting off other environmental stressors too.
That's why it's crucial to keep our plates filled with nutrient-rich foods that are packed with these protective compounds. When we nourish our bodies from within, we're laying a solid foundation for our skin's defense against pollution and blue light. It's all about taking a holistic approach – combining a wholesome diet with effective botanical skincare products. Together, they form a powerhouse team that maximizes our skin's resilience and overall well-being.
To help you create a skin-friendly diet that combats pollution and blue light, here's a short list of recommended foods:
Wild salmon: Packed with omega-3 fatty acids, easily digested protein, and astaxanthin, this is one of the great face foods.
Dark greens: Think kale, chard, and spinach. They're rich in antioxidants and many other necessary nutrients providing a powerful boost for healthy skin.
Orange, red, and yellow vegetables: Tomatoes, colorful peppers, vibrant yams, and carrots, are all loaded with the necessary skin-loving nutrients.
Deeply colored fruits and berries: Indulge in the deliciousness of blackberries, blueberries, goji berries, and acai. These delicious fruits are bursting with antioxidants.
Green tea (Camellia sinensis) and rooibos tea (Aspalathus linearis): Sip on these antioxidant-rich teas to give your skin an extra layer of protection.
Astaxanthin is what gives salmon its orange-red color.
These foods and more are providing anthocyanins, carotenoids, flavonoids, and a vast array of other nutrients that are champions of skin health. Individual antioxidant nutrients have been extensively studied for their protective properties, like astaxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin, beta-carotene, lycopene, and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), and can be taken as supplements to increase the protection and promote skin health.
By incorporating these nutrient powerhouses into our diet, we empower our skin from the inside, equipping it with the armor it needs to combat pollution and blue light. Be aware of foods that may not be best for you due to allergens and food sensitivities.
Turning a healthy diet into healthy skincare
Though wild salmon is great face food, for obvious reasons it’s not ideal for topical use in skin care. Ground salmon on the face seems a little disgusting. The way to duplicate the benefits of ingested dietary nutrients for skincare is to use ingredients extracted from the foods containing the powerful concentrated compounds. Extracting the favorable nutrients from salmon would be somewhat of a challenge with a potentially unpleasant aroma. Salmon get their red color by eating krill that have eaten red algae. The algae contains astaxanthin, which is where salmon get their red color.
Astaxanthin is available as a supercritical carbon dioxide (CO2) extract, which can be used topically, providing the benefit that salmon has in the diet. The CO2 extraction is a very clean extraction method used to produce many valued plant extracts for antioxidant protection, such as sea buckthorn berry, calendula, frankincense, turmeric, pomegranate and many more. Their deep color makes it obvious the amount of antioxidant compounds these extracts have - and the potential for staining if not used properly.
The omega-3 fatty acid content of salmon is replaced in the topical ingredients with rosehip, raspberry, cranberry or blackberry pressed seed oils, all high in Omega-3 fatty acids. The berry seed oils also contain carotenoids, polyphenols and vitamin E that further add antioxidant skin protection.
Nutrient-Rich Antioxidant Topical Oils
When it comes to protecting our skin from pollution, incorporating the already mentioned ingredients and extracts becomes key. These remarkable nutrients and foods are renowned for their potent antioxidant and skin-conditioning properties. By relying on scientific research and drawing from both clinical evidence and historical usage, we can curate a robust list of protective ingredients for our skincare regimen. It's worth noting that for each ingredient mentioned, there exist several equally effective alternatives. This allows us to tailor our skincare routine to our specific needs and preferences.
By selecting the right combination of ingredients, backed by sound scientific knowledge, we can fortify our skin against the damaging effects of pollution and ensure optimal protection.
Here are some recommended antipollution and protective skin care ingredients:
Sunflower seed oil - a fairly light and absorptive oil containing high antioxidant value.
Virgin olive oil and argan oil - Good choices in antioxidant and restorative skin care.
Jojoba oil - Composed of a similar waxy fat as the skins natural sebum and provides UV protection.
