Saving Face

Pollution is penetrating your skin 24/7. Here’s how to keep your complexion in the clear.

- Nicole Catanese

Ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun has long been deemed skin’s worst enemy, wreaking havoc on a cellular level and resulting in fine lines, pigment gone wild, and even skin cancer. But experts warn of another stealth skin saboteur: pollution. From the incessant soot lining your windowsills, you already know you’re constantly surrounded by pollution—what’s alarming is that the particulate matter suspended in the air actually enters the skin, attacks cell DNA, and, over time, causes wrinkles, dryness, inflammation, and uneven tone. “Pollution micro particles are 20 times smaller than your pores, so they easily infiltrate the skin,” says NYC dermatologist Dendy Engelman, MD.