BEAUTY FROM THE INSIDE OUT
At Dawn, we believe that when you are beautiful on the inside, you will glow on the outside. Inner beauty can be achieved by embracing positive thoughts and loving yourself and others. In today’s busy world, we deal with stress daily and the effects of stress on our skin are numerous. Stress can leave our skin feeling dry and dull, cause skin rashes and impact our looks.
So don’t spend time worrying, and wishing away a pimple, a wrinkle, or a stray hair – negative thoughts will only contribute towards stress-induced dry skin and other problems. Remember that you are a worthy and unique human being and give yourself the love you deserve. Calm and positive thoughts and actions can go a long way towards avoiding those unpleasant stress effects on your skin.
STRESS AND SKIN HEALTH – THE EFFECTS OF STRESS
There are few things that affect your looks more than stress, from premature wrinkles and uneven skin tone to acne and skin rashes. Beauty experts also say that your state of mind has a direct impact on the health of your skin.
SKIN CONDITIONS CAUSED BY STRESS:
Dry Skin
The stratum corneum is the outer layer of your skin. It contains protein and lipids that play a critical role in keeping your skin cells hydrated. It also acts as a barrier that protects the skin underneath. When your stratum corneum isn’t working as it should, your skin can become dry and itchy.
Acne
Have you ever noticed that you break out more when you are stressed? This is because stress causes your body to make hormones like cortisol, which tells glands in your skin to make more oil. Oily skin is more prone to acne and other skin problems.
Stress Rashes
When you feel stressed, your body releases chemicals that can cause inflammation and make your skin sensitive. Stress rashes often appear as raised red bumps called hives. They can affect any part of the body, but usually appear on your face, neck, chest, or arms.
As if these unwanted skin conditions aren’t bad enough, stress can even make you look different. Cortisol, the hormone released in response to stress, breaks down the connective tissue that keeps your complexion taut and firm. Anxiety also causes us to frown more. Eventually, this can cause permanent wrinkling on the forehead and around the eyes. Stress also leads to jaw clenching that can make your face look squarer than normal.
Remember that your state of mind has a direct impact on the well-being of your skin. Minimising stress in your life and learning techniques to manage stress can help you fight against these signs of premature aging.
HOW TO EASE THE EFFECTS OF STRESS ON YOUR SKIN
You probably cannot avoid stress completely, but you can find ways to handle it better. Try these approaches:
MEDITATION
Meditation is an easy way to calm your mind. Put aside at least 10 to 15 minutes a day to meditate. Do it regularly and you will feel its effect within a week or two. Keep your mind fresh and open.
BREATHE
Take deep breaths. Deep breathing can activate the capillaries and regulate blood circulation and gives instant control over your emotions.
DIET
Good diet leads to good health. Eat healthy meals and don’t overeat. Stress can lead to cravings for sugary or unhealthy foods which may harm your health.
DRINK WATER
A drink of water may have a calming effect on your mood whereas dehydration can lead to higher cortisol levels, the hormone linked to stress. Water also hydrates your skin, helps reduce acne and clear clogged pores and overall, helps maintain a beautiful bright skin.
TAKE A BREAK
Take an occasional break from your usual life. It can refresh your spirit and keep you energised. Plan a getaway to a quiet, beautiful place and - leave your worries behind. If you can’t get away, taking a little time out to look after yourself has the power to re-balance, re-energise and de-stress. A simple soak in the tub, a face mask and body buff, or a cup of tea and a good book can work wonders – try it!
MOISTURISE
When your skin is bearing the brunt of your stress, clean and moisturise it daily with your favourite and most trusted products from Dawn’s range of body lotions and creams. Doing so will give you healthy and younger-looking skin.
GIVE YOUR SKIN A ‘PAMPER PARTY’ WITH DAWN
Choose a product such as Dawn Silky Rich Lanolin and Rosewater Lotion, or Dawn Radiant Glow and Gold Dust lotion. Massage it into your skin – you will feel instantly soothed and pampered as you gently knead away your stress and tension.
Challenge yourself to get started on all the above tips and habits to fight the effects of stress on your skin. You’ll soon be feeling beautiful, both inside and out.