Berry seed oils - Cranberry, raspberry, and blackberry seed oils are a must-have in protective skin care. The berry oils have antioxidant properties and showed absorbance in the UV-B and UV-C ranges with potential for use as a broad spectrum UV protectant. Berry seed oils also provide a source of Omega-3 fatty acids, tocopherols and carotenoids.
Tinctures and Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Extracts (Supercritical CO2)
Green tea - This extract should be added for its well known effective antioxidant properties. Green tea tinctures are an excellent addition to any anti-aging and skin protective formula. Protects UV exposed skin and prevents DNA damage.
Supercritical extracts of pomegranate, Australian sandalwood seed and sea buckthorn - Supercritical CO2 extracts contain a concentration of flavonoids, carotenoids and other beneficial compounds that offer intensified protection and reduce damage from pollutants, UV exposure and inflammation. These are used in a similar low concentration to essential oils and nutrients.
Detoxification of environmental impurities
As health-conscious consumers, we should not underestimate the significance of detoxifying our bodies from environmental impurities. When we consider the impact of pollution, it becomes crucial to address the accumulation of toxins in our skin and throughout our bodies. Fortunately, the foods we mentioned earlier play a pivotal role in this detoxification process, actively aiding in the elimination of impurities, heavy metals, and chemical contaminants. Once again, our diet proves its immense value in reducing the detrimental effects and toxic burden caused by environmental pollutants.
As we’ve discussed already, the benefits extend beyond just our internal health! When applied topically, these same foods and botanical extracts work wonders detoxifying our skin. Not only do they provide the antioxidant protection we discussed earlier, but they also contribute to the removal of environmental toxins and the buildup that accumulates in our skin. This dual action makes them formidable allies in our pursuit of healthy, radiant skin.
By embracing a holistic approach that addresses both internal and external factors, we can effectively combat the effects of environmental pollutants and support our skin's natural detoxification processes.
Inflammation
To address the inflammation caused by pollutants and free radicals, we have a powerful arsenal at our disposal. Our diet and plant-based ingredients, enriched with carotenoids and polyphenols, play a vital role in this fight. By incorporating supercritical extracts and essential oils into our skincare routine, we provide targeted relief, aiding in the reduction of inflammation caused by environmental pollutants. These therapeutic powerhouses are equipped with anti-inflammatory properties that help soothe and calm our skin. An anti-inflammatory diet, composed of the same foods we’ve listed, controls the inflammation caused internally by pollutants, UVR and blue-light.
Essential oil’s holistic anti-pollution solution
I couldn't possibly overlook the incredible therapeutic benefits that essential oils bring to the table when it comes to reducing inflammation, combating free radical damage, and purifying the skin from environmental pollutants. It's a holistic approach that addresses all our skin's needs, covering every aspect of effective skincare. Essential oils possess a remarkable range of properties, including detoxification, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant capabilities, as well as the ability to rejuvenate our cells, and provide emotional and physical stress relief. This truly is a multi-faceted solution to not only protect the skin from pollution, but also cater to our skin's well-being in the most comprehensive way.
These oils are ideal for holistic topical skincare protection from environment stress:
Cape chamomile - It doesn’t get much better than this essential oil for stress reduction and taking the edge off the nervous system. Cape chamomile also contains good antioxidant protection and anti-inflammatory activity.
Citrus Oils - Lemon, orange, and grapefruit are purifying and antioxidant. Careful using these oils within a couple of hours of being in direct sun exposure due to the phototoxic potential. Though bergamot is the oil of most concern, these citrus oils do contain a minor caution for phototoxicity.
Copaiba - This formidable anti-inflammatory ally is a great skin conditioner with good antioxidant features.
Elemi - Having good protection from UV sun damage makes elemi a good selection for topical use. Oh, and it’s a strong anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and cell-rejuvenating essential oil.
Needle Tree Oils - Not exactly considered for skin care fragrance, the needle oils like pine (any species), black spruce and Douglas fir, offer great antioxidant, detoxification and anti-inflammatory properties.
Conclusion
The variety of botanical extracts and essential oils available for antipollution skin care is vast, with recipes to suit any application, texture and need. Keep in mind, these will only be effective when combined with a beneficial, anti-pollution diet.
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