We often think of stress as something we feel in our minds- racing thoughts, tension headaches, restless sleep. But stress doesn’t stop there. It has its ways of showing up on our skin too. Stress is normal and in some ways beneficial in certain situations. The problem is that chronic stress (when we are in a constant state of fight or flight) is where inflammation sets in and is where our bodies (and our skin) pay the price. There is a new word that is circling around these days, "inflammaging” which is basically low grade inflammation that accelerates visible aging.
We've all experienced it-breakouts before a big event, sudden redness, dry patches that weren’t there last week. Skin that looks tired, dry and dehydrated no matter how much you moisturize. What is it with these not so fun skin moments?
Well, for one, your skin is deeply connected to your nervous system. When you’re overwhelmed, overworked, or under-rested, your complexion reflects it. The good news? You can calm stress-triggered skin naturally and organically, by supporting both your body and your skin in a natural, healthy way.
When you’re stressed, your body releases cortisol, your primary stress hormone. Cortisol is helpful in short bursts, but chronic elevation disrupts balance throughout your body, including your skin.
Here’s what happens:
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Increased oil production
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Slower skin barrier repair
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Increased inflammation
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Reduced collagen production
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Impaired wound healing
Over time, stress creates a perfect storm for breakouts, sensitivity, premature aging and dullness.
Signs Stress Is Showing Up on Your Skin
Sudden Breakouts
Cortisol stimulates oil glands. More oil means clogged pores, which leads to hormonal-style acne. Even if you don’t usually struggle with breakouts, stress can trigger temporary flare-ups.
Organic solution: Switch to a gentle, non-stripping facial cleanser such as our Purifying Facial Cleansing Oil and spot treat areas with anti-inflammatory botanicals like our Healing Blemish Treatment which is infused with lavender, peppermint and tea tree. Avoid harsh exfoliants-stressed skin needs soothing, not scrubbing.
Redness & Sensitivity
Stress weakens your skin barrier, the protective outer layer that keeps moisture in and irritants out. When the barrier is compromised, skin becomes reactive, itchy, or flushed.
Organic solution: Make sure you are using only pure skin care products with minimal ingredients that you can pronounce. Almost 90% of all beauty products contain harsh chemicals and artificial fragrance which can lead to extreme sensitivity and breakouts. Less is more. Try to minimize your skin care routine to just cleansing, toning and moisturizing. Often exfoliant products can be too harsh for sensitive skin. Don't worry, there will be time for exfoliation in the future, just try to not do this step when the skin is needing some extra love.
Dry, Tight, or Dehydrated Skin
When cortisol is elevated, your skin loses water more easily. You may notice tightness, flaking, or that your usual moisturizer “isn’t enough.”
Organic solution: Make sure to add in some botanical facial oils into your skin care routine. Pure facial oils are more hydrating for the skin than most lotions or creams. Our Rejuvenating Facial Oil is a very rich blend of oils that helps with dry, tight or dehydrated skin. How's your water intake? Make sure to drink plenty of water to keep the skin hydrated.
Dullness & Fatigue
Stress reduces circulation and slows cellular turnover. The result? Skin that looks flat, tired, and uneven.
Organic solution: Support gentle skin renewal with an organic facial masque such as our Montana Clay Facial Masque. Or, try a brightening botanical such as our Vitamin C Facial Oil.
Turn Your Skin Care Routine into a Ritual
Instead of rushing through your skin care routine, slow it down. Take 3 deep breaths before you begin your skin cleansing. From here, slowly massage your facial cleanser into your skin and neck using slow, circular motions. After cleansing, spritz skin with your favorite mist/toner (I love our Refreshing Botanical Facial Mist.) Next, warm your facial oil into your hands before applying to the skin. Breathe in, breathe out.
Support Your Gut/Skin Connection
Stress disrupts our gut balance and you can work on keeping your gut in check by eating a diversity of plant foods. Focus on a variety of plant foods each week. Try a new fruit or veggie that you haven't tried before. Mix it up! Most of us are creatures of habit and we tend to eat the same type of apple, the same type of leafy green, etc. Our guts love diversity and fiber. Fiber fuels our guts. Plant foods = FIBER. One of my favorite books is Fiber Fueled by Dr. Will Bulsiewicz. He knows the gut well and has many resources for diving further into this topic. Your gut and skin will thank you!
Sleep is Your Ultimate Reset
When we get deep, restorative sleep, our skin is happy! It is our skin's time to repair and recharge. Unfortunately, chronic stress affects restorative sleep as I'm sure most of you have experienced. When we are under a lot of stress, our minds tend to race more than usual which makes it hard to sleep at all. Focus on trying to go to bed around the same time every night. Deep belly breathing is helpful to calm the mind right before bed. Stay away from screens at least 3 hours before bedtime. Hot epsom salt baths work great for calming the body before bedtime or try a cup of hot chamomile tea.
Daily Movement
Make sure to continue your daily movement during stressful times. It seems as though it is very difficult to find the time OR energy when you are dealing with stress, but it is crucial for helping the body and mind handle large loads of stress. For one, it tires out your body and can make for a more restful sleep. Exercise floods the body with the "feel good hormone," dopamine, which can make handling stress a little less daunting. Even a gentle walk helps!
Stress doesn’t mean your skin is “failing.” It means your body is asking for support. We all have stress at different moments in our life-this is natural and normal. The good news is, if we take the time to listen to our bodies during these not so fun stressful times, we can care for ourselves, be gentle with ourselves and our skin. This is not an easy task, but one that we can continue to practice.
By choosing organic, anti-inflammatory skin care products and creating rituals that soothe and calm your nervous system, you’re not just treating symptoms, you’re restoring balance. We all feel more at ease when we feel as though we are experiencing a "balanced" life. And when balance returns? Breakouts settle. Redness softens. Your beautiful glow returns naturally. Experiencing stress and how to handle it best truly is a practice and one we can aim to achieve through listening to the signs the body and mind give us. How can you be in tune with your body and mind when stress shows up?
