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Protect Your Face From The Elements

We are faced with many external factors that damage our skin the second we step out of our homes. These can range from strong sunlight to the dry air in an air-conditioned office. In youth, our skin may be able to take such ravaging from the environment, but there is no harm taking precautions right now to ensure our skin is healthy and well protected. Here are six factors that cause skin damage, and how to protect against them.

UNDER-EYE CIRCULATION
Poor blood flow in the capillaries is often the cause of dark circles (discolouration) under the eyes. And according to the Journal Of Cosmetic Dermatology, the translucent skin in that area makes the change of colour much more apparent.

USE: NIVEA FOR MEN REVITALISING EYE ROLL-ON
$19.90 from Watsons stores, www.watsons.com.sg.
Its Coenzyme-Q10 and massage applicator both promote circulation and aid fluid drainage.

LATE NIGHTS
“Insufficient sleep causes your skin to lose moisture, resulting in it looking tired. Using a moisturiser to keep it hydrated can help your skin repair itself, thus making the most of what little shut-eye you get,” says dermatologist Dr Nick Lowe.

USE: MOLTON BROWN POWER-BOOST ZINC ANTI-FATIGUE HYDRATOR
$79 from #B1-51 Ngee Ann City, Tel: 6736-4636.
Contains Japanese sake extract o smooth and freshen the skin.

ACNE
Inflammation, a symptom of acne, triggers the skin to produce more melanin, leading to discolouration of the skin, says Dr Audrey Kunin of www.dermadoctor.com. However, salicylic acid can help minimise the discolouration and scarring of skin.

USE: L’OREAL MEN EXPERT PURE & MATTE ANTI-MARK
$21.90 from Watsons stores.
Contains salicylic acid (which exfoliates dead skin) and zinc (which prevents acne).

PASSIVE SMOKING
Second-hand smoke is a real drag. “It hinders oxygen flow to your skin,” says Dr Lowe. A facial scrub invigorates skin cells and improves circulation, so you don’t have to pay for other people’s bad habits.

USE: LEIRAC HOMME PURIFYING CLEANSER
$38 from Watsons, #B2-06-10 Ngee Ann City,Tel: 6735-4936.
This exfoliator eliminates roughness and impurities thoroughly without irritating the skin.

ALCOHOL
Just two alcoholic drinks a day can cause your skin to be significantly dehydrated. Alcohol has a diuretic effect, which leads to dehydration, according to Dr Dennis Gross, author of Your Future Face.

USE: BIOTHERM HOMME AQUAPOWER
$65 from Robinsons Raffles City, Tel: 6339-7685.
This light, creamy gel contains minerals that help retain moisture in the skin and guard against dehydration.

AIR-CONDITIONING
Bringing down the room temperature to a cool 20 deg C may keep you comfortable, but it’s not good for your skin. “The transition between warm outdoors and cool indoors causes the structures of the skin to age prematurely, leaving it dry and tired,” says Dr Lowe.

USE: MENSCIENCE ANTI-AGING FORMULA
$125 from www.whathewants.com.sg.
Boosted with antioxidants, this treatment protects the skin against the effects of pollutants and the sun.

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