Ever looked in the mirror after a non-stop week and noticed your skin is lacking that certain glow? That's because stress and your skin are intimately related.
From dryness, rosacea, sensitivity, acne, eczema, redness, dullness and wrinkles, there are few skin conditions that stress doesn’t exacerbate! In fact there's even a name for it now - it’s called "psychodermatology† which is the study and treatment of someone’s emotions as they relate to the skin using psychological techniques.
As a scientist & nutritionist, Cindy Luken our founder constantly reminds us too many people today live with the fight or flight response turned on all the time. This response produces adrenalin, which is the main hormone that tells your body that it’s in danger and when you’re constantly living in that response, all the nutrients are diverted to ensure survival and are therefore unavailable to the 'beauty bits' like skin, hair and nails. This causes skin to become dehydrated, sensitive and more vulnerable to damage.
In fact, a study in the
Journal of Investigative Dermatology found that when women experience stress, their skin becomes more easily dehydrated, which can even lead to eczema. And in the case of acne, when you’re tense or worried, the brain releases a stress hormone known as cortisol. Cortisol tells your oil glands to increase production, which can lead to breakouts.
Preventing and repairing skin damage from stress needs to be approached from both the inside and out. Leading experts suggests that bringing restorative and relaxing practises into your life can be †œgame changing† as it gets you out of the stress response. An ideal beauty ritual is to do some restorative practises like
restorative yoga, ti chi or a an early morning walk somewhere close to nature. Other practises include an Epsom salt bath, swimming, meditation or simply spending time with ones you love.
From the outside in, be sure to nourish your skin with gentle, all natural ingredients that will moisturise the skin and enrich it with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Try one of our
DIY spa treatments, followed with a natural facial oil and our 100% Pure tinted moisturiser for a dewy glow and
lip nourish for luscious, moisturised lips.
