It’s time to have the conversation nobody wants to think about: stress and your face. Unfortunately, they go together like peanut butter and jelly, so when you’re stressed out, your skin goes crazy.
We know it’s going to happen, but is there any way to stop it? We can’t stop you from stressing about your big meeting, but we can show you how to give your skin a little love when you’re stressed.
What you shouldn’t do
Before we add more things to your jam-packed daily routine, how about going over some things to not do? Beyond the obvious tip to reduce your stress, there are some other protective measures you can take.
Step one is to stop picking at your face. While picking and popping acne can feel cathartic at the time, all you’re doing is transferring the dirt and oil around your face and creating scarring.
Along these same lines, it’s best to stop touching your face in general. We touch our faces about 16 to 23 times in one hour, which means that we spend all day transferring all the dirt and oils from our hands onto our faces.
What you should be doing
Now that you know what not to do, it’s time to check out a few habits that can prevent and calm stress breakouts.
- Sleep well: Sleep is your best friend. It can be hard to sleep when your brain is racing with anxious thoughts, but it’s a crucial part of your body’s recovery system. Your skin rejuvenates during the night because sleep regulates blood flow, strengthens the immune system, and promotes collagen production.
- Reach for healthy food: Diet, like sleep, has a significant effect on the entire body. While junk food is a major stress reliever, oily, greasy foods can wreak havoc on your skin. Oily food makes for oily skin, so if you’re feeling stressed out reach out for brain-boosting foods that are high in protein, fiber, and natural sugars. You’ll feel better the next day and your face won’t be carrying around that extra grease
- Drink tea: Stressed times might make you want to grab your wine, but opt for a lovely cup of tea instead. Alcohol is a depressant and will likely leave you feeling more stressed than before. Tea, on the other hand, is naturally relaxing and full of antioxidants that promote skin health.
- Give yourself a face massage: We know we said to keep your hands off, but there are times when touching your skin can be quite beneficial. Using clean hands, give your face a massage. These massages can drain your lymph nodes, enhance blood circulation, and relieve stress. For extra stress relief, use essential oils when rubbing your face for an aromatherapy boost. If you don’t want to use your hands, a jade roller works just as well.
- Use pimple treatments: If you wake up and have a few bigger zits on your face, fight the urge to pop. Instead, use a spot treatment like pimple patches to soothe breakouts.
Try to de-stress
It’s near impossible to bring stress levels to zero, but it’s very possible to manage and reduce your stresses. It will lead to healthier skin, better sleep, and overall wellness.
As we mentioned earlier, hunger is a natural stress response. That doesn’t mean you have to reach for the greasy potato chips. Instead, choose healthier options like fruit, nuts, jerky, or veggies and hummus.
A calm mind starts with a calm space. Create your own zone of relaxation with aromatherapy, calming music, and some tea. Particularly, stay out of spaces that you associate with stress, like the home office. Speaking of aromatherapy, this is one of the best methods of stress relief whether you fill a room with incense or rub some essential oils on your wrists to sniff throughout the day.
Stress and skin are certainly not friends, so maintaining your skincare routine when you’re stressed is a major key to keeping your skin as healthy and smooth as possible. Combat stress holistically by making lifestyle changes that reduce your stress levels and encourage healthier coping mechanisms. If you feel like stress is overwhelming your life, make sure to call a friend or mental health professional to chat about your concerns.
BlissMark provides information regarding health, wellness, and beauty. The information within this article is not intended to be medical advice. Before starting any diet or exercise routine, consult your physician. If you don’t have a primary care physician, the United States Health & Human Services department has a free online tool that can help you locate a clinic in your area. We are not medical professionals, have not verified or vetted any programs, and in no way intend our content to be anything more than informative and inspiring.
