Fighting pollution is my New Year’s resolution

I’m not a big New Year’s resolution person, but I do have a few skincare tweaks that I’m going to try to stick to for 2019. My first is applying body lotion with SPF every morning, since I recently got a convertible and I’ve been riding around with the top down more than up. (Not to worry, I’m a lunatic about protecting my face and I even have a sunscreen kit complete with cream, mist and powder in my glove box). The second is remembering to use my derma-roller more. I was really into it for a while but it kind of fell to the wayside over the past few months. The last is shielding my skin from environmental aggressors beyond the sun—and the main one I’m keeping my eye on is pollution (thanks to Miami dermatologist Dr. Loretta Ciraldo, whose Dr. Loretta skincare range recently launched in Nordstrom stores—yay!)

Did you know that people who live in more densely populated cities with higher pollution levels have more wrinkles? (Sorry, New Yorkers, your state wins the most-wrinkled award.) And guess what, outdoor pollution like car exhaust, construction debris and factory emissions is just the beginning. We’re surrounded by pollution indoors as well in the form of off-gassing from carpet, paint, plastic and common household chemicals like cleaning supplies.

If you’re wondering why this is a problem for our skin, here’s why. Pollution particles can be 30 times smaller than a single pore, which means these nasty particles can get deep into our skin and potentially cause inflammation, damage collagen and elastin and basically cause fine lines, wrinkles, discoloration and sensitivity. Fighting pollution is one of the cornerstones of the Dr. Loretta range, which is why the Gentle Hydrating Cleanser is literally the first product I used in 2019.

A lightweight, clear gel that becomes milky (not sudsy) when mixed with water, this cleanser is designed to whisk away pollution (as well as makeup, dirt and debris) and neutralize the free-radical damage it causes. At the same time, it helps hydrate the skin with marine peptides, soothe irritation with chamomile essential oil and minimize sensitivity by eliminating potentially problematic ingredients like parabens, phthalates, artificial fragrance and dyes. When I saw Dr. Ciraldo a while back, she told me I should leave it on my skin for a few minutes when possible for an even deeper (yet non-aggressive) clean. 

The Dr. Loretta line also targets light-based damage caused by UV rays and HEV exposure from electronics screens as well as fluorescent and LED light. Discoloration has been at the top of my skincare to-do list for a while, which is why I’m using the Intense Brightening Cream, too. Packed with a whopping 20% L-ascorbic acid (vitamin C), the tingle you feel means it’s working, and I’ve definitely seen improvement in “Spot” since starting. (In case you’re not a frequent reader, this is what I’ve named my one pesky area of pigment on my left cheek.) This high-concentration antioxidant cream also helps support collagen production, and it’s the first product I apply after cleansing every morning.

Dr. Ciraldo may be one of the nicest women on the planet, but she also has it in for climate extremes and other external irritants that can have a negative impact on the skin. The beauty of these powerful products is that you can mix and match them to address the state of your skin as well as your environment—in turn creating the ideal skincare regimen for your unique complexion and surroundings. Even if you’re not into New Year’s resolutions, Dr. Loretta can do the work for you and you’ll see how beautiful 2019 can be…