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What if your skin could talk about its stress?
What if your skin could talk about its stress?

All About Face and Body Care > Relax! 

It's a fact of our times. Given the lives we lead, most women's skin is stressed.

If you're one of them, your skin is certainly showing signs of distress: tightness, drawn features, dehydration.

That's why, although we've been MOISTURIZING our skin for a long time, now we also have to DE-STRESS it.

Tension, fatigue, temperature fluctuations, dehydration, pollution: our skin is attacked on all sides and can experience some serious upsets. Under the effect of these stresses, your skin feels uncomfortable and can actually age faster. In these circumstances, a simple moisturizer is not enough for you.

Want to know more? 

Living in a scientific world means an unprecedented number of clinical studies which have allowed researchers to study the effect of stress on our skin and to conclude that more than half of women have skin whose functioning is affected by daily stress. They have also been able to show the role of nerve endings in transmitting stress to the skin.

1. The skin is a sensory organ containing fine nerve endings that reach to the outermost layers of the skin.

2. In a "normal" stress situation, the nerve fibers transmit warning signals to the skin cells which, in response, produce substances able to unleash the necessary cutaneous reactions.

3. In a situation of excessive stress, as we experience in today's world, the nerve fibers go wild. The messages they send to the skin cells are overwhelming and the skin reacts too intensely. The skin's natural balance is upset. Under stress, it loses its softness and feeling of comfort. 

Some tips from Lancôme
  • Cold is helpful in de-stressing. Try cold compresses on your temples as well as an ice bag on your forehead. And how about a cold mask to freeze in the refrigerator?
  • As soon as you feel stressed, roll a tennis ball under the arch of your bare feet. Instant relief guaranteed!
  • Breathe out through your mouth, lungs first, then tummy.
  • Rediscover the pleasure of soothing herbal teas: zero calories for the most serenity.
  • Learn to put things in perspective. Force yourself to relax and let go: for a few minutes, close your eyes and empty yourself, concentrating on something that gives you pleasure.

Ten minutes a day, and you'll never see things the same away again.

Some answers to your questions

How do I know if my skin is stressed?
If your skin reacts excessively to temperatures changes, hard water or even overwork, if you feel as if no skin care product is right for it, if you feel your features are tired and drawn, then your skin is stressed and in need of some care to de-stress it.

Does stress in my life have an effect on my skin? 
Yes. Your skin doesn't lead a life of its own. Tension, fatigue, trouble sleeping: your skin is definitely sensitive to all these things.

Do I really need 8 hours sleep a night to have rested skin? 
Your skin has the very same needs as you do. It can be in perfect shape after a short night and exhausted after ten hours of poor, fitful sleep. You have to find your own balance, and your skin's will follow.

Aside from vacations, without even factoring in tanning, I have the impression that my skin is never nice any more. Is that normal? 
It's an almost certain sign of stressed skin: as soon as you regain a feeling of wellness, your skin will regain its serenity. Help it destress and it will become beautiful all year round.

Tips from Biotherm
  • Try to get up at the same time every day to help your internal clock function smoothly.
  • Prepare your skin properly: cleanse, tone and treat your specific type of skin.
  • Have breakfast. A morning meal gives you the necessary energy to combat stress.
  • The night before, prepare your clothes and other things you'll need the next day to prevent stressing yourself out in the morning.
  • Try to go to bed about the same time every evening and sleep at least 7 hours a night. Give yourself about an hour to decompress before going to sleep: relax in a warm bath with essential oils, put on your comfy pyjamas and listen to soft music.
  • Get rid of tension with a good massage. See above.
  • Use warm, not hot, water in your nightly ritual. Hot water irritates the skin, making it lose its elasticