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Written by OSEA Staff | Published April 6, 2026
Stress shows up differently for everyone, but over time it can take a visible toll on your skin. In honor of Stress Awareness Month, we’re sharing a few simple ways to reduce the visible effects of stress on skin through daily soothing rituals.
How Stress Affects Skin
When you’re stressed, your body releases several hormones. These hormones can break down the skin’s collagen and elastin, two proteins essential for the structure of your skin.1 This can interrupt your skin’s rejuvenation process, accelerating the aging process and leading to more fine lines and wrinkles. Beyond these physical effects, stress can also lead to daily habits that may impact your skin, such as:
- Touching your face
- Stress snacking
- Sleeping less
- Skipping your skincare routine
How a Skin Wellness Routine Can Ease Stress
While stress can show up on your skin, daily rituals can help bring it back into balance. A thoughtful routine goes beyond skincare alone, supporting both your skin and your overall sense of well-being. Below, a few simple ways to incorporate moments of care into your day.
1. Take an “Everything Shower”
If you tend to hang out in the self-care and wellness corners of TikTok, you’ve likely heard of the “everything shower.” Essentially, we’re talking about extravagant, ritualized shower routines complete with music, body wash, scrubs, dry brushes, and body oil, which wash away daily stressors in a literal and metaphoric sense. This isn’t just about scrubbing yourself clean; it’s an exercise in relaxation.
Not sure where to start? We recommend our Total Body Glow Trio. This trio includes the Plant-Based Body Brush, which exfoliates, wakes up your senses, feels incredibly invigorating, and leaves your skin with a smooth, radiant glow. Gently brush away dead skin cells on your legs, arms, and body using a circular motion on dry skin.
The brush can be used before applying a scrub, such as our Salts of the Earth Body Scrub, a mineral-rich scrub that buffs away roughness and dull, dry skin. After cleansing, finish your shower with our bestselling Undaria Algae Body Oil. This seaweed-infused body oil is clinically shown to improve skin elasticity and moisturization after just one use.* Gently massage a generous amount into your skin and enjoy soft, supple skin and a youthful-looking glow.
2. Give Yourself a Massage
The vagus nerve is the longest cranial nerve in the human body and serves as your inner nerve center. It sends the signals that help us digest food, fall asleep and reduce stress and tension. Giving yourself a vagus nerve massage can help you feel a deeper level of grounding and well-being.
Our Vagus Nerve Oil is a blissful blend of chamomile, lavender and juniper formulated to promote a sense of serenity. First, cup two pumps of the oil in your palms and deeply inhale to let the scent of calm wash over you. Then, gently massage the oil into your neck and ears. You can also take a relaxing soak in the tub with our award-winning Vagus Nerve Bath Oil. Let this soothing blend of essential oils melt away visible signs of stress on skin.
Another great way to relieve visible signs of stress is using our Gua Sha Sculptor for a facial massage. This ancient Chinese practice is used to reduce the look of facial puffiness and tension for softer, more radiant-looking skin. Start with our Dayglow Face Oil to smooth the appearance of your skin and provide a moisturized base.
Next, carefully glide our Gua Sha Sculptor up from the base of your neck and rotate it along your jawline, chin and the contours of your cheeks and forehead. To release facial tension, press the tool gently but firmly at your pressure points, including the cheekbones, jaw and temples.
3. Support Skin Overnight
Nighttime is when your skin naturally shifts into repair mode, making it the ideal moment to counter the visible effects of stress on skin. A targeted evening routine can help support skin as it restores itself while you sleep.
Our Dream Night Cream with Bio-Retinol is the first overnight cream that is clinically shown to reduce the visible effects of stress on the skin. Formulated with algae-derived bio-retinol, organic wild lavender, and five vital hydrators, this deeply moisturizing cream is clinically shown to visibly firm skin within 2 weeks.** You’ll wake up feeling refreshed with radiant, ultra-hydrated skin.
*Based on a 2-week independent third-party clinical study of 53 women ages 25-65 (including; expert skin grading, instrumental measurements & consumer perception study).
**Based on a third-party clinical study conducted over 4 weeks on 29 women ages 33-60.
Citations
“Feeling stressed? It can show in your skin, hair, and nails.” American Academy of Dermatology, 21 July 2022, https://www.aad.org/news/stress-shows-in-skin-hair-nails. Accessed 4 April 2024.