The effects of stress on your skin and how to reduce them

Stress happens to all of us, fact, but what we often don’t realise is the effect it can have on not only our mood but our skin too!

Daily stressors such as insufficient sleep, an unhealthy lifestyle, a demanding job…can unfortunately manifest as blemishes, wrinkles, and skin inflammation.

Below are 5 ways stress can affect our appearance but also 5 ways to reduce it! Phew I hear you say….

1. Under-eye bags

Who hasn’t been blessed with those delightful under-eye bags many a morning!? We all know how important beauty sleep is but sadly late/sleepless nights due to work commitments or stress can lead to dark circles and under-eye bags when we awaken.

Prevent dark, puffy peepers

• Say no to that extra glass of vino, or another catch up episode of MAFS and get yourself to bed stat! Giving yourself as much shut-eye as possible will only stand you in good stead.
• Forget climbing into bed and reaching for your phone! (Guilty as charged!) Instead, opt for a book or simply unwind and relax in preparation for peaceful slumber (think meditation, soft music, dim lights)
• Try elevating your head (so no tummy sleeping with your face on the bed unsupported by a pillow please!) this will reduce fluid naturally draining to the skin under your eyes.
• Finally arm yourself with a good eye cream and concealer. Our current favourites are Vie Collection Chrono Eyes Puffiness – Dark Circles Wrinkle Cream and ELES Dual Action Concealer

 

2. Premature ageing

When you’re stressed your body releases cortisol (the stress hormone). Sadly it’s infamous for breaking down collagen, the protein which keeps your complexion supple and firm! If like me, you’ll also be guilty of frowning, which unfortunately can lead to deeper, permanent wrinkles in these areas over time. Eek.

Minimise lines and wrinkles

• Use anti-ageing products specifically targeted at your problem area. Products rich in Retinol and Vitamin C will help boost collagen production. We are in LOVE with Vie Collection’s Retinopur Wrinkles Imperfections Fluid
• Eat a healthy balanced diet rich in superfoods as these really do assist in counteracting premature ageing. Think green veggies which help reduce the appearance of wrinkles and oily fish which induces telomere growth.
• Oh and regular exercise increases levels of endorphins which effectively fight the effects of cortisol (the darn stress hormone we mentioned earlier!)

 

3. Dry skin

As well as breaking down collagen, Cortisol also decreases the skin’s natural production of hyaluronic acid, a natural moisturiser we all need, so skin becomes dry and damaged.

Maintain hydrated skin

• Firstly (yes we’ve all heard this before!) drink plenty of water, every single day! The more you drink, the more hydrated your skin will look and feel! Set this as your daily mantra.
• Secondly, ensure your skin care routine includes product rich in hyaluronic acid to deeply nourish the layers of your skin. We are currently lusting after the Vie Collection Mesoforce Hyaluronic Acid Vitamin Mask
• Also using gentle products rich in antioxidants and soothing ingredients can support the skin during stressful times.

 

4. Breakouts

Dealing with a sudden breakout? You’ve awoken to a chin full of pesky pimples? Chances are your body is producing the dreaded cortisol at a mighty rate which in turn tells your sebaceous glands to produce more pore-clogging oil! Stress can also cause an imbalance of good bacteria versus bad bacteria in your gut which can present itself in acne.

Reduce spots and blemishes

• Exfoliate: This will unclog your pores, drawing out any oil or congesting reducing spots. It’ll also remove dead skin cells resulting in clearer skin while increasing blood circulation for a brighter, radiant complexion. But be careful not to over exfoliate! A couple of times a week it plenty otherwise you can risk stripping your skin of its natural healthy oils! We recommend Phytomer Marine Scrub Creamy Exfoliant.
• Moisturise: There is the misconception that moisturising oily skin will make spots worse but this is definitely not the case! By not moisturising daily, skin will become dry which in turn can stimulate excess oil production to compensate for the loss of moisture. Clever but not helpful!
• Conceal: If you want to cover blemishes try using a mineral concealer which is formulated with skin protecting ingredients that allow the skin to breathe freely.
• Eat a well-balanced diet. Fruits, vegetables, and high-quality proteins like grass-fed meats are also crucial (they keep a balance between the good and bad bacteria in your gut), as is cutting down on sugar.

 

5. Rosacea & Eczema

Whether you are prone to rosacea and/or eczema or not, stress can trigger skin irritation. When we are stressed our bodies release more neuropeptides and neurotransmitters than usual. This causes inflammation and dilates the blood vessels within our skin.

Redness relief

• Invest in rosacea specific skincare products, formulated with skin nurturing and relieving ingredients which reduce flushing, erythrosis, couperose and rosacea while hydrating and soothing the skin. We highly recommend Vie Collection’s Rosa Control Relief Concentrate.
• And to conceal use a CC Cream which will mask the redness while calming the skin.