City skin: why you need a different routine if you spend your time in traffic, dust, and air conditioning
Posted by Roxana Dirlau
You walk through the city often, spend time in traffic, and expose yourself to dust and office air conditioning, and by the evening, your skin feels congested and tired. It’s not just an impression. Pollution particles settle on the skin and stress its barrier more than you think. In this article, we tell you what urban protection means for the skin and what a realistic routine looks like, without needing ten products.
In this article you will find out:
how urban pollution affects the skin
what "anti-pollution protection" actually means
city routine: cleansing, moisturizing, SPF
how to combine hydration with sunscreen under makeup
answers to frequently asked questions
How urban pollution affects the skin
Urban pollution means fine particles, exhaust fumes, dust, and smoke that settle on the skin throughout the day. These particles are tiny and adhere to the sebum layer on the surface. There, they generate a process called oxidative stress, which weakens the skin barrier over time.
Adding to pollution are other factors we are frequently exposed to: air conditioning that dries out the skin, and UV radiation that stresses it even on cloudy days. The result is skin that feels congested in the evening, more sensitive, and more prone to redness or dehydration.
The feeling of tired skin at the end of the day doesn't just come from fatigue. It comes from the skin barrier that has been working all day against pollution, UV rays, and dry air.
What, concretely, anti-pollution protection means
The term "anti-pollution" appears on more and more products, but it means different things. The skin cannot be completely isolated from pollution. What you can do is reduce its effects by introducing three steps into your routine.
The first is evening cleansing, which removes particles deposited during the day. The second is supporting the skin barrier so the skin can better resist oxidative stress. The third is antioxidant and sun protection, which reduces the damage caused by UV and free radicals.
An effective city routine covers all three without necessarily becoming complicated.
City routine: cleansing, moisturizing, SPF
Morning: hydration and protection
Apply Aquafil Hydra Moisturizing Serum to clean skin, then Aquafil Hydra Light Moisturizing Cream. The serum increases hydration by 58% after the first hour*, and the cream maintains hydration by up to 57% after 5 hours**, according to Ivatherm clinical studies. A well-hydrated barrier resists pollution and dry office air better.
Finish with Sunlight Mat Dry Touch Fluid SPF50+. It offers very high UVA and UVB protection, has a mattifying, non-comedogenic texture, and leaves no white film. It wears well under makeup and controls shine throughout the day.
Evening: reset through cleansing
In the evening, remove makeup and cleanse with Aquafil Hydra Cleansing Foam. This is the most important anti-pollution step: it removes particles deposited during the day, makeup, and sebum, without alcohol, soap, or fragrance. The foam respects the hydrolipidic barrier and the balance of the microbiome, thanks to Lactobacillus Ferment.
After cleansing, spray Herculane Thermal Water Spray, which calms skin stressed by the city. Thermal water has a proven antioxidant and protective effect: in an in vitro study, it protected human keratinocytes and fibroblasts against stress induced by UVA radiation. Finish with the serum and cream.
Tip: do not skip evening cleansing, even if you haven't worn makeup. Pollution particles settle on the skin regardless of makeup, and at night the skin recovers better on a clean surface.
How to combine hydration with sunscreen under makeup
Many skip SPF because they feel it clogs the skin under makeup. The solution is not to skip it, but to choose compatible textures and follow the right order.
Apply the serum to clean skin and wait for it to absorb;
Apply the lightweight moisturizing cream and wait a minute;
Apply sunscreen as the last step of your routine;
Wait 1-2 minutes, then apply makeup.
Lightweight and mattifying textures, like those in the Aquafil Hydra and Sunlight Mat ranges, settle evenly and last throughout the day. Thus, hydration and sun protection complement the makeup instead of interfering with it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, if understood correctly. You cannot isolate the skin completely, but you can reduce the effects of pollution through evening cleansing, support the skin barrier, and use antioxidant and sun protection.
In the morning, apply serum and a lightweight cream, then finish with SPF50+. In the evening, cleanse gently, calm with thermal water, then reapply the serum and cream. Use three steps in the morning and three in the evening, without weighing your skin down.
Air conditioning dries out the skin, so hydration matters a lot. You can use a water-based serum and a cream that maintains hydration for hours. Herculane Thermal Water sprayed throughout the day calms and refreshes the skin.
Look for a cream with a lightweight texture that absorbs quickly and doesn't leave a greasy film. Aquafil Hydra Light was tested as a makeup base by 100% of study participants, who described it as suitable under foundation.
Complexion in the city doesn't need ten products, but a routine built around three mechanisms: cleansing, barrier, and protection. Evening cleansing removes pollution, hydration supports the barrier, and SPF reduces the damage caused by UV rays.
*In vivo study performed on 10 subjects, women, aged 22 to 63, with all skin types and Fitzpatrick phototypes II–IV, after a single application. Instrumental evaluation by Corneometer® CM 825 (Courage + Khazaka).
**In vivo study performed on 10 subjects, women, aged 22 to 63, with all skin types and Fitzpatrick phototypes II–IV, after a single application. Instrumental evaluation by Corneometer® CM 825 (Courage + Khazaka).
Echipa Ivatherm
Conținutul IvaStories este creat de echipa Ivatherm, brand romanesc de dermatocosmetice fondat de Dr. Rucsandra Hurezeanu. Produsele Ivatherm sunt formulate cu Apă Termală Herculane și sunt testate dermatologic, recomandate de medici specialiști.
