Anti-pollution skincare products in Malaysia
Haze season in Malaysia usually comes with a familiar checklist: take note of the air quality in your area, keep your mask handy, and think twice before spending too much time outdoors. But besides our lungs, our skin could use some extra TLC too.
While skincare products cannot shield us from the haze entirely, the right routine can help wash away daily buildup, support your skin barrier and defend against environmental stress.
If your skin has been feeling dry, dull or more sensitive than usual, these anti-pollution skincare products available in Malaysia – including cleansers, Vitamin C serums, barrier creams and SPF – may be worth adding to your routine.
Table of Contents
- Anti-pollution skincare products in Malaysia
- 1. Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm
- 2. CHANEL L’Huile Anti-Pollution Cleansing Oil
- 3. Algotherm Detox Micellar Mousse
- 4. Hada Labo AHA BHA Oil Control Face Wash
- 5. The Ordinary Multi-Antioxidant Radiance Serum
- 6. Avène Vitamin Activ Cg Radiance Concentrated Serum
- 7. Aestura Atobarrier365 Cream
- 8. Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Recovery Treatment Essence
- 9. Clarins UV Plus [5P] Anti-Pollution Multi-Protection Moisturizing Screen
- 10. SKINTIFIC Ultra Light Serum Sunscreen
– Cleansing balm and oil –
1. Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm
Image credit: Clinique
After an inevitable day out in the haze, a thorough double-cleanse routine is especially important for removing the mix of sunscreen, makeup, excess oil and environmental pollutants that can accumulate on your skin.
Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm is a handy first step, with its silky balm formula designed to melt away more than 95% of face makeup, sunscreen and impurities. Its key ingredients are safflower seed oil, which helps break up natural oils on the skin, as well as linoleic acid, which acts as an emollient to help leave skin feeling nourished.
The balm is also fragrance-free, non-drying, non-stripping and non-comedogenic, and has been dermatologist- and allergy-tested, making it an option for various skin types.
Price: RM70 for 30ml, RM175 for 125ml
Get this at Sephora Malaysia.
2. CHANEL L’Huile Anti-Pollution Cleansing Oil
Image credit: CHANEL
CHANEL L’Huile Anti-Pollution Cleansing Oil makes for a fitting first cleanse for a haze-season routine, designed specifically around the removal of environmental impurities.
Its formula combines blue microalgae and salicornia extracts, two marine-derived ingredients that the brand incorporates into its anti-pollution cleansing collection, together with a naturally derived oil. The ingredient list also includes sunflower seed oil, glycerin and tocopheryl acetate, which are dermatologist-tested on all skin types and non-comedogenic.
Price: RM205 for 100ml
Get this at CHANEL Malaysia.
– Face cleanser –
3. Algotherm Detox Micellar Mousse
Image credit: Algotherm
And onto the second cleanse, Algotherm’s Detox Micellar Mousse is a good pick that uses micelles to help capture impurities, makeup and pollution particles.
Its star ingredient here is Pollustop®, a polysaccharide that helps form a protective film on the skin to help prevent damage caused by pollution. This is paired with Codium tomentosum green algae extract, which helps support skin hydration by limiting moisture loss.
With 96% of ingredients of natural origin and a formula suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin, this lightweight mousse is an option for those who want a gentler approach to pollution-conscious skincare.
Price: RM190 for 150ml
Get this at Algotherm Malaysia.
4. Hada Labo AHA BHA Oil Control Face Wash
Image credit: Watsons
Hada Labo AHA+BHA Oil Control Face Wash is definitely a cleanser that does a little more than simply wash away sweat.
Combining Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) and Beta Hydroxy Acid (BHA), these chemical exfoliants help remove dead skin cells, blackheads and impurities, while its 3X Anti-Pollution Formula is designed to purify the skin and form a protective barrier that makes it harder for pollutants to stick to the skin.
For those with oilier skin, the formula also contains Bentonite Clay, which helps absorb excess oil, and Rare Alpine Plant Extract, which helps with oil control
Price: RM40 for 130ml
Get this at Watsons & Hada Labo Malaysia.
– Antioxidants & serums –
5. The Ordinary Multi-Antioxidant Radiance Serum
Image credit: Cult Beauty
When the air outside is looking a little murky, your skincare routine could use some extra backup in the form of The Ordinary’s Multi-Antioxidant Radiance Serum.
