Managing Stress: Skin Care Is Self-Care

Welcome back to your stress-fighting quest! We’ve already covered what stress is, what it does and how we can fight it in our general Guide to Stress. We’ve also had a discussion on the benefits of going out in nature and on how to get started with breathwork exercises. Today, we’re talking about the importance of relaxation and skin care in managing stress.

Stress Is Not Just Skin Deep 

We’ve talked about how stress hormones prepare us for an immediate physical response to a threat and put most other body functions “on standby”. One such hard-hit area is our skin – and what a big area that is! (Did you know that, because of its sheer surface, the skin is our body’s biggest organ?)

Repeated exposure to stress hormones can have a very visible impact on our skin.

1. - Increased sebum production can lead to clogged pores and acne.
2. - Excess sweating can lead to dehydration and dry skin.
3. - A lowered immune response, often coupled with increased inflammation, can lead to infections, rashes and hives.
4. - For the same reasons, chronic conditions like eczema, rosacea and psoriasis can flare up.
5. - With growth and healing impaired by the stress hormone cortisol, the result can be hair thinning and hair loss.
6. - Cortisol also impacts the normal production of collagen and elastin in the skin, causing it to lose elasticity and accelerating the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.

On top of that, having these skin and hair conditions can stress us out in itself, getting us stuck in a vicious cycle. It’s imperative, then, to break this cycle by lowering stress and by taking care of the skin we live in.

Self-Care... 

A broad term used in various contexts, the essence of self-care is prioritising our well-being in both body and mind. It means learning to listen to what our bodies and brains need and giving them as much of it as we can. Luckily, everything under the umbrella of “self-care” will protect us from the downpour of stress! This includes:

1. - Rest and relaxation: getting enough good quality sleep and relaxing our minds through mindfulness, meditation, hobbies, creative expression and pampering.
2. - Community: talking with family, friends, neighbours and people we share passions with helps us feel safe and supported. Sometimes, a mental health professional is needed to help us find solutions and better habits that we can’t see by ourselves.
3. - Exercise: any physical activity is good, in whatever form is easiest for us to get moving. From team sports to a quiet gardening session or a walk with a furry companion, we can all find 20 minutes a day to start with. Bonus points if it’s !
4. - A healthy diet: as fresh and simple as we can keep it. Sugary and overly processed foods and drinks are poorer fuel for our bodies and should be relegated to occasional treats.

...and Skin Care 

Apart from the above healthy habits, let’s not forget that our skin requires, quite literally, a more hands-on approach. That means cleansing, hydration, protection and touch.

1. - Keep it clean – with a daily cleanse from all dust, pollution and makeup and a weekly deep cleanse of pores. And being mindful of touching our face less than stress invites us to do!
2. - Keep it hydrated – from the inside (drinking plenty of water) and from the outside (with a moisturiser twice daily as part of our routine).
3. - Keep it protected – cover up under the strong midday sun and don’t forget that SPF cream!
4. - Touch is a natural ally to skin. A body massage session will do wonders for blood flow and relaxation (try it with a CBD Muscle Balm for an enhanced effect). But, if a massage is just out of reach, we can still feel the benefits of touch from simply rubbing a cream or balm into our skin as part of our routine – so let’s not rush it!

Where Do I Start? 

Doctor’s orders, then – if you already have a skin care routine, keep to it. If not, time to start one! From cleanser, moisturiser and toner to eye serum and anti-blemish cream, we’ve got you covered with our Infused CBD cosmetics range. Find high-quality formulations, with protective argan stem cells and soothing AnnonaSense, enriched with CBD for restoring balance to your skin.