Screen Saviours

Thought your office was an escape from skin ageing pollutants? Think again. Research shows that desks are the new danger zones. Forget stationery, ew reveals what to arm yourself with to keep your #gameface fresh and fabulous.

- Becci Vallis

Applying an SPF has become second nature but last year saw a new category in skincare emerging – antipollution products. The new invisible ager, air pollution, has risen by 8% globally in the past five years and, shockingly, the UAE is the world’s eighth largest emitter of carbon dioxide per capita.* Dubai might not be as toxic as Beijing and Delhi (yet) but factor in the constant construction and windstorms whipping up that dermis-damaging dust and blasting it back out at face level, and you can see why beauty brands are sitting up and taking notice.

Pigmentation, lines, wrinkles, congested complexions – the side effects of smog aren’t pretty. “Pollution is fast becoming a major cause of concern and my patients are certainly aware of its negative impacts,” says Rebecca Treston, founder of Rebecca Treston Aesthetics at Euromed Dubai.

A regimental cleansing routine will go some way in the plight against pollution but the real skin savers lie in formulas specifically designed to tackle this next generation of aging. “Major beauty companies are looking at medicine like compounds that directly block biological damage,” continues Treston. “Formulated to battle toxic air, expect to see niacin amide (vitamin B3) on more ingredients labels in the next decade.”

What’s even scarier is that it’s not just what’s on the outside scuppering our once smooth and unsoiled skin, it’s what’s on the inside too. The HEV (high-energy visible) light emitted from computer screens, phones and tablets is predicted to be one of 2017’s most researched areas in the beauty industry. Ready for a breath-taking stat? The blue light emitted from computers and smartphones can penetrate skin deeper and generate more ROS, (reactive oxygen species) that causes skin to age, than UVB and UVA.