Demanding deadlines, sleepless nights and long hours at work, or college can all take their toll, not just emotionally, but can physically flare up in our hair, skin and nails.
In today's blog we look at how stress and anxiety can affect our skin and what we can do to tackle it!
Are you staying up late and having way too many coffees/energy drinks? Caffeine literally dehydrates the skin, drying it out and making you look as exhausted as you feel. Drink more water (at least eight glasses a day) Are you drinking enough water? If your body doesn't get the proper hydration it needs, your skin will end up looking like a dry, flaky old pie. Eww.
Anxiety and stress can also raise the levels of cortisol (the body’s stress hormone) Not only can this lead to an oily, shiny face but bacteria feeding on these natural oils can lead to blemishes, pimples or acne. It's no coincidence that you have a massive spot before that hot date or job interview! Hello cortisol.
Stress can also slow down the skin’s ability to heal itself after an injury. For example, that bruise you got playing rugby or tennis, can take ages to heal when you are stressed out. Stress triggers a negative effect on the barrier function of the skin, this results in water loss.
This can be particularly annoying if you have a skin condition such as eczema or psoriasis, as stress literally slows the entire healing process!
So how can we fight back?
Beauty Sleep Baby Get at least eight hours of sleep. Your smartphone's screen simulates sunlight, so turn off all electronics at least an hour before you go to sleep. Relax before bedtime with a cup of caffeine free tea, (I love ginger tea if you're asking).
Water, water, water Drink a lot of water — eight glasses (or more!) each day. You can also down some green tea for a boost of healthy antioxidants and fruits and vegetables like cucumbers, tomatoes, beetroot and celery are 80 to 90 percent water!
It Really Works Vitamins Stress, lack of sleep and poor nutrition can really affect your skin. Taking your daily dose of It Really Works Vitamins, packed with 22 essential ingredients, including Biotin, Selenium, Zinc, Vitamin B, Vitamin D, Copper and Retinol, will nourish your skin. You'll start noticing the difference within two weeks!
Hyaluronic acid For a quick hydration fix, use a serum that contains an ingredient that naturally occurs in your body and holds 1,000 times its weight in water. It even pulls moisture from the air into the skin, instantly hydrating it and leaving you with a gorgeous glow.
