Article: Brenda Mapane from True Love
Image: SHAPE

But today you'd be hard pushed to find terms that more accurately sum up most people's complexions. Where you live, work and play has a significant impact on the way your skin looks. And if you understand the negative effects of your environment as well as the products tailor-made for the world in which you live, your skin stands a better chance of looking good, no matter what its surroundings.

CITY SKIN
The characteristics:
Congested appearance and grey tinge; fine lines, particularly around eyes; a tendency towards breakouts and a lack of vibrancy.

The cause:
Pollution: The reaction between exhaust fumes and UV light is skin's number one enemy, according to Dr Ken Marenus of Clinique: "Ozone molecules bind to the skin's surface and oxidise, leading to surface skin damage. In addition, a substance called benzopyrene, found in both exhaust and cigarette smoke, is metabolised by the skin, causing long-term damage to the DNA of skin cells."

Air conditioning: Energy-efficient office buildings can cause huge problems, according to dermatologist Dr Ncoza Dlova: "There's a cocktail of potential irritants solvents from carpet cleaners, formaldene from copier paper continually being recycled." Humidity is also low, which dehydrates skin in the same way as cool, dry air in winter.

Computers: The jury's still out on the effects of computers and other electrical office equipment on the skin. Esteé Lauder's Dr Daniel Maes says: "Although negative effects are seen in cell cultures, in a real-life situation clothing and skin do offer some natural protection, so damage is harder to quantify." Others, however, attribute a dull paleness to the negative ions released by computer screens and all agree that office workers' eyes pay a price. The heat expelled and dust attracted cause irritation, and long periods spent at the screen also result in wrinkling around the eyes due to muscle strain.

The solution:
Your best defence is a product containing anti-oxidants to fight free radical damage, and a sunscreen, since UVA light which comprises 90% of the sun's rays and is present all year round penetrates cloud, glass and even reflects off computer monitors.

Look for creams including vitamins C and E, as their main ingredients to protect against air pollution. On a lifestyle level, drinking plenty of water and taking regular exercise will improve oxygen levels in tissues and yoga will keep stress levels low. Body brushing will eliminate toxins and improve cell turnover.

CITY WORKERS
Cleanse: Use gentle products such as Clarins Gentle Foaming Cleanser, R160 or L'Oreal Plenitude Hydrafresh Cleansing Gel, R69,95.

Exfoliate: Clinique Gentle Exfoliator Rinse-Off Formula, R140 and Yardley's Cleansing Scrub, R75,95 a gentle facial polisher that removes dead skin cells.

Protect: With something light but anti- oxidant rich, which will continually protect against environmental damage. Try Elizabeth Arden First Defense, R350, Esteé Lauder DayWear Plus R310, Clarins Hydration Plus Moisture Lotion, R300 and Clinique City Block, R150.

Nourish: Treat skin to a more concentrated product weekly. Sof `n' Free Purifying Facial Mask R29,95 contains sesame oil, a moisturiser which assists in replacing lost moisture.

GYM SKIN
The characteristics:
Flaky, itchy patches of skin, a tight, uncomfortable feel and a tendency to break out, scaliness feet are susceptible to athlete's foot.

The cause:
Showering several times a day: Something an active lifestyle necessitates can take its toll. Skin doesn't get the chance to produce enough of its own moisture to cope, which leads to a depletion of natural oils and increased sensitivity.

Not drying skin properly: can also result in mild forms of irritation such as dermatitis and athlete's foot. Detergent rich products for face and body only exacerbate the problem, and are more likely to leave behind a skin-drying residue.

Strong cleansing products: not only strip skin, but have been shown to reduce the benefits of products applied afterwards. Spending money on an expensive moisturiser then becomes a waste of time.

Chlorine: in the swimming pools is also problematic for skins as it can be extremely drying and irritating and regular swimmers often suffer from dermatitis and eczema.

Although working out is good for skin, wearing make-up while you exercise can cause skin breakouts, as impurities sweated out get trapped in the pores, along with wax, oils and pigment from the make-up itself.

The solution:
To protect skin's hypolipidic film the moisture sealing barrier that keeps skin supple use detergent and soap free products with a similar pH value to skin itself. Avoiding heavily perfumed products and very hot water also helps. Thorough cleansing, nevertheless, is essential. While you are exercising, your skin is busy excreting toxins, so if you don't wash them away properly, skin can easily become congested.

Use an antibacterial body wash, particularly on spot-prone areas like the back, and a buffing cloth to eliminate dead cells try Medisan Skin Care Anti-Bacterial Liquid Soap, R15,95. Sealing in moisture by applying body lotion to damp skin is also key. As for feet, thorough drying and wearing flip-flops in changing rooms should help guard against athlete's foot.

GYM WORKERS
Cleanse: Refresh with Radox Time Out Shower Gel, R20,95 or Palmolive Aromatherapy Shower Gel, R20,20.

Nourish: YSL Hydrating Body Care Emulsion, R380, offers the unique feeling of energised, revitalised skin.

Soothe: The Eucerin range, R121,95 for the body cream, can be applied to face and body to relieve atopic eczema and extremely dry skin, allegic reactions and psoriasis.

Treat feet: Dr Scholl's Athlete's Foot Powder R23 and Spray, R25 both relieve symptoms of athlete's foot.

Face facts: If you want to wear make- up, opt for products labeled non- comedogenic, such as Revlon Oil Free Matte Foundation, R99,55.

OUTDOOR SKIN
The characteristics:
Dry, chapped appearance; tendency towards dark colour on cheeks and nose; fine lines, sensitivity and patches or flakiness.

The cause:
Extreme cold and wind: Spending a lot of time outside means increased exposure to harmful UV rays, cold and wind. Such conditions, says Environ's Dr Des Fernandes, affect the skin's structure and the lipids that keep skin moisturised. "In extreme cold, lipids are crystallised, which irreversibly changes the skin's structure. Although this layer is shed and new lipids are produced, they become less effective as skin ages. If you don't counteract their loss, skin loses water and dries out."

Central heating: A marshmallow appearance is what I use to describe skin that's constantly exposed to a heated environment. If you spend time outside and return to a warm house or get inside a car that's been standing in the sun for too long, skin gets a shock as the result of the change in temperature, resulting in stressed skin and a rash. Overheating can also cause facial swelling.

Fluids build up and then move to the surface of the skin in an attempt to cool the body down, which explains why you may wake up with a puffy face if you sleep with the heating on overnight. Cracked skin is also a result of skin responding to the change in temperature.

The solution:
Ensuring you moisturise thoroughly when you go out in severe conditions, goes without saying. Experts also recommend never venturing out whether hot or cold without sunscreen. Reputable companies have started incorporating SPFs for daily use in their creams.

There are also more creams that are capable of regulating their moisture release by detecting temperature and humidity changes. Such products can help to protect your skin if you frequently move from a cold to a hot environment during the day. According to Clarins' Christian Courtin: "Some of the biggest problems are caused by not giving skin time to adapt to a new environment." Every now and then, to combat the drying effects of central heating, place a bowl of water on every radiator.

OUTDOOR WORKERS
Cleanse: Try something gentle and soap- free like Simply Aloe Cleansing Cream, R21,95 and Simple Moisturising Foaming Facial Wash, R50.

Protect: For all day protection try Garnier Skin Naturals Daily Moisturiser, R51,95 and ROC Enydrial Dermo Moisturising Cream, R130.

Nourish: Nivea Complete Protection Multi Protection Moisturiser, R74,99, shields the skin and boosts skin's own protection system, instantly hydrating and toning the skin. Lips can also use Lancôme Nutrix Stick Levres, R245.