Environmental aggressors and your skin

The changing environment has caused significant skin damage, sensitivity and irritation over the past 45 years. Clinique's guiding dermatologists, Dr David and Dr. Catherine Orenterich have reformulated Dramatically Different Moisturising Lotion+, recognising how skin has changed since 1968.

Sun Damage

It is believed that reductions in stratospheric ozone levels have lead to higher levels of UVB reaching the Earth's surface. Even during the first minute of exposure you can generate damage. According to Dr. David Orentreich, Clinique’s guiding dermatologist, “In the past 75 years we have had more sun exposure than ever before, which will increase the rate at which skin ages and shows the signs of ageing.”

Dryness (Office Skin)

Dr. David also recognises the stress our skin faces from working in an office environment; “The dryness we feel due to heating and air-conditioning is the combined lack of moisture in the air, in addition to the decrease in sebum spreading over the skin. Dryness can wreak havoc on the skin’s appearance and comfort. Moisturisers help seal moisture into the skin, improving the appearance, comfort and integrity of the skin."

Pollution (City Skin)

Even if you don’t live right in the city centre, Dr Tom Mammone, Clinique’s Executive Director of Research and Development notes: “A city lifestyle can also pose a real threat to skin – in particular breathing in cigarette smoke, excessive amounts of alcohol and processed foods, as well as a lack of sleep. These modern stresses of daily life can compromise the skin’s natural defense system, leaving it open to damage and to visible signs of premature ageing.”

Breakouts

Stress, environment (dirt, sweat, etc.), fluctuating hormonal changes and other imbalances can all play a role in breakouts. Dr. Tom notes that “While you can’t always prevent breakouts, having a good skincare regimen that keeps your skin healthy and its barrier strong will help make your skin less vulnerable to the causes of breakouts. Everyone – young and old – needs a regular skin regimen that is appropriate for their skin type and that includes cleansing, gentle daily exfoliation and mositurisation. If you find that you are prone to pre-menstrual breakouts, it is especially important to look for a moisturiser with barrier building qualities such as Cholesterol, Linoleic Acid or Ceramides.”

Redness

From allergies to stress, hot to cold weather, redness is for some an inevitable occurrence in daily life. “Once the skin’s barrier function has been weakened, the water that skin needs to look and function best evaporates through the now porous barrier and skin cells dehydrate, going into a state of shock. As more external irritants get though the weakened barrier, skin becomes inflamed and more sensitive.” says Dr. Tom.

DDML+

All of the above skin stressors are attributed to one thing – a weakened barrier. DDML+ has skin barrier repairing ingredients in addition to improved hydrating ingredients that were not available 45 years ago.

“The world has changed. Skin care technology has changed. And so we have changed” says Janet Pardo, Clinique’s Senior Vice President of Global Product Development.
 
For more information, visit clinique.co.uk.