Everyone has a manic day now and then, and when stress gets the better of us on a regular basis, then we may start to feel the effects in the most obvious place possible, our skin. Stress can literately be written all over our faces when it all gets a bit too much. However, do not let this stress you out further. We've been taking a look at the most common effects stress has on our skin, how it occurs and what we can do to try and prevent it from showing up over and over again. Breakouts It's no secret that high levels of stress and skin breakouts are connected. When we are stressed, our body goes into overdrive when producing the hormone, cortisol. This then triggers our sebaceous glands to produce more oil, blocking pores and leaving the skin more prone to breakouts and acne and also knocking other hormones out of sync. It is a vicious circle; stress leads to breakouts, breakout leads to stress - we really can't win, unless we learn how to manage our stress levels. If you find your skin is breaking out in times of stress, do everything you can to stop yourself from touching or picking at it. Try calming and distracting yourself in times of frustration by breathing in deeply the Tata Harper Aromatic Stress Treatment. Apply generously to your hands, rub together and breath in deeply for five long, deep breaths. For a quick fix for your blemish bother, find a multi-purpose product which not only helps cover the breakouts but also works to reduce the oiliness in the skin as well as any redness caused, such as the Green People Blemish Banish Concealer. It's packed with omega 3 and six which works to encourage a clearer complexion. It's also worth noting that a clearer complexion can come on in leaps and bounds if you regularly exercise, drink plenty of water and eat a well-balanced diet. So get on those running shoes and stock up on the fruit and veg too. Take time to stop and breath in deeply Bags Under The Eye Stress and sleep do not get on. When we lay awake at night worrying or feeling the stress from the day, this will often result in waking up in the morning with dark circles or bags under the eyes; this is from fluid gathering underneath your lower eyelid. How can you prevent this from happening? First and foremost, aim to get your recommended 8 hours sleep a night. We know, this is easier said then done but do yourself a favour and switch off the gadgets, create some down time before going to bed and get yourself in the best possible frame of mind before trying to nod off. If this is a bit too far off reality and you wake up in the morning with puffy eyes, then take a cold spoon and hold the back of it to the underneath of your eyes and start to massage the fluid away from the area. If your night sleep has been truly against you, then don't forget to turn to the wonder that is a natural eye cream such as REN Vita Mineral Active 7 Eye Gel which can brighten and revive the under eye area on tired days. Redness Erratic breathing and holding of the breath while stressed can lead to flushing and redness in the skin. This can also be brought on by feelings of anxiety. When we are anxious, our body reacts by releasing adrenaline into the body, triggering a fight or flight response and when this happens some changes occur in the body - one of them being a redder face. If you're stressing out about being anxious, you will find yourself in another vicious circle, like the one with stress and breakouts. Unfortunately, you cannot control the adrenaline which is released into your body, you simply have to wait for it to run its course. However, if the redness in your face caused you further anxiety or stress, try taking yourself out for a walk to get the blood moving around your body or practise slowing down and controlling your breath. For a quick fix, try toning the redness down in your face with Lily Lolo Mineral Corrector in Blush Away which works to cover both blemishes and redness. Concealer from tubes ensure you are not applying makeup which has already touched your skin Frown Lines Without realising it, we form frown lines by scrunching our faces up when stressed, agitated or concentrating for example. Repeating this action over and over will eventually leave lines where you don't want them on your face, such as on your forehead and around the eyes. What can you do to prevent this from happening? Turn that frown upside down and practise a long lasting, natural smile! Alternatively, help combat the appearance of stress-induced fine lines with the 100% natural and organic Inlight Intensive Line Softener on top of your beaming smile! To stop stress in its tracks, shop here for: Stress Relief
