By exhale esthetician and skincare extraordinaire, Quyen Ly They’re everywhere, and you’ve probably heard of them: pollutants and their resulting “free radicals” in the air around us. They come from light, pollution, cigarette smoke, and more — and they can damage your skin. Here’s what you need to know, and how your skincare routine can fight the damage. The science: why free radicals are dangerous Each free radical is missing an electron — so they’re on a destructive mission, within the deep layers of your skin, to make themselves whole. This triggers inflammation and destroys keratin proteins that protect your skin. The end results? Hyper-pigmentation, age spots, blackheads, breakouts and