Stress... it manifests in many different forms, and in today's world we are surely under more stress as a whole then I've ever personally seen in my life. It's easier said than done to "manage" your stress, and when you're feeling the weight of the world on your shoulders it can seem nearly impossible to take the steps you need in order to relax and get your skin back on track.
When times get hard, we can see an influx in skin changes even if we feel like we are doing EVERYTHING right. It's important to remember to give yourself a break, we can get consumed in our negative thoughts but we have to remember that we deserve to not tear ourselves down when we aren't at our own definition of "perfect".
In times of intense stress, we can see changes in our skin like excess oil, breakouts, dryness, overall redness and inflammation. So what should you do if your skin is in a state of stress?
Go back to the basics. You don't need to overwhelm your skin right now, your body has enough going on and might not be reacting well to your 7-step skincare routine. Cutting back to cleansing and moisturizing, can be just what your skin needs to breath and reset.
Let's not forget the food
What you put into your body plays a MAJOR role in your overall skin health. Things like sugar and dairy can increase a hormone in your body called IGF-1 which increase our sebaceous oil gland production, creating excess sebum (oil) on our skin that we just don't need. So sure, in time's of stress we might want to eat some comfort food, but make sure you're making room for healthy green vegetables, grass-fed proteins, and fruit like organic blueberries and apples!
Be kind to yourself
Easier said than done, right? But the less we pick ourselves apart for that extra breakout on our chin this month, the healthier the self-love dialogue we have becomes. Trust me, NO ONE is looking at your skin the way you do. Take a step back from the mirror, stop over analyzing, and go sit in the sun for a few minutes. You are beautiful, you are worthy, and your skin does not define you.
Talk to someone
If the stress is too overwhelming for you, and you feel like your skin has been in haywire mode for a little longer than anticipated, talk to someone who knows what you're going through and can give you a deeper understanding of your skin and the best tools to guide you to skin healing. The Holistica Hive is now offering Holistica Skin Coaching Sessions that focus on all of the above. Are you ready to start your skin journey?
The owner of the Holistica Hive has helped me through some of my hardest times, including my terrible, no good skin. She's a holistic licensed esthetician who GENUINELY cares about what you're putting in and on your body.
~ Client Testimonial
Don't let the stress get you down, you are beautiful!
Take care, xo
Astrid Makenzi
The Holistica Hive