How To Manage The Effects of Stress on Your Skin

Crafting a skincare ritual helps streamline your daily self-care so that you can approach the challenges that lie ahead with confidence. Rituals can take many forms, whether it’s waking up at a set time to savour the dawn, organizing weekly workout sessions, or planning your workday to ensure maximized productivity.

At fresh, we specialize in creating daily rituals that cater to a diverse range of ages, skin types, and challenges. Today, we’re looking at how stress impacts your skin and what kind of ritual can support your skin through it.

Your body on stress

Your skin is considered an organ—the body's largest, serving as a protective shield against the external world. Under stress, the brain kicks into fight-or-flight mode, releasing hormones into the bloodstream, namely, cortisol.

Cortisol, known as the "stress hormone," helps manage vital functions like blood pressure, blood sugar, and sleep patterns. However, when stress causes prolonged elevation of cortisol, it can spike oil production in the skin's sebaceous glands, leading to clogged pores and acne flare-ups. Cortisol also speeds up the breakdown of collagen and elastin fibres, crucial for maintaining a youthful bounce and resilient skin.

Stress-induced cortisol nudges mast cells—part of the immune system's pathogen defence team—into action. This stimulation can provoke allergic responses, manifesting as skin conditions like redness, itching, and eczema. Stress also sends signals to produce cytokines, the communication agents between cells. This activity can result in skin inflammation, damaging the skin’s protective barrier and making it more vulnerable to harmful microbes, UV rays, and environmental irritants. An overproduction of cytokines can cause dryness, redness, irritation, and sensitivity. So, if your attempts to soothe sensitive skin fall flat, stress could be the hidden antagonist.

Signs your skin may be stressed

Stress often seems like a constant companion in today's fast-paced world. While we frequently address its mental and emotional repercussions, stress also takes a tangible toll on our physical health—and, notably, on our skin. Here’s how stress and skin health intertwine in potentially unexpected ways.

Breakouts

Acne is one of the most telling indicators of a stressed system. When stress ramps up cortisol production, it also increases oil production, setting the stage for clogged pores and ensuing breakouts. Research consistently links elevated stress levels with severe acne outbreaks, with women being particularly susceptible.

Dry skin

Stress can weaken the skin's natural defence, compromising its ability to retain moisture and radiance. This critical outer barrier must remain strong to ensure hydration and protection of the skin underneath. Under stress, it falters, leading to increased moisture loss and skin that appears dull and lacklustre.

Premature signs aging

Ongoing stress can hasten the visible signs of aging. Elevated cortisol levels from prolonged stress break down collagen and elastin—proteins essential for the skin's youthful resilience. Consequently, your skin becomes thinner, and fine lines and wrinkles make an untimely appearance.

Skin conditions

Stress has a reputation for triggering skin conditions like psoriasis, eczema, and rosacea. This sneaky culprit agitates the immune system, resulting in uncomfortable symptoms such as redness, rashes, and manifestations of inflammation.

Bags under the eyes

Quality sleep is vital for the skin’s repair process, and stress-induced sleeping issues can result in visible bags or dark circles under the eyes. Without restful sleep, signs of aging, such as fine lines and reduced skin elasticity, are highlighted, resulting in puffiness and dark circles around the delicate eye area.

Your stress-combating skincare ritual

When facing stress, the goal is to design a routine that strengthens and supports both the body and skin daily. Without good daily habits, stress accumulates, manifesting as dull, tired-looking skin. Here's our three-step guide to counteract the visible effects of stress on your skin.

Step 1: Cleanse and hydrate

Our bestselling Soy pH-Balanced Hydrating Face Wash stands out for its exceptional ability to cleanse without stripping the skin. Formulated with soy proteins, it efficiently purifies pores, dissolves makeup (even stubborn mascara), and maintains optimal skin hydration levels. With cooling cucumber extract and soothing aloe vera gel, its calming effects visibly reduce redness while reinforcing the skin barrier, promoting a clear, vibrant complexion over time. Simply wet the skin, massage the product across your face and eyes to make a gentle lather, and then rinse thoroughly. Repeat in the morning and evening for best results.

Step 2: Shield with a potent essence

Armour your skin against city life and environmental aggressors with Kombucha Antioxidant Facial Treatment Essence, a fresh favourite known for its protective prowess. Packed with antioxidant-rich kombucha and hydrating hyaluronic acid, this step enhances skin brightness and minimizes the appearance of pores and fine lines. For application, delicately pat the essence over a clean face and neck using your palms. Use daily to prep your skin for the rest of your skincare routine.

Step 3: Revitalize with a versatile serum

Enter the Tea Elixir Skin Resilience Activating Serum, an innovative blend of black tea, hyaluronic acid, and ceramide III. This serum, crafted to rejuvenate skin from everyday issues such as sleep deprivation and dietary mishaps, enhances the skin's glow and ability to protect itself. Place a few drops in your palms and gently press into the skin, ensuring twice-daily application over the face and neck for a smoother feel, restored elasticity, and reduced look of wrinkles.

Keep your cool with fresh

Craving an at-home spa experience? Dive into our nature-inspired skincare collections—from antioxidant-rich black tea to purifying Umbrian clay—to provide your skin with the nourishment and care it deserves. Explore our range of best-selling routines to curate a skincare ritual tailored to you.