It’s no secret that things are pretty stressful right now.
The world feels like a very strange place to be living in at the moment and our regular routines have been turned upside down. It’s hard enough to adjust to life changes when they happen gradually, but this all seemed to happen overnight and if you are feeling stressed, you are definitely not alone!
Stress can certainly have a negative impact on your mental health, causing anxiety to flare and messing with your sleep schedule, but did you know that it can also have detrimental effects on your skin?
If you have noticed your skin seems to be iffy when stress levels are heightened, you are not imagining it!
In this article, we want to share exactly why stress has this result on our skin when things feel especially challenging, as well as share some helpful ways to get through.
It’s all about cortisol
Cortisol is the body’s stress hormone. Small glands, called our adrenal glands, on top of each kidney, release cortisol when the body experiences stress of any kind.
In small amounts it is completely okay, in fact, cortisol has many important functions, including maintaining healthy blood pressure levels and reducing inflammation in the body.
If too much cortisol is released, however, it has the opposite effect and may increase internal inflammation. This is when skin problems begin to arise.
Inflammation can increase sebum (oil) in the skin, which can clog the pores and contribute to those pimples we dub our “stress pimples” often appearing around the jaw or chin.
Cortisol can also cause collagen to degrade. Collagen is a structural protein that provides the plump and smooth appearance we associate with youth and health. Our bodies provide less collagen year by year after we reach our 30s, and we don't want stress and cortisol to decrease our collagen even more!
If you are looking for one product to counteract the increased coritsol levels caused by stress, check out Kate's Collagen Booster Intense Repair Serum. This product is formulated specifically to protect collagen from breakdown and damage. You will see a reduction in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and improvement in overall tone and texture, taking your skin back to its youthful appearance.
So what can I do to keep my cortisol levels in check?
Good question!
It makes sense that you would need to manage your stress levels to keep your stress hormones functioning as they should, however, this may be easier said than done!
These three tips are simple ways you can start getting cortisol levels under control with minimal effort.
Deep breathing
Deep breathing is something that can be done anywhere, at any time and it has a major positive impact on stress levels, all you need is 20 minutes a day!
Deep breathing may help to reduce internal inflammation, caused by cortisol, by suppressing the response of inflammatory genes.
Another way deep breathing can help your skin is by stimulating lymph flow, which helps to flush toxins from the body that may have manifested as blemishes or may have contributed to dull, dry skin.
Take adaptogens
Adaptogens are nature’s pharmaceuticals and we couldn’t love them more! They are very specific herbs that actually help to counteract the negative impact of cortisol on the body.
They do this by storing up and coming out when cortisol gets a little out of hand. They put out the fire, so to speak, so you can feel normal again.
Here’s everything you need to know about adaptogens, as well as the top ones!
Use skin care products designed for stressed skin
If dull, stressed skin has got you down then why not treat yourself to our Skin Brightening Collection to really give your skin a boost. These products will get to work to keep your skin clear and youthful thanks to the addition of retinol and Vitamin C.
If your skin is mature and aging is a real concern then you can’t go wrong with our powerful Anti-Aging Collection.
We hope you feel a little less alone in your struggles with your skin right now. These tips won’t only help to perk up your skin again, they will also help you to feel a lot calmer so you can work through everything day by day, mindfully, rather than at a frantic pace.
If you enjoyed this post, you may find these interesting as well:
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- The Basics of a Double Cleanse
