Top Tips for Soothing Stressed Skin

Stress. It’s hard to avoid its effects. And letting it build up for too long can be damaging to both our minds and body. While we know that it can affect us in many ways, the first thing we think about is our skin. Our skin is the first thing we think about when we consider the effects of a stressful lifestyle. Your face can be one of the areas where stress can really take a toll. Wants to know some tips for soothing stressed skin? Some skincare may work for you.

The Effects of Cortisol

Stress causes the body to make more of the hormone cortisol. And cortisol turns up the production of oil in your sebaceous glands. This leads to clogged pores, breakouts, and sometimes red, itchy patches on the cheeks and around the nose.

If you’re dealing with long-term, chronic stress, it can have a really damaging effect on your skin. Along with the pore-clogging effects, too much cortisol also damages your skin’s ability to hold on to water. This can make your skin dehydrated and dull over time. So while you’re producing more oil and getting breakouts, under the surface your skin is thirsty and desperate for hydration.

No wonder stress takes such a toll on your looks. So what can you do to counteract the effects of stress and a busy lifestyle?

Skincare for Stressed Skin

Looking after your skin when you’re feeling the strain is vital if you don’t want to reflect all that tension in the mirror. Treat yourself to kind, good-quality skincare products. Use hypoallergenic and fragrance-free products that won’t irritate your delicate skin any more than it already has been.

Simpler products with fewer, better-quality ingredients usually have a lower pH content. This will help to calm down angry skin and soothe the dryness and inflammation.

Be gentle when you cleanse your face. Don’t be tempted to attack the breakouts or oily areas with harsh products to strip the oils away. No! You will only make it worse. If you wash with water, use lukewarm rather than hot to avoid stimulating more oil production. Then add a layer of soothing, hydrating moisturizer while your skin is damp as damp skin will trap moisture better.

HydraLuxe 1.8 oz

Another effect of high levels of cortisol is raised blood sugar, which damages collagen and elastin. Long term, you may lose some of your skin’s smoothness and plumpness. When you combine this with the extra muscle tension that’s unavoidable when you get stressed, you start to get prone to wrinkles and lines. Nip these in the bud by investing in skincare products that contain antioxidants combined with retinol to encourage collagen production and keep skin looking and feeling firmer.

Brilliant Bakuchiol- Natural Retinol Alternative – Anti Aging Serum – With Hyaluronic Acid, Vit C, Peptides and Matrixyl

Managing Your Stress

It’s not always easy, but if you also learn to manage your stress levels, it will help more than just your skincare routine.  Take some time out for yourself; enjoy a massage or a beauty treatment. Just an hour or so away from it all that’s just for you. It can really help to de-stress you and if you need to justify it, think of it as saving money on skincare products in the future! Call or book a session with us now.

Brilliant Massage & Skin

Burlington, Vermont