10 US Cities That Are Tough on Skin

Wherever you are in the world, climates are becoming increasingly more aggressive, and that affects you and your skin. Most places experience at least two extreme climates per year, and some places have up to four dominant seasons. This is a lot of transitioning between environments for the skin and added external factors like pollution and man-made climates don’t make it any smoother. It’s common knowledge that larger, more urban cities have higher levels of pollution, which has detrimental health impacts on our body and skin. However, there are other environmental factors that make some cities more difficult to thrive than others: temperature, humidity, altitude, water quality, and more. For the sake of skin’s wellbeing and overall appearance, there’s one skincare that specifically formulated to account for extreme climate conditions. To harmonize skin amidst the environmental chaos, Pour Moi Climate-Smart® skincare can help skin adjust to even the toughest cities.

1. Hard Water: Indianapolis, IN

Few metropolitan cities, including Indianapolis, have the hardest water in the United States, meaning that it has a very high mineral content. Minerals are healthy for the body in certain amounts, but hard water can dry out and aggravate the skin, causing it to appear dull and lifeless. Hard water also throws off the pH balance of the skin’s acid mantle, which can cause inflammation and breakouts. This is a great reminder of why Pour Moi is manufactured in France — because of the high European standard for aqua! Water is the dominant ingredient in skincare, so we made sure to locate the best possible source of water for maximum hydration and healthy, beautiful skin.

2. High Pollution: Los Angeles, CA

California is the not-so-lucky state to be the home of the most polluted cities in the country. Particulate matter in the air results from smog, dust, smoke, and pollution caused by industrial factories and transportation. If these particles penetrate the skin, you just might be wearing pollution on your face in the form of premature aging and dehydrated skin. Los Angeles is the number one city with ozone pollution because the city’s topography causes pollution to become trapped and concentrated. These high levels of pollution are extremely damaging to skin because it causes unstable free radicals that wreak havoc on skin cells. Pollution levels can mean the difference between healthy, glowing skin and skin that’s been through chaos. Fortunately, the Temperate Day Cream and the Desert Day Cream are the best matches for the Los Angeles climate, and they’re both packed with free radical fighting antioxidants and nutrients. 3. Contaminated Water: Pensacola, FL In a 2009 study to analyze water utilities across the country, Pensacola was rated the lowest. 21 harmful contaminants, including lead, were found in the city’s water source, which is bad news for skin in Pensacola. If the water isn’t safe for your body to drink, it’s not safe for your skin to drink.

4. Extreme Heat: Phoenix, AZ

In the dead of summer, it’s not uncommon for Phoenix to have temperatures nearing 120°F. In combination with the drastically low humidity levels, this desert climate is extreme for the skin. When skin is faced with scorching temperatures, it’s difficult to stay properly hydrated, especially when there’s no moisture in the atmosphere. This is the perfect application for the Desert Day Cream, a climate smart moisturizer that utilizes a high-tech blend to ensure skin stays hydrated and healthy in extreme conditions.

5. High winds: Amarillo, TX

Mild wind is an environmental element in a temperate climate, but there’s nothing mild about winds in Amarillo. Extreme winds at high speeds whisk moisture out of the skin through evaporation. This can actually cause Transepidermal Water Loss (TEWL) in the upper layers of skin. When extreme elements like harsh winds put skin at risk of dehydration, hydrating agents in Pour Moi correct the lipid barrier and reduce TEWL for soft and smooth skin.

6. High altitude: Denver, CO

Everything is more intense at higher altitudes. In places like Denver with very mountainous regions, being higher in the atmosphere intensifies the elements and the way they affect the skin. Cold, dry air at high altitude puts the skin further at risk of dehydration, and the loss of moisture can cause inflammation. The thinner atmosphere at higher elevations also strengthens the harmful impacts of UV radiation. Consider all these elements, and you have an equation for unhappy, damaged skin. Conditions in Denver call for the Polar Day Cream, a thick, protective Climate-Smart® moisturizer that harmonizes skin to the extreme polar conditions. Even when frost and freezing weather nip away at the skin, the Polar Day Cream creates a protective shield over skin that locks in moisture and locks out destructive elements.

7. Many seasons: Buffalo, NY

Buffalo is one of those places that experience multiple seasons per year, which means that skin must make the transition along with the shifts in climate. Being on the East Coast, Buffalo gets very cold, snowy winters and mild to warm summers. To help skin make these transitions smoothly while retaining a youthful looking appearance, the Climate-Smart® Day Creams utilize advanced hydrators that adjust according to the climate.

8. High humidity: New Orleans, LA

A tropical climate is extreme on skin because of the high humidity levels, and New Orleans is a great example. Besides the historical and cultural atmosphere of New Orleans, living here means dealing with uncomfortable humidity that skin detests. When humidity is high, the atmosphere becomes thick with pollutants, which can cause free radical damage to the skin. Humid air also leads to breakouts because the moisture in the air causes skin to produce excess oils to balance out the levels of water and oil in the skin. When looking for skincare that promotes healthy skin in the tropics, look no further than Pour Moi with the world’s first Tropical Day Cream.

9. Low humidity: Las Vegas, NV

The desert-like heat is exacerbated by desert-like humidity. Anyone who’s been to Las Vegas is familiar with the dry air and most likely experienced the hydrated skin that comes along with it. The climate causes the skin to become dehydrated, and so can skincare — the opposite of what it’s supposed to do! When there’s no moisture in the air, water-grabbing humectants like Hyaluronic Acid grab moisture from the deeper skin layers and deliver it to the surface. This gives the false effect that skin is moisturized when it’s the only circulation of moisture to the surface. Pour Moi Climate-Smart® skincare utilizes various types of Hyaluronic Acid to ensure that this counterproductive process doesn’t happen! The small molecule sizes go deep into the skin’s layers while large molecules hydrate the surface and seal it all in. Low humidity means off-balance skin for traditional skincare users, but getting smart about your skincare prevents summer skin issues like dehydration.

10. Low temperatures: Fairbanks, Alaska

Nearly two-thirds of the year in Fairbanks, temperatures are almost freezing! This is one of the coldest cities in the United States, and there’s many like it. When temperatures are this low, you can say goodbye to happy, hydrated skin as winter skin issues like dryness, redness, burns, and breakouts take over. If you want to put the health of your skin first this winter, especially if you’re in Fairbanks, the Polar Day Cream will keep your skin on track despite the extreme climate. When you have effective Climate-Smart® skincare to fall back on, you’ll know that you can have a happy face in anyplace.