Have you ever had a day where you're stressed out and running late? Your skin can feel the tension and stress just as much as your mind. Additionally, if you have been using harsh chemicals or if you are in unfavorable climate conditions, your skin will feel and show the impacts. If you don't take steps to combat it, your skin will suffer. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to soothe the effects of stress and anxiety on your skin. Read on to learn 5 ingredients that will help calm down and manage stressed-out skin.
So what exactly is stressed-out skin? Well, it could be a variety of factors such as extreme weather conditions, over-exfoliating, overuse of chemical products or it can be internal factors like hormones (imbalanced or cortisol too high), illness, or when you’re just feeling stressed in general.
Stressed skin can feel tight, dry, itchy, dull, and rough. So let’s find out what can be done to help manage stressed-out skin and ultimately calm and restore your skin back to its optimal state.
1. Moisturizing cream
One of the best ways to soothe your skin is by applying a rich moisturizing cream at night. You can also apply it during the day, but if you have oily skin, this may be more practical for nighttime use. Choose a product without alcohol as well as with soothing ingredients like aloe vera and shea butter. You should avoid using products containing parabens, mineral oil, or propylene glycol as these ingredients can irritate sensitive skin types.
A year-round favorite, but especially in winter is Biossance Omega Repair Cream. This rich and decant moisturizer is filled with skin-loving and moisturizing ingredients. It contains ceramides which are fats (lipids) that mimic and support skin’s natural moisture barrier and therefore help to support stressed-out skin.
2. Remember all the benefits that water has
Water is the ultimate skin-hydrator. It helps your skin to look fresh and healthy, and it can even help you to stay healthy! In fact, I wrote a whole blog about the importance of water and the impact it has on the skin. You can check it out here.
An article on Vedix.com states “Drinking water enhances your skin health and strengthens your epidermal barrier, letting your body easily fight off pathogen attacks” The list goes on and on about why water is so important. If you are experiencing dry, cracked skin or even if mentally you are feeling stressed out, by simply drinking water you can help to fend it off.
3. Niacinamide
One of my top favorite skincare ingredients, regardless of stressed-out skin, is Niacinamide. Niacinamide (vitamin B3) is another ingredient that can help improve your skin's condition. It's often used in anti-aging products because it can help reduce fine lines and wrinkles by stimulating collagen production and helping with cell turnover. Niacinamide is great for people with sensitive or stressed-out skin because helps to reduce redness, irritation, and inflammation by calming the skin.
If you'd like to try using niacinamide yourself, you can start by adding it to your daily moisturizer. Many niacinaminde products are sold at 10% or even 12% but more is not always better. Most studies show using up to 5% is most effective and anything more than that you risk irritation. I like the Good Molecules Niacinamde Toner at 3%.
4. Aloe Vera
To give your skin a little TLC, try Aloe Vera. Aloe vera is an ingredient in many skincare products that is a naturally soothing ingredient that calms irritations while also providing hydration to the skin. A teaspoon of aloe vera gel (not the whole leaf) can be rubbed into the skin to help calm inflammation and relieve itching.
5. Sleep
Okay so sleep isn’t an actual ingredient but it’s just such an important factor to combat stress in general. Stress affects everyone, but it can be especially hard on your skin. Skin health and stress management are closely intertwined - stress can exacerbate skin problems (including acne, eczema, and psoriasis) as well as make them harder to treat.
Lack of sleep disrupts your body's ability to regulate inflammation, which may make it harder for your skin to heal from breakouts.
A good night's sleep is an excellent way to combat stress and the effect it may show on your skin because it helps your body recover from the day.
When you wake up after a full night's rest, your body releases human growth hormones that help repair damage done during the day (like fine lines and acne). In addition, sleep helps reduce stress by lowering cortisol levels. A good night's sleep not only decreases stress levels but also gives your body time to repair it—which means a reduction in visible stress-related signs on your skin.
If you have trouble getting your ZZZ’s, then check out my blog on How to Get Better Sleep or tips and tricks.
I hope that by now you're feeling a little more confident about the steps to take to soothe and manage your stressed-out skin. We know it can be overwhelming, but don't forget: you are not alone! Many people have felt this way before and have come out stronger on the other side. Just remember to keep pushing forward and I am right here for ya!