Life in the city is a challenge for us and our skin. Every now and then we need a break. The positive effects of walks in the countryside have convincingly been proven in scientific studies. They calm us down, improve our mood and the daylight boosts our vitamin D level. It’s not always possible to enjoy nature to its fullest, however. An effective skincare ritual blending science and nature is the perfect step to take us there.
Urbanization is a global phenomenon. Around 57% of the world’s population lives in cities, and the trend is rising. Life in cities is attractive. There are more jobs, more cultural offerings, more restaurants and bars, more shopping opportunities, in short – everything most young people expect from life.
But life in the city can also be more stressful than life in rural areas. Urban lifestyles are often hectic, from the morning rush hour to the city’s brightness and noise affecting sleep quality. Cities are a physical stress to us too. Our respiratory system is under continuous strain and our skin as well, obviously. Pollution is on top of our minds when we think about cities but it is just the tip of the iceberg, though. Working and living indoors, in heated or air-conditioned rooms, has also a big impact on skin. A lack of exposure to the sun and the dry environment we live in, compromise the quality of the skin significantly. Skin dries out, becomes more sensitive and can show more wrinkles. Immune competence and barrier function are impaired, and the skin microbiome is more fragile because it is not as diverse as in people who live in rural regions. The stress hormones we produce when we are under psychological strain significantly aggravate the situation.
A skincare product always has to be effective and is expected to provide a solution to a skin problem. Simultaneously, the modern urban consumer hopes to improve mental well-being and ideally would like to do also something good for the environment – highly effective and goal-oriented ingredients are needed.
We at CLR put a large focus on developing active ingredients fitting this profile. Our active ingredients help skin cells to help themselves and provide them with the ‘training’ they need to cope with the challenges of modern urban lifestyles.