The serum features six antioxidant technologies, including Pycnogenol, Resveratrol, EGCG and Lipochroman, which help support the skin against oxidative stress caused by environmental aggressors. N-Acetyl Glucosamine is also included to help improve the appearance of uneven skin tone and texture.
For a haze-season routine, it works nicely as the step between cleansing and moisturising, giving your skin that extra support against environmental aggressors.
Price: RM90 for 30ml
Get this at Sephora Malaysia & The Ordinary Malaysia.
6. Avène Vitamin Activ Cg Radiance Concentrated Serum
Image credit: Eau Thermale Avène
One that brings some brightening benefits to the table is the Avène Vitamin Activ Cg Radiance Concentrated Serum that uses a stable form of Vitamin C called Vitamin Cg, which can help protect skin by reducing free radicals generated by UV rays and pollution.
The serum is also designed to tackle some of the more familiar signs of tired-looking skin, including dullness, dark spots and uneven tone. The niacinamide helps support the skin barrier while bakuchiol works on the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Its lightweight and fast-absorbing texture also means it can easily slot into your morning routine, before moisturizer and SPF.
Price: RM151 for 30ml
Get this at Watsons & Avène Malaysia.
– Barrier cream & repair moisturisers –
7. Aestura Atobarrier365 Cream
Image credit: Kpop Beauty
Once you’ve washed away the day’s buildup and layered on your serum, the next step is making sure your skin doesn’t feel stripped or uncomfortable.
Aestura Atobarrier365 Cream focuses on this part of the routine, using high-density ceramide capsules to help strengthen the skin barrier and lock in moisture. The formula is particularly suited to dry and sensitive skin, with ingredients such as ceramide NP, cholesterol, squalane and niacinamide working together to keep the skin hydrated.
For those who like the feeling of a richer cream at night, this could also be an especially useful one to keep on your bedside table.
Price: RM119 for 80ml
Get this at Watsons & Sephora Malaysia.
8. Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Recovery Treatment Essence
Image credit: Estée Lauder
Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Recovery Treatment Essence is designed as a lightweight treatment lotion that floods the skin with hydration, while helping to soothe and strengthen the skin barrier.
The essence combines Bio-Exosome Technology, more than 500 peptides, Night Peptide and hyaluronic acid to help replenish moisture and support skin recovery.
Its water-light texture also makes it easy to layer underneath a serum and moisturiser, and absorbs quickly, without making your bedtime routine feel too heavy.
Price: RM280 for 100ml
Get this at Sephora Malaysia.
– Sunscreen –
9. Clarins UV Plus [5P] Anti-Pollution Multi-Protection Moisturizing Screen
Image credit: Clarins
Sunscreen is the skincare you should never skip, especially when it seems like the sun is hiding behind grey, murky skies.
Clarins UV Plus [5P] Anti-Pollution Multi-Protection Moisturizing Screen is a good choice that combines daily UV protection with ingredients designed to help defend skin against five environmental stressors: atmospheric pollution, photo-pollution, indoor pollution, blue light and pollen.
The “multi-protection” part comes from its focus on more than just UV. The formula helps protect against pollution, blue light and oxidative stress, while providing moisture to the skin. It also contains mango leaf extract, which helps to support the skin against oxidative stress.
Price: RM185
Get this at Clarins Malaysia.
10. SKINTIFIC Ultra Light Serum Sunscreen
Image credit: Skintific
SKINTIFIC Ultra Light Serum Sunscreen helps keep your morning skincare routine short and sweet, as it is a hybrid formula sunscreen that combines Vitamin C and ferulic acid with SPF50+, giving you antioxidant support and daily UV protection in a single step.
The combination of Vitamin C and ferulic acid is especially effective for a haze-season routine, with both antioxidants supporting skin against environmental exposure, while the SPF provides protection from UVA and UVB rays. The formula also offers anti-pollution and blue-light protection, giving it a broader environmental-protection angle than a basic sunscreen.
Price: RM39 for 25ml
Get this at Watsons & Guardian.
Skincare products for the haze season in Malaysia
While you can’t control what’s floating around outside, you can be a little more mindful about how you care for your skin. From cleansing away daily buildup and adding antioxidants to supporting your skin barrier and staying consistent with SPF, a thoughtful routine can help your complexion feel fresh and comfortable, even on hazy days.
Also read: 17 Best Sunscreens To Get In Malaysia To Protect Your Face From The Sizzle & Damage From The Sun
Cover image adapted from: Algotherm, Estée Lauder & Clarins