May 27, 2020
STRESSED SKIN AND HOW TO BEAT IT
Instagram: @donna.bartoli
A few tips for when your usual routine just isn’t cutting it.
Stress is one of those things in life that you quite often don’t even know you’re experiencing. It creeps up on you and plays havoc with your body, health and the one we’re talking about today, your skin. Your skin flares ups from stress can appear at any time but more so now since Coved-19 showed up and changed life overnight. We are experiencing breakouts where we’ve never had them before rashes and drier skin than the Sahara desert.
If this is something that is happening to you, and believe me it’s not just you. I’ve listed a few things you could do to tweak your current routine to manage your skin and keep on top of it.
FROM THE INSIDE OUT
That age old saying “you are what you eat” could not be more prevalent when it comes to skin flare ups. A happy gut is the best way to happy skin so keep the sugar and banana bread to a minimum and eat those green vegetables.
I as much as the next person know that the best way to absorb vitamins is through food but right now supermarkets have lower stock than usual so it might be a good time to invest in some supplements to give yourself an extra boost.
Here are some supplement recommendations which taken daily will give you skin everything it needs if you’re not getting it through food.
Vitamin A
Retinol
Much like when we apply it topically Vitamin A is a must for healthy skin. Evidence show’s it can reduce inflammation by helping to calm red or swollen areas you experience during a breakout. You can get the RDA of Vitamin A from cheese, milk, eggs and yogurt but if you’re a non-dairy eater then you might want to take this every day.
Vitamin C
Acorbic Acid
This is a great addition to your skincare routine applied topically but it can be a tricky product for sensitive skins so I suggest taking this as a supplement daily to boost collagen production and really bump up the healing properties it gives. If you’re not a veggie eater (you will find vitamin c in produce like, peppers, broccoli and potatoes) then this powerful antioxidant will really hit the spot.
Magnesium (The ultimate de-stressor)
As well as keeping you calm Magnesium is great at improving your skins overall appearance by stabilising hormonal imbalances plus lowering cortisol levels which is a stress hormone. Taken daily it will minimise inflammation and attack that stress
The 111SKIN’s Reparative Beauty Dose supplement contains Vitamins A,C and E plus coenzyme Q10 so is fully formulated to support the skin’s function by blending all the powerful antioxidants in 1 capsule - Expect beautiful skin from the inside out.
Don’t forget to HYDRATE! Your dehydrated skin problems could be something as simple as not drinking enough water daily. I don’t achieve the 8 recommended glasses but I do have at least 1 litre a day. Set yourself a challenge of doing this everyday for 7 days and I promise you’ll see a difference.
KEEP IT CALM
This is not the time to start an aggressive skincare routine, leave out using retinoids and harsh exfoliants for the time being and concentrate and using products that will sooth and calm. Cleanse your skin properly, once in the morning and twice at night, for mornings I like to use the Summer Friday’s Cleansing Gel or Ren Skincare Evercalm Cleansing Gel and for my evening double cleanse the Biossance Squalene Cleansing Oil or Votary Super Seed Oil then back to the either of the morning cleansers. The NAC Y2 Restorative Cleansing Balm is a gentle but powerful cleanser that will tackle the daily build up but will also keep the skin calm and away from irritation.
Use a soothing sheet mask 2-3 times a week I recommend 111SKIN’s SUB-ZERO DE-PUFFING ENERGY FACIAL MASK which will aid circulating, reduce dullness in the skin plus illuminate puffiness caused by stress and keep your skins surface hydrated with Hyaluronic Acid serums like the Hyaluronic Acid Aqua Booster, Niod’s multi-molecular hyaluronic complex or Skincueticals B5 Hydrating Gel.
If you are an avid exfoliator like myself then try using fruit enzymes instead which are much gentler than AHA’S and BHA’S. They work in a similar way by eating away at dead skins cells but don’t damage any live tissue so can be used daily during stressed skin periods. Look for Papaya, Pineapple and Pomegranate on the ingredient list.
ANTIOXIDANT POWER
Give your skin a little power punch of antioxidants to protect and heal, I’d leave these for your evening routine so they can work their magic whilst you sleep.
There is no time like the present to focus on protecting and strengthening your immune system. Whilst Vitamin C is an important component, there are other ways in which you can defend and guard against aggressors whilst optimising your skin’s health through a 360-degree cycle.
Working from the inside out, the Reparative Beauty Dose is a full spectrum antioxidant supplement that is guaranteed to support all skin functions to promote a healthy and fortified complexion. Blended with NAC Y2, Glutathione and increased levels of Vitamin A, C and E, this supplement will act as the backbone to your wellness routine.
For wider skincare options, The Ordinary’s Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Serum is a great pick for skin barrier repair but also healing and retaining moisture levels but you could also try the Estée Lauder New Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II which packs in two powerful technologies with added algae extract to support skin healing.
My final note on this subject is less is more. Keep your skincare simple, eat well and drink plenty of water. Make sure you are taking care of your wellbeing from the inside, out.
