With election day in our rearview mirror, stay-at-home orders still in effect and good old-fashioned winter blues (not to mention day-to-day life stressors like work and kids) it’s safe to say that there’s a lot of extra stress out there right now.
And this can show up in your skin in the form of acne, fine lines, dark circles, and more (yikes!)
The good news? While you may not be able to stop all your stress in its tracks, you can certainly keep it from leaving its mark on your face. Here’s how.
Heightened stress can not only affect your mental health, but also your skin health. Emotions like anxiety and fear, in particular, trigger the “fight or flight” response in the body - which, in turn, triggers the release of cortisol, the stress hormone.
Ove time, cortisone increases oil production in the skin, leading to clogged pores, a dull shine, breakouts and other major concerns.
And that’s not all. Stress can also compromise your immune system, which can lead to a redder, more irritated complexion. And it can be a vicious cycle: once the consequences of stress start showing up on your face, that stress causes our body to release chemicals that cause inflammation and - you guessed it - make the issues worse.
Getting on top of your skincare routine can help, not only helping you deal with the physical signs of stressed out skin but also allowing you to engage in self-care and check your out-of-control stress hormones at the door.
As we mentioned, ongoing stress will encourage the release of many inflammatory hormones that will cause redness, inflammation and irritation in the skin. To battle these concerns, you can incorporate skin barrier-building ingredients like:
Find hyaluronic acid, peptides, and vitamin C in our Night Shift hydration gel.
To fight fatigue-related dark circles, you likely want to address both purplish coloring andpuffiness. That requires a mix of ingredients that will deeply moisturize and restore the skin. Look specifically for:
You can find all of these ingredients in the multi-tasking All In eye cream.
If you want to know more, you can check out the blog What Actually Works for Treating Dark Circles.
If you’re dealing with stress acne, there are two primary things to consider: the spots themselves and the inflammation or compromised barrier that caused the spots (you can read more on that here). To this end, you should incorporate ingredients like:
If your skin is looking sallow, lifeless, or dull, you’re probably dealing with a few things, including lack of moisture, lack of nutrients, and lack of exfoliation. You’ll want to deal with all three concerns. Consider incorporating:
Remember - skincare is self-care, and the time you spend on your skincare routine can certainly have its own stress-busting benefits. And there’s science to back this up. In one study carried out by Rodan + Fields, researchers found that a 3-step skincare routine could reduce cortisol levels by a huge 83%!
Why? Well, there’s inherent stress relief in having an in-the-moment ritual that you can focus your attention on. Plus, participants noted improvements in their appearance, saying things like, “my skin looks less stressed and less reactive,” “I am less self-conscious about how my skin looks.”
The point? Lean into the ritual of taking care of yourself! It can be a major stress reliever.
Ready to get started? Find all the products you need for the ultimate stress-busting skincare routine in the Discovery Kit.