The Effects of Stress on Your Skin & How to Manage It

At the heart of any ritual is an honest effort to better your life by creating a system that alleviates stress and frees up much-needed time and energy. A ritual can incorporate any number of things, from starting your morning at a specific hour, to scheduling weekly pilates sessions with your friends, to planning your daily work tasks.

When it comes to your skincare ritual, we consider ourselves experts at curating fuss-free routines that work for a range of ages, skin types, and concerns. Keep reading to explore how stress affects your skin and share a step-by-step skincare ritual that can be used to combat everyday lifestyle stressors.

Your body on stress

Your skin is the body's largest organ and acts as the first line of defense against external threats. When you're stressed, your brain activates the body's fight-or-flight response, leading to the release of various hormones, including cortisol.

Cortisol, often dubbed the "stress hormone," plays several roles in the body, such as regulating blood sugar levels and the sleep-wake cycle. When stress increases cortisol production, it can trigger an uptick in oil production from the sebaceous glands, leading to clogged pores and acne. Additionally, cortisol can accelerate the breakdown of collagen and elastin, resulting in premature aging.

So, if you’ve tried everything for your skin to no avail, stress might be the culprit.

Signs your skin may be stressed

In our fast-paced lives, stress might feel unavoidable. While we often focus on the mental and emotional toll of stress, its impact on our physical health, particularly our skin, is equally profound. Let's look at the intricate relationship between stress and skin health.

Dry skin

Stress can compromise the skin's barrier function, leading to dryness and dullness. The outer layer of your skin is essential for maintaining hydration and protecting the skin beneath. When stressed, this barrier weakens, causing the skin to lose moisture more rapidly.

Premature signs of aging

Chronic stress can accelerate the aging process. Prolonged exposure to high cortisol levels breaks down collagen and elastin, crucial proteins for maintaining skin firmness and elasticity. This results in thinner skin and the formation of fine lines and wrinkles.

Bags under the eyes

Lack of or poor sleep, which is often a result of stress, can lead to bags under the eyes. Sleep deprivation amplifies visible signs of aging, such as fine lines and reduced skin elasticity, contributing to puffiness and dark circles under the eyes.

Your stress-combating skincare ritual

When it comes to stress, the goal is to implement habits and practices that allow you to support your body and replenish your skin on a daily basis. Without such habits, stress can build up, leading to visible signs such as dullness in the skin. Here’s a simple, three-step routine to combat visible signs of stress on your skin.

Step 1: Cleanse with a hydrating face wash

Soy Face Cleanser is our #1 best-selling cleanser for a reason! This non-stripping formula contains soy proteins, and works to deeply cleanse pores, remove makeup (yes, even mascara), and maintain skin’s pH and increasing hydration by 10%.* Not only does this instantly calm visible redness, it also supports the skin’s moisture barrier, effectively delivering a clear, healthy complexion over time. To use, simply wet skin, massage over face and eyes, then rinse.

Step 2: Protect with a treatment essence

Safeguard your complexion from environmental stressors with our fan favorite, Kombucha Facial Treatment Essence. Featuring antioxidant-rich kombucha and moisture-replenishing hyaluronic acid, this essential prep step penetrates deeply into the skin to increase luminosity while simultaneously decreasing the appearance of pores and fine lines. To use, gently pat the essence over a clean face and neck with your palms; use daily to prep skin for your next skincare steps.

Step 3: Treat with a universal serum

Discover our Tea Elixir Skin Resilience Activating Serum, powered by black tea, hyaluronic acid, and Ceramide III. This serum is designed to help skin bounce back from daily stressors like lack of sleep, stress, and poor diet. To use, dispense a few drops onto palms and press into skin to activate the serum. Apply to the face and neck daily, morning and night, to boost skin’s visible glow and resilience to everyday life stressors for smoother texture, restored bounce, and reduced look of wrinkles.

Treat your skin to a relaxation-inducing ritual with fresh

Want to create your own skincare ritual? We’ve got you covered. Explore tea-inspired treatments today—along with other bestsellers—to give your skin the care it craves.