SHOPPING EDIT
A few tips for when your usual routine just isn’t cutting it.
Stress is one of those things in life that you quite often don’t even know you’re experiencing. It creeps up on you and plays havoc with your body, health and the one we’re talking about today, your skin. Your skin flares ups from stress can appear at any time but more so now since Coved-19 showed up and changed life overnight. We are experiencing breakouts where we’ve never had them before rashes and drier skin than the Sahara desert.
If this is something that is happening to you, and believe me it’s not just you. I’ve listed a few things you could do to tweak your current routine to manage your skin and keep on top of it.
FROM THE INSIDE OUT
That age old saying “you are what you eat” could not be more prevalent when it comes to skin flare ups. A happy gut is the best way to happy skin so keep the sugar and banana bread to a minimum and eat those green vegetables.
I as much as the next person know that the best way to absorb vitamins is through food but right now supermarkets have lower stock than usual so it might be a good time to invest in some supplements to give yourself an extra boost.
Here are some supplement recommendations which taken daily will give you skin everything it needs if you’re not getting it through food.
Vitamin A
Retinol
Much like when we apply it topically Vitamin A is a must for healthy skin. Evidence show’s it can reduce inflammation by helping to calm red or swollen areas you experience during a breakout. You can get the RDA of Vitamin A from cheese, milk, eggs and yogurt but if you’re a non-dairy eater then you might want to take this every day.
Vitamin C
Acorbic Acid
This is a great addition to your skincare routine applied topically but it can be a tricky product for sensitive skins so I suggest taking this as a supplement daily to boost collagen production and really bump up the healing properties it gives. If you’re not a veggie eater (you will find vitamin c in produce like, peppers, broccoli and potatoes) then this powerful antioxidant will really hit the spot.
Magnesium (The ultimate de-stressor)
As well as keeping you calm Magnesium is great at improving your skins overall appearance by stabilising hormonal imbalances plus lowering cortisol levels which is a stress hormone. Taken daily it will minimise inflammation and attack that stress
The 111SKIN’s Reparative Beauty Dose supplement contains Vitamins A,C and E plus coenzyme Q10 so is fully formulated to support the skin’s function by blending all the powerful antioxidants in 1 capsule - Expect beautiful skin from the inside out.
Don’t forget to HYDRATE! Your dehydrated skin problems could be something as simple as not drinking enough water daily. I don’t achieve the 8 recommended glasses but I do have at least 1 litre a day. Set yourself a challenge of doing this everyday for 7 days and I promise you’ll see a difference.
KEEP IT CALM
This is not the time to start an aggressive skincare routine, leave out using retinoids and harsh exfoliants for the time being and concentrate and using products that will sooth and calm. Cleanse your skin properly, once in the morning and twice at night, for mornings I like to use the Summer Friday’s Cleansing Gel or Ren Skincare Evercalm Cleansing Gel and for my evening double cleanse the Biossance Squalene Cleansing Oil or Votary Super Seed Oil then back to the either of the morning cleansers. The NAC Y2 Restorative Cleansing Balm is a gentle but powerful cleanser that will tackle the daily build up but will also keep the skin calm and away from irritation.
Use a soothing sheet mask 2-3 times a week I recommend 111SKIN’s SUB-ZERO DE-PUFFING ENERGY FACIAL MASK which will aid circulating, reduce dullness in the skin plus illuminate puffiness caused by stress and keep your skins surface hydrated with Hyaluronic Acid serums like the Hyaluronic Acid Aqua Booster, Niod’s multi-molecular hyaluronic complex or Skincueticals B5 Hydrating Gel.
If you are an avid exfoliator like myself then try using fruit enzymes instead which are much gentler than AHA’S and BHA’S. They work in a similar way by eating away at dead skins cells but don’t damage any live tissue so can be used daily during stressed skin periods. Look for Papaya, Pineapple and Pomegranate on the ingredient list.
ANTIOXIDANT POWER
Give your skin a little power punch of antioxidants to protect and heal, I’d leave these for your evening routine so they can work their magic whilst you sleep.
There is no time like the present to focus on protecting and strengthening your immune system. Whilst Vitamin C is an important component, there are other ways in which you can defend and guard against aggressors whilst optimising your skin’s health through a 360-degree cycle.
Working from the inside out, the Reparative Beauty Dose is a full spectrum antioxidant supplement that is guaranteed to support all skin functions to promote a healthy and fortified complexion. Blended with NAC Y2, Glutathione and increased levels of Vitamin A, C and E, this supplement will act as the backbone to your wellness routine.
For wider skincare options, The Ordinary’s Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Serum is a great pick for skin barrier repair but also healing and retaining moisture levels but you could also try the Estée Lauder New Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II which packs in two powerful technologies with added algae extract to support skin healing.
My final note on this subject is less is more. Keep your skincare simple, eat well and drink plenty of water. Make sure you are taking care of your wellbeing from the inside, out.