Feeling stressed out lately?
Whether everything is going your way or not, stress is a part of life. We stress about problems at our current job, and about starting a new job that we really wanted. We stress about family, health, money…anything that has value to us also comes with a level of stress.
Stress isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it can be bad for your skin. And if you aren’t managing your stress. And if you don’t have healthy outlets for managing your stress, you may soon be stressing over acne breakouts.
That said, it’s important for your general wellness and your skincare routine to make a habit of healthy stress relievers to keep you clear, cocky, and calm.
How does stress impact the skin?
When you are stressed, your body produces stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. Cortisol causes your skin glands to produce more oil, which can clog your pores and lead to acne breakouts. The more stress, the more cortisol, the higher the chances that you’ll see stress on your skin.
Exercising for clearer skin
Exercising is literally a gift. It keeps our bodies healthy and ready to handle life’s challenges, it helps us to detox our bodies through sweat, and it helps us to relieve stress.
Exercising of any type, biking, boxing, weight lifting, walking, whatever you like, is a great way to channel the energy of stress into something positive for your health. The more you sweat, the more your body pushes out toxins, dirt, and oil that clog the pores and cause acne.
Spa treatments for clear skin
Of course this makes the list! Seriously, what’s more relaxing than soft lighting, the scent of essential oils in the air, a deep tissue massage and a salt scrub? The spa is the ideal place to relieve stress because the environment taps into all of your senses–sight, taste, touch, hearing, and smell–which is a very effective way to ground yourself when you are spiraling. I’m serious about my regularly scheduled spa treatments. Trust me, it helps!
Spend time with people who love you
Yes, hanging with your friends is good for your skin. Being around people who genuinely care about you is truly the best medicine for stress and burnout. These are people who are willing to save space for you to vent, or who know how to lighten your mood and help you process your circumstances. This can be healing and comforting in a way that keeps the cortisol down.
Listen, stress happens and we’ll never be able to stop it. The point is to find healthy ways to manage your stress so it doesn’t stop you from enjoying your life…and your skin. Keep searching until you find what works best for you. Everyone is different!