When we’re born, our skin is like tabula rasa without any trace on it. As we grow old and face a lot of mental and physical challenges, some dots and lines start appearing on it, and it seems like we have this great story written on our skin. Still, some marks on our skin don’t happen naturally. They’re caused by lack of sleep, dehydration, stress, air pollution, harsh makeup, and other issues. These marks may appear in the form of premature aging, fine lines, dryness, redness, acne breakouts, puffiness around your eyes, flare-ups, etc. Luckily, there are ways to help your stressed-out skin to “get back on its feet” and regain its old glory.
Keep Calm
Easier said than done, right? Of course, you can’t avoid bills, family arguments and other unpredictable problems, but you can face them in a more peaceful way. This will help you prevent acne breakouts, inflammations, etc. Learn to cope with such situations by breathing deeply, meditating or practicing yoga. You can also try aromatherapy and massages, or something as simple as listening to music or reading a book.
Avoid “Comfort Food”
A bad day won’t disappear after a double cheeseburger and a bowl of vanilla-chocolate ice-cream. Instead, even sneakier consequences will appear – oily skin, acne, irritation, poor complexion, etc. If you are a stress-eater, consider some healthier snacks, such as almonds, walnuts, berries, carrots, or something similar.
Stay Hydrated
Your body is up to 65 percent water, so it’s no wonder that the effects of dehydration are so visible on your skin. Try to avoid dehydration by drinking plenty of water (at least 8 cups per day). One of the causes of skin dehydration is the dry air which is typical for winter months. However, the air-conditioning during summer can also dry-out the air in the room. It’s important to keep the skin moisturized by applying a nourishing night cream, but also to minimize the bad effect of dry air in an air-conditioned room by using an air humidifier.
Sleep Well
Our grannies were right; there’s nothing a good night’s sleep can’t solve. There’s a reason why we have the “beauty sleep” phrase, because no sleep means poor complexion and dark and puffy circles around the eyes. Also, while you are asleep, your skin produces collagen, which prevents sagging. Your blood flow is enhanced during your snoozing hours, and as a result, your complexion becomes glowing.
Be Active
Regular exercise has many benefits beyond achieving physical fitness, especially for your skin. The first of many is breaking a sweat, and thus detoxifying, which leads to smoother and more radiant skin. The less obvious is treating stress and anxiety, which are often the very roots of your skin troubles.
Adapt Your Skincare Routine
Desperate times call for desperate measures, and when you notice something going on with your skin, you should start using the appropriate products to address these issues. This doesn’t mean that you should forget all about your regular skincare routine. Since dryness is very common sign of stressed-out skin, it is very important to use moisturizer. If you have problem with redness too, opt for the one with anti-inflammatory ingredients. Other products that can be helpful are OTC and topical creams and acne lotions.
Embrace the Gifts of Nature
Organic skincare and makeup products are much gentler for your skin, and they don’t cause allergies or inflammations. You can also go for at-home beauty routine. Exfoliation with sugar and honey can be just as effective as with store-bought products, and some DIY face masks are far more nourishing than synthetic products.
As you see, there’s no reason to stress out over your stressed-out skin. Just take good care of it inside out, and everything should be fine.