The secret new therapy for amazing skin?
Tame tension! Stress damages the skin as severely as smoking and sun exposure. Stress triggers the elevation of adrenaline and cortisol increasing dryness, wrinkles, and acne. But relax, here are four tips that will not only calm your skin, but also your mind!
Forgo Facebook for Face Time
Anxiety increases as you gain more Facebook friends. The higher the number of friends, the more pressure you’ll feel, even to the point of feeling failure. This kind of stress disrupts your hormone imbalance, causing unwanted congestion, breakouts, and even acne. On the other hand, hanging out in-person with your friends and family helps you release chemicals in the brain that ease anxiety, resulting in more balanced hormonal conditions reaching the skin, leaving the skin less stressed and more able to fight infections and breakouts.
Tip: Schedule more time for group activities with friends: a yoga class, a community charity project, or a 5K walk/run. Consistent face-to-face engagement produces higher levels of progesterone, which lowers anxiety and reduces acne breakouts.
Touch: While physically connecting is making you feel better, soothe your stressed out skin. Spot treat your acne with a salicylic acid-based product or calm irritation and redness with a therapeutic sulphur mask. (Skin Authority Acne and Oil Control and Calming Mask are great examples of products that will soothe and smooth stressed skin.)
More Sleep, Slower Aging
Did you know that the skin of people who sleep five hours or less a night doesn’t hold moisture as well as those who got seven or more hours of sleep? Also, less sleep means less melatonin and antioxidants, which are key in fighting off skin damage from free radicals causing premature aging and disease. We should also add the resulting puffy, tired-looking eyes to the mix of conditions which result from too little sleep.
Tip: The old adage of counting sheep is still relevant. Count backwards from 100. Your brain is forced to put energy into focusing on the counting and before you know it, the zzzs are present.
Touch: Replenish those lost antioxidants and moisture by applying an anti-aging essential oil cocktail for the skin. The natural effects of essential oils help you de-stress and relax, making them an excellent nightime skin routine. (Skin Authority Oil Nutrient for Face, Hair & Nails is a great head-to-toe essential oil therapy.) Also apply an eye cream to reduce the appearance of dark circles around the eyes. Look for eye care products that include arnica, Vitamin K, green tea, Ginkgo Baloba, and ginseng. These are natural ways to soothe and refresh the delicate skin around your eyes. (Try Reviving Eye Brightener from Skin Authority to do the trick. We call this the “Earl Gray Tea” of eye care.)
Move It or Lose It
The endorphins produced by constant motion or working out can combat the cortisol that builds up due to tension and strips the skin’s protection barrier. Movement in walking or working out increases blood flow supplying more nutrients to the skin.
Tip: Move consistently for at least 30 minutes a day to recharge skin and reduce fat.
Touch: For skin all over the body, lightly brush skin with a soft dry brush before bathing, using movement in the direction of the heart. For skin on the face, neck, and décolleté, use an an electric cleansing brush morning and night to get nutrient-rich blood flowing to the these areas. It’s easy to boost the results of your electric skin brush when you pair it with the right cleanser for your skin type. For example, use the 3-in-1 Skin Cleansing System with the Exfoliating Cleanser, both from Skin Authority, to get rid of old, dull, and congested cells and make way for fresh, hydrated, and new skin cells.
Breathe to Beauty
It’s a fact. People who meditate or practice breathing techniques for three minutes a day have 41% less stress-related protein in their blood and five times less C-reactive protein which is present in conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and acne.
Tip: Remember Mood Rings? Rub your hands on a mood card ($2 on Amazon.com) to test your body temperature. Anxiety heats up the body and changes the colors on the card. Take 6 deep breaths per minute to calm down. Turned off by chanting and yoga music? Go to iTunes and download the Buddhify app to get short guided meditations to follow on your walk or workout.
Touch: Breathe in stress reducing aromas and replenish your skin. Take a lukewarm aromatherapy bath with anti-inflammatory and moisturizing oils like those found in the Well Being Retreat Bath & Shower Retreat by Skin Authority. Towel dry and apply the Olive Fig Shea Butter Body Cream. Don’t have time for the bath? Pour a few drops of your favorite essential oil or the Well Being Bath & Shower Retreat on a washcloth. Rinse the washcloth using very hot water and wring it out tightly. Place over your face and pat on skin for an amazing “hot towel” treatment. Your pores and nasal passages will open, allowing you to breathe easier and relax.
These tips will reignite your glow inside and out! Want free skin tips and guidance tuned to your specific needs? Reach out to a Skin Authority Skin Coach at myskincoach@skinauthority.com.