City skin: why you need a different routine if you spend your time in traffic, dust, and air conditioning
You walk through the city often, spend time in traffic, and expose yourself to dust and office air conditioning, and by the evening, your skin feels congested and tired. It’s not just an impression. Pollution particles settle on the skin and stress its barrier more than you think. In this article, we tell you what urban protection means for the skin and what a realistic routine looks like, without needing ten products.
In this article you will find out:
How urban pollution affects the skin
Urban pollution means fine particles, exhaust fumes, dust, and smoke that settle on the skin throughout the day. These particles are tiny and adhere to the sebum layer on the surface. There, they generate a process called oxidative stress, which weakens the skin barrier over time.
Adding to pollution are other factors we are frequently exposed to: air conditioning that dries out the skin, and UV radiation that stresses it even on cloudy days. The result is skin that feels congested in the evening, more sensitive, and more prone to redness or dehydration.
The feeling of tired skin at the end of the day doesn't just come from fatigue. It comes from the skin barrier that has been working all day against pollution, UV rays, and dry air.
What, concretely, anti-pollution protection means
The term "anti-pollution" appears on more and more products, but it means different things. The skin cannot be completely isolated from pollution. What you can do is reduce its effects by introducing three steps into your routine.
The first is evening cleansing, which removes particles deposited during the day.
The second is supporting the skin barrier so the skin can better resist oxidative stress.
The third is antioxidant and sun protection, which reduces the damage caused by UV and free radicals.
An effective city routine covers all three without necessarily becoming complicated.
City routine: cleansing, moisturizing, SPF
Morning: hydration and protection
Apply Aquafil Hydra Moisturizing Serum to clean skin, then Aquafil Hydra Light Moisturizing Cream. The serum increases hydration by 58% after the first hour*, and the cream maintains hydration by up to 57% after 5 hours**, according to Ivatherm clinical studies. A well-hydrated barrier resists pollution and dry office air better.
Finish with Sunlight Mat Dry Touch Fluid SPF50+. It offers very high UVA and UVB protection, has a mattifying, non-comedogenic texture, and leaves no white film. It wears well under makeup and controls shine throughout the day.
Evening: reset through cleansing
In the evening, remove makeup and cleanse with Aquafil Hydra Cleansing Foam. This is the most important anti-pollution step: it removes particles deposited during the day, makeup, and sebum, without alcohol, soap, or fragrance. The foam respects the hydrolipidic barrier and the balance of the microbiome, thanks to Lactobacillus Ferment.
After cleansing, spray Herculane Thermal Water Spray, which calms skin stressed by the city. Thermal water has a proven antioxidant and protective effect: in an in vitro study, it protected human keratinocytes and fibroblasts against stress induced by UVA radiation. Finish with the serum and cream.
Tip: do not skip evening cleansing, even if you haven't worn makeup. Pollution particles settle on the skin regardless of makeup, and at night the skin recovers better on a clean surface.
How to combine hydration with sunscreen under makeup
Many skip SPF because they feel it clogs the skin under makeup. The solution is not to skip it, but to choose compatible textures and follow the right order.
Lightweight and mattifying textures, like those in the Aquafil Hydra and Sunlight Mat ranges, settle evenly and last throughout the day. Thus, hydration and sun protection complement the makeup instead of interfering with it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, if understood correctly. You cannot isolate the skin completely, but you can reduce the effects of pollution through evening cleansing, support the skin barrier, and use antioxidant and sun protection.
In the morning, apply serum and a lightweight cream, then finish with SPF50+. In the evening, cleanse gently, calm with thermal water, then reapply the serum and cream. Use three steps in the morning and three in the evening, without weighing your skin down.
Air conditioning dries out the skin, so hydration matters a lot. You can use a water-based serum and a cream that maintains hydration for hours. Herculane Thermal Water sprayed throughout the day calms and refreshes the skin.
Look for a cream with a lightweight texture that absorbs quickly and doesn't leave a greasy film. Aquafil Hydra Light was tested as a makeup base by 100% of study participants, who described it as suitable under foundation.
Complexion in the city doesn't need ten products, but a routine built around three mechanisms: cleansing, barrier, and protection. Evening cleansing removes pollution, hydration supports the barrier, and SPF reduces the damage caused by UV rays.
The Aquafil Hydra, Sunlight, and Herculane Thermal Water ranges are available on ivatherm.ro and in pharmacies.
*In vivo study performed on 10 subjects, women, aged 22 to 63, with all skin types and Fitzpatrick phototypes II–IV, after a single application. Instrumental evaluation by Corneometer® CM 825 (Courage + Khazaka).
**In vivo study performed on 10 subjects, women, aged 22 to 63, with all skin types and Fitzpatrick phototypes II–IV, after a single application. Instrumental evaluation by Corneometer® CM 825 (Courage + Khazaka).
Echipa Ivatherm
Conținutul IvaStories este creat de echipa Ivatherm, brand romanesc de dermatocosmetice fondat de Dr. Rucsandra Hurezeanu. Produsele Ivatherm sunt formulate cu Apă Termală Herculane și sunt testate dermatologic, recomandate de medici specialiști.