How Stress Is Stopping You From Getting Great Skin

With hectic work schedules and a packed family and social lives, it's no wonder that sometimes we'e all left feeling a little bit stressed. Unfortunately stress is the enemy when it comes to great skin, and it affects your complexion in a number of different ways. Stress causes a chemical reaction in your body which makes skin more reactive and sensitive, and it can also make it more difficult for current skin problems to heal. If you're already suffering with skin conditions like acne, psoriasis or eczema then you may find these get worse when you're feeling stressed. In really bad cases it can also trigger things like hives, rashes or a flare-up of fever blisters. Stress impairs the proper function of your skin because it driers it out, causing the protective outer layer to break up as skin cells shrink and lipids between those cells evaporate.

When you feel under pressure than you may notice that your skin also becomes oilier. This is because your body produces more cortisol and other hormones, which tells your sebaceous glands to produce more oil. As oily skin is more prone to acne, due to excess oil, dead skin cells and other impurities clogging pores, then you may find in times of stress than you breakout. Plus, habits that form when you're stressed, such as rubbing your skin or scratching and biting your lips and nail, only increase your risk of skin damage.

The outbreak of all these skin problems at a stressful time is likely to leave you feeling even worse, and soon you're trapped in a viscous circle. It's important that you always take care your skin and find time to do things which will help you relax. We've put together a short list of how you can reduce your stress levels. 

Don't Neglect Your Skin
When you feel stressed it's easy to forget about your skincare routine. If you've had lots of late nights in a row, and stress is stopping your from getting a good nights sleep you probably feel exhausted and it's all to easy to just fall into bed at the end of the day without removing your make up. Unfortunately this will only make your skin worse. When you go to sleep in your make-up, you're not only sleeping with a layer or cosmetics on your face but a whole days worth of dirt, impurities, free radicals and other skin nasties. No matter how drained you feel set aside some time to cleanse away all your make-up using the Lift Off Purifying Cleanser, followed by the Energising Essence. The routine will probably help to relax you, and taking care of your skin will aid its recovery process.

Find Stress Management Techniques
Everyone deals with stress in a different way, but by finding the right way to release your stress you'll start to feel a lot calmer and happier. Some people find keeping a stress journal helpful, somewhere where they can write down all their worries and thoughts, and doing this in the evening may help clear your mind and allow you to get a good nights sleep. Other people employ breathing or visual techniques to help them get into a calmer frame of mind.

Enjoy A Pamper Night
We all go through stressful periods in our life, whether it's relationship problems or a big presentation at work looming over you, and sometimes the best thing to do is just to take a little bit of time and focus on yourself. Why not set aside one evening just for and give your skin some much needed pampering. Ignore your phone and instead a run a warm, bubble bath and listen to some relaxing music. Finish the evening with our Bio Cellulose Facial Treatment Mask which will brighten, condition and hydrate your skin. 

Try Yoga
Finding a hobby you love can really help you to relax. Yoga can help to reduce stress because it promotes relaxation and focus on breathing and meditation exercises. There are simple and more complicated poses so you can find a routine which best suits you, plus many poses can be adapted to you can do them whilst sitting down at work. Even setting aside ten minutes before you go to bed to go through a few yoga moves may help you to sleep better.

Exercise Regularly
Exercises helps you to feel good because it produces endorphins, chemicals in the brain which act as natural painkillers, and also improves your ability to sleep which in turn helps you feel less stressed. Research has also shown that exercise boosts self-esteem, energy and mood. Whether you're into biking, running or pilates, as long as it keeps you moving it's great for you. Even getting outside once a day and taking a short walk will help decrease stress.