Beauty comes from within and if this is true, it means that the internal stress and battles and we are dealing with, are often visible as problems on our skin.
A great skin care routine can help ensure your complexion is happy, but you need your mind and body to be in the same shape, so we have had a look at the ways you can take care of all of you, so you look and feel great.
Under-eye bags
Your’ to-do list’ can really get you down and stop you from getting enough beauty sleep and this isn’t going to do you, or your skin, any favours. As well as making you tired and grumpy, a lack of sleep can cause fluid to gather below your lower eyelids and they end up super puffy by the morning. Also, you tummy sleepers out there, we have some bad news for you: the puffiness of under-eye bags tends to be worse because of gravity, so sleep on your side or back!
What to do
- Whenever you can, aim to get at eight hours of sleep a night.
- Turn off screens an hour before you go to sleep because they simulate sunlight and the beam won’t help your brain realise it is sleep time.
- Make yourself a cup of caffeine-free chamomile tea as that can help calm and relax you before you go to bed.
- If you do wake uo with puffy eyes, massage your under-eye area with the back of a cold spoon to jump start fluid drainage, then apply concealer under your eyes to brighten away a thousand sins.
Breakouts
Stress is a real pain on many levels and can cause acne, psoriasis and eczema flare ups. When it comes to acne, stress releases cortisol, which throws off other hormones in your body and causes spots to appear on your face or body. Stress can also mess up the good and bad bacteria in your gut, and you don’t want that to happen.
What to do:
- Deep breathing can really help ease anxiety, and using an app like Calm or Headspace means you can easily meditate for 10 minutes at any time of the day.
- Drinking lots of water and eating a well-balanced diet is a good idea, because your body can’t deal with stress if you don’t nourish it with fruit, vegetables, and high-quality proteins.
- Take a probiotoc supplement to help with the tummy friendly bacteria.
Fine lines
When we are stressed we tend to furrow our brows, screw up our faces and frown, and over time this can lead to fine lines and early wrinkles getting deeper sooner than they need to.
What to do:
- Just be aware of the unconscious facial expressions you make when you have a lot on your plate, especially when you’re sitting at your desk or driving in your car.
- Try to relax those tense muscles and smile.
- Have a facial once in a while and ask your therapist about the best products for you.
Dry, flaky skin
When you’re stressed you often don’t drink enough water, instead opting for coffee and fizzy drinks as a pick me but they can be really dehydrating and leave you skin looking dry and flaky.
What to do?
First of all, ditch the lattes and pop and aim to drink a eight glasses of water, or more, every day. Green tea will give you a boost of skin healthy antioxidants and foods with a high-water content like cucumbers, tomatoes, lettuce, and celery could be your new skin bestie.
Overall, be kind to yourself and if stress really is getting on top of you, and your skin, then speak to a friend or your GP and see where some extra support could help get you back on track.
Team Pure Beauty