Have you been feeling stressed lately? Chances are you have and that your skin has been feeling quite similarly. With today’s fast-paced lifestyle, running from one business meeting to the next, attending social events, trying to maintain a work-life balance, eliminating stress However, even once you’ve managed to lower your own stress levels, your skin will continue to suffer from the excess cortisol, also known as the stress hormone, which can have significant effects on your skin, and can result in acne, redness, wrinkles, and inflammation. Yes, the link between our stress levels and our skin is stronger than you might have thought So, how do you know if your skin is feeling stressed? More importantly, what can you do about it? Here is all you need to know, let’s dive into how to get your skin out of stress!
How stress impacts the skin
If you’re feeling stressed, it’s not only your mental state that can stress your skin, especially when you are exposed to chronic stress. Environmental factors play a key role when talking about external stressors – everything from pollution and sun exposure to a poor diet can leave your skin feeling stressed and depleted. During times of stress, cortisol can slow the production of beneficial oils, which the skin barrier needs to look and function properly. Here are several common indicators of tired, irritated skin, such as:
• Acne
• Dry skin, flaking
• Irritation
• Redness
• Uneven skin tone
Additionally, many consumers with stressed-out skin complain about more noticeable, visible signs of aging, like fine lines, wrinkles, bags under the eyes, and sagging.
This is where anti-stress skincare comes in as a savior for fatigued skin. Although it doesn’t do much to alleviate mental stress, it does help with soothing its external symptoms of it. Maybe this is the information your skin right now would benefit from the most.
What is anti-stress skincare?
Anti-stress skincare products are formulations designed to nourish the skin and help reduce the visible signs of stress. Many anti-stress skincare products aim to help boost the health of the skin barrier and provide much-needed hydration. So basically, it is all about nourishing the skin barrier and calming inflammation. You should incorporate ceramides to balance hydration, antioxidants to repair and protect, and growth factors and peptides to maintain collagen synthesis. Anti-stress skincare formulations may also include naturally nourishing ingredients, like olive oil, or relaxing ingredients, like lavender, to help unwind tension.
Supporting the skin barrier
Most anti-stress products share a mutual goal: to promote the health of the skin barrier. Why the focus on the skin barrier? Because the skin barrier both maintains and supports skin suppleness, firmness, and moisture and serves as a barrier between the body and the outside world. A healthy skin barrier is strong, smooth, and supple. Meanwhile, a weakened skin barrier can look red, flaky, or irritated and feel tight, itchy, and otherwise uncomfortable
To support a healthy skin barrier, anti-stress skincare formulations typically incorporate or feature:
• Hydrating ingredients – with hyaluronic acid or ceramides to increase skin suppleness and firmness.
• Antioxidants – to help promote wound repair and protect from damage caused by free radicals
• Gentler chemical exfoliation – chemical exfoliants like glycolic acid.
Our scientists recommend for you to try the THERMAOX® Mineral•Vitamin•Antioxidant enriched line, as it has been formulated to give your skin the ultimate experience of hydration, nourishment, and regeneration, resulting in a more refreshed look. It helps balance the microbiome, has an anti inflammatory effect, and reverses UV damage, which helps to prevent aging, and improves cell regeneration, while also providing much-needed nourishment. The line is driven by advanced skin care technology, and is a scientifically balanced blend of thermal water, triple hyaluronic acid, vitamins, and antioxidants mix with rich botanical extracts delivering exceptional results to your skin.
Other ways to relieve stressed skin
As we already know, our skin can become stressed not only because of internal, psychological issues but also from harsh environmental factors. In some cases, the skin can be exposed to allergens or even pollutants and causing inflammation and stress to the skin. Outside of attempting to relieve stress-related skin impacts with products, it’s also beneficial to find other means of alleviating your stress.
Let’s begin with …
Sleep habits
When you get enough rest, you’re able to tackle the rest of the day. Additionally, sleep has been proven beneficial to skin repair. And it’s not just the number of hours that you sleep that matters – the quality of sleep is just as important. There are several steps to improve your sleep quality, like reducing your exposure to blue light in the evening, avoiding caffeine, setting the right temperature, and minimizing light and noise in your bedroom1.
Hydration
You’re probably thinking about how stress and hydration are related…Well, not only does stress quickly dehydrate your skin but also skin that is dehydrated is unable to function properly. It is really important to stay hydrated both internally and externally. That basically means drinking a lot of water, herbal teas, and topically applying hydrating moisturizers and serums with humectants (such as hyaluronic acid). Those things will definitely keep your skin cells hydrated1.
Improving your diet
A poor diet will stress your skin out, it will lead to increased inflammation, which can later contribute to a variety of different skin problems. You should consume plenty of whole, organic foods, including fruits, veggies, seeds, nuts, and grains. Eliminating sugar and alcohol as much as possible on a day-to-day basis, as they significantly increase inflammation.
Movement
Each time you get your heart rate up, your skin receives a greater amount of oxygen and nutrients. This then gives it an immediate glow, while also allowing your skin cells to function more effectively. You should for example take a walk every now and then, maybe take the stairs instead of an elevator, dance around the house while brushing your teeth in the morning, or simply just finding a new hobby that you enjoy, such as hiking, tennis, swimming or going to the gym. Yoga and pilates are also great ways to get your body moving and becoming more strong while keeping your cortisol levels low and keeping your hormones and skin happy.
Mindfulness
Meditation and journaling can be great ways to practice mindfulness, and awareness, helping us reduce excessive stress and reconnect back with ourselves. Limiting your screen time before bed should also be a habit worth incorporating into your routine. Instead of looking at your phone in the evening, take the time to unwind, make a healthy dinner, run a bath, read a book and write down some affirmations before going to bed.
Last, but not least, protecting your skin
Sunscreen is something that everyone should be wearing throughout the year. Whether the sun has been leading to redness and inflammation, dark spots, or enhancing your fine lines and wrinkles, sun protection is a must to de-stress your skin and return it to a healthier state.
References
1. How to de-stress your skin? Lionesse. February, 2021
2. Carlson, E. Anti Stress Skincare is In: Here’s What You Need
to Know. Mirra. 2021
3. Exploring the Anti-stress Skincare Trend. CoastSouthWest.
April, 2021
4. Rearick, L. ANTI-STRESS SKINCARE PRODUCTS ARE ON
THE RISE, BUT DO THEY REALLY WORK? Nylon. September,
2020