Particulate Matter

Particulate matter is a term used to describe the air borne dispersion of physical pollution particles, which can be caused by either indoor or outdoor pollution. Outdoor pollution includes particulate matter caused by exhaust fumes, factories and wind-borne dust. It may be described as smog, smoke or even soot. Indoor pollution includes particulate matter caused by environment and lifestyle factors such as the use of indoor fires, the presence of dust, dust mites and smoking. Particulate matter can be classified as:
  • Particulate matter – including particles that are 10µm in size and smaller, described as PM10
  • Fine particulate matter – particles of less than 2.5µm in size – PM2.5
  • Ultrafine particles – particles of less than 100nm in diameter3
Recent studies show that living in an urban area with high PM10 is linked to a 20% increase in facial pigmentation spots, also known as age spots. Alongside UV exposure, particulate matter exposure is quickly becoming recognised as a significant extrinsic contributor to premature ageing. So what can you do about this? a) Cleanse your skin day and night to remove pollution from your skin. Particulate matter contains free radicals that need to be neutralised with a cleanser that is high in antioxidants, such as griffin+row Cleanse. b) Moisturise to create a barrier against pollution, such as with griffin+row Nourish, which is also rich in antioxidants. Read our pollution spotlights: Part 1 | Part 2