Dr. Macrene Alexiades MD PhD has spent over 40 years in the laboratory and dermatology clinic in her quest to replace toxins in our environment and in healthcare with clean plant based non-toxic solutions. She shares her dermatologic and scientific expertise on shielding your skin from climate change and pollutants in our environment.
What pollutants and toxins should I look out for?
The main pollutants included in the WHO global air quality list are as follows:
- Particulate Matter
- Nitrogen Dioxide
- Ozone
- Carbon Monoxide
- Sulfur Dioxide
- Lead
- Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
- Formaldehyde
- Radon
What are they composed of?
- Particulate matter includes sulphate, nitrates, ammonia, sodium chloride, black carbon, and mineral dust.
- Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are chemicals formed from cooking of meat, fossil fuels, diesel engines, wood-burning stoves and tobacco smoke.
Where do the dangerous pollutants come from?
- Outdoor exposure typically comes from traffic, transportation, industrial and power plants, construction, waste burning, fires and farming.
- Indoor exposure comes from burning fuels in open ovens from cooking, poor ventilation, and inefficient stoves or space heaters.
- Formaldehyde comes from building materials (e.g. particleboard, plywood, glue, paints), household and personal care products (e.g. drapes, carpets, cleaning products, hair sprays), and smoking, heating, cooking, or candle or incense burning.
- Radon comes from rock and can pervade the home in cases of inadequate ventilation.
How do I keep my skin healthy from pollution?
Anti-pollutants in skincare are comprised generally of the most potent antioxidants. These include:
- Vitamin C
- Superoxide dismutase
- Resveratrol
- Green tea
- Epigallocatechin
- Plant polyphenols
- Gingko extract
Where can I get anti-pollutant anti-oxidant protection?
I formulated the MACRENE actives High Performance Cleanser, Face Cream, Neck and Decolletage Treatment, Tinted Moisturizer and Concealer to provide a comprehensive list of the world's best antioxidants. I had observed that pollutants tend to adhere or stick to tinted moisturizers and foundations, and so I have combated this through the most powerful mix of anti-pollutant anti-oxidants in my formulations. Click on each image below to learn more to protect your skin health.
