Written by OSEA Staff | Published September 12, 2024
Everyone experiences stress, but too much can have a noticeable impact on your skin. April marks Stress Awareness Month, making it the perfect time to learn about the effects of prolonged stress and how to relieve it. Focusing on self-care can help you mitigate the side effects of stress and improve your skin.
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. In addition to physical effects, stress can lead to behaviors and habits that cause skin problems, such as:
- Touching your face
- Stress snacking
- Sleeping less
- Skipping skincare routines
How a Skin Wellness Routine Can Ease Stress
Relieving stress is a lifelong process, and the easiest way to start is by creating a routine. But simply forming a skincare routine isn’t enough — you need to treat your body and mind. A stress skincare routine that focuses on overall wellness can help you ease the tension in your body and mind while nurturing your skin, leading to clearer skin, healthier habits, and a much-needed mood boost. Consider adding these steps to your skin wellness routine.
1. Take an “Everything Shower”
A warm bath is typically seen as the pinnacle of self-care and relaxation, but most people don’t have time for regular bubble baths. The best alternative? Incorporate an “everything shower” into your morning routine.
An everything shower gets all of your skincare from head-to-toe into one wash session, from exfoliation to cleansing. This trend is fully customizable to your skincare needs, so take note of the products you’ll be using before you hop in.
Not sure what to use? We recommend our Total Body Glow Trio. This trio includes the Plant-Based Body Brush, which helps achieve healthy, glowing skin. 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 for a smooth, healthy glow. After cleansing, finish your shower with our luxurious Undaria Algae™ Body Oil. This seaweed-infused body oil is clinically proven to improve skin elasticity and moisturization after just one use.* Gently massage a generous portion into your skin and enjoy soft, supple skin and a youthful 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 relaxing vagus nerve massage can help you feel refreshed.
Our Vagus Nerve Oil is a blissful blend of chamomile, lavender and juniper formulated to promote a sense of calm and tranquility. First, cup two pumps of the oil in your palms and deeply inhale to let the 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 Vagus Nerve Bath Oil. Let this soothing blend of essential oils calm your nerves and melt away stress.
Another great way to relieve 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, relaxed 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. Maintain a Steady Skincare Routine
Stress affects everyone’s body differently, so it’s important to personalize your routine to suit your needs. For example, stress can cause premature fine lines and wrinkles to appear on the skin. Our Dream Night Cream is the first overnight cream that is clinically proven to reduce the effects of stress on the skin. Formulated with algae-derived bio retinol, vegan collagen, and a curated blend of hydrators, this deeply moisturizing cream is clinically proven to reduce the effects of stress on skin and firm skin within 2 weeks.** You’ll wake up feeling refreshed with radiant, ultra-hydrated skin!
*Based on a 2-week 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.
