How Stress Affects Skin Health

Decisions about work. Decisions about school. Whether to attend events. Whether to cancel events. It’s no wonder that, per a recent Gallup poll, most people rate 2020 as the most stressful year of their lives. While some of the stressors might have started to alleviate, we all know stress doesn’t quit — although we hope yours takes a break every once in a while!

While stress certainly takes a toll on our emotions, unhealthy stress levels can also affect the appearance of our skin. According to WebMD.com, stress causes a chemical response in your body that makes skin more sensitive and reactive. Your body produces more hormones and cortisol during times of stress, kicking your sebaceous glands into gear and producing more oil. This can cause your skin to break out, become more “ruddy” in complexion, or even become inflamed. It can also make it harder for skin to heal.

Managing stress might seem impossible, but conscious and thoughtful actions throughout the day can begin to introduce balance into your daily life and reduce stress levels. Here are a few ways to reduce stress:

• Get plenty of good sleep. Good sleep is distraction-free sleep, so check the electronics at the door. Create a bedtime routine that allows you to de-stress with a good book, calming music, or meditation before hitting the sack. Shoot for a 7-8 hour sleep, as experts say this is ideal for most people.
• Take regular baths. A warm bath can calm you both physically and mentally. Plus, its warm water and steam can naturally open pores to draw out toxins from your body. If you want to enhance your experience with bubbles, make sure to read ingredient labels! Make sure you’re using a product free from sulfates and artificial dyes or fragrances.
• Incorporate exercise into your daily routine. Running, yoga, and swimming are all great ways to burn off steam and keep your body strong and healthy. Exercise also increases blood flow to the skin to keep it free of toxins.
• Drink lots of water. Dehydration can cause skin to become dry and lose elasticity. Drinking water keeps skin moisturized, as well as keeping body systems in check and working their best. Keeping your body healthy will allow you and your body to recover more quickly when stress does creep in.

In addition to the lifestyle choices you make, thoughtful product selection can also help to minimize stress on your skin. Here are some skin care tips to help reduce stress:

• Use products made with gentle, non-toxic ingredients. Chemical ingredients can cause unnecessary stress by overwhelming your system. Use plant-based, organic ingredients which carry added benefits for your health.
• Keep skin clean. Cleansing your skin twice a day will ensure that your skin is free of bacteria, dirt and makeup that might have accrued overnight or during the day. Try our Tamanu Luxury Facial Cleanser, made with gentle ingredients that cleanse and heal. Plus, organic Tamanu Oil has natural anti-inflammatory properties to calm skin.
• Apply a mud mask. Our B Green Mud Mask is a customizable mask that will moisturize, calm, and remove toxins from skin. It’s a great treatment for skin stressed from external environmental factors like extreme wind or seasonal dryness.

• Increase your antioxidants. Stress, especially stress from environmental factors, can cause skin cells to become imbalanced and form free-radicals. Antioxidants are nature’s defense against free radicals, so maintaining a steady intake of antioxidants – whether from your skin care or diet – will keep your skin protected proactively instead of having to repair it reactively. Looking to add antioxidants to your skin care routine? Try our Antioxidant Skin Boost.

Creating a daily skin care routine with good-for-you products will give your skin an advantage when stress does creep in. Not only will they keep your skin performing at its very best, but the hardworking, multi-tasking, plant-based ingredients found inside your products will be poised and ready for action when the burdens of stress arise.