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HOW TO CALM IRRITATED SKIN CAUSED BY STRESS
What is stressed skin?
We all know what stress is, and we will all experience various symptoms throughout our lives from headaches to stomach pains. Our skin is also great at reflecting our physical and emotional issues, so will often flare up when we feel stressed. It’s quite the catch-22, as difficult skin can cause us to feel stressed too! Any unwelcome changes in our skin can be down to stress, we’re talking redness, itchy feeling skin, unusual dry patches, breakouts, excess oil or even blemishes. It’s also possible that skin could be reacting to new products or a change in environment. Either way, when skin is stressed out, there are things you can do to calm it, just follow our guide, for one less thing to worry about.
How to tackle irritated skin?
A healthy, balanced lifestyle is always the first thing we recommend for stressed out skin. Eating a balanced diet, including protein, carbs, good fats and lots of fruit and vegetables will help your body to function efficiently. Drinking two litres of water each day, aiming for eight-hours sleep and exercising regularly will also help, as these are all factors that tackle general stress, and can help to regulate our bodies. Try to lower your cortisol levels with calming practices that work for you too, whether that is yoga, meditation or talking to a friend.
When it comes to skincare, we say, calm your routine and take it back to basics. Stopping skincare altogether will cause many more skin issues, but this is not the time to try new ingredients or add another step to your routine. A gentle cleanse, followed by hydration and daily SPF should be all you need. For bespoke advice, you can also book an online or in-store consultation.
A gentle cleanse
Stress can be exhausting, but don’t fall into bed without cleaning your skin or you leave it vulnerable to more damage. Throughout the day sweat, pollution, and dirt will build up on the skin, meaning it starts looking dull and can be damaged by various particles too. Gently removing this debris is key, but if you’re seeing signs of irritation such as redness, an itchy or tight feeling or new blemishes, be extra gentle when rinsing and drying as even rubbing with a towel can irritate skin further. Make sure you tap skin dry and quickly hydrate after cleansing. Formulated for even the most sensitive skin, our Centella Sensitive Facial Cleanser is pH balanced and ultra-mild, so is an excellent choice for stressed out skin.
Hydrate the eye area
The windows to our soul are also one of the first places to show stress. Perhaps because stressful thoughts often multiply at night, leading us to worry more and sleep less. A lack of sleep always shows in the delicate under-eye area, with dark circles, puffiness and dehydration lines. Target the signs of ageing with our Vitamin C eye serum, or try our multi-corrective eye zone treatment which targets signs of ageing around the brow bone area, eyelid, crow's feet and under-eye.
You may prefer our number one eye cream, Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado. It gently moisturises the under-eye area and is suitable for all skin types, including sensitive.
Must-have moisturiser
A classic moisturiser is the cornerstone of a decent skincare routine because it helps to replenish, soften, and smooth skin, while protecting the moisture barrier function every day. Moisturisers also provide relief when your skin feels tight and itchy. When skin is irritated, we recommend keeping our sensitive hydrator Skin Rescuer with you throughout the day so you can smooth on whenever your skin needs it. If your irritation is in the form of blemishes, try switching your daily moisturiser for Breakout Control Blemish Treatment Facial Lotion with Niacinamide which gently exfoliates to tackle blemishes and prevent the formation of spots. Our formula includes Niacinamide and Salicylic Acid.
Dial in a face oil
When skin is stressed, our protective skin barrier is weakened and can quickly become damaged, that’s when you’ll see redness, sensitivity, blemishes and dryness. This protective skin barrier is made up of natural ceramides, fatty acids and lipids. Face oils are made similarly, meaning they are close enough to our own oils to replenish this barrier function, without causing irritation. Help to nourish stressed skin with a calming face oil after applying a moisturiser. We recommend Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil Herbal Concentrate, a non-comedogenic (won’t block pores) blend of oils specifically formulated to calm the feeling of stressed skin while helping to balance hydration and strengthen the skin barrier function.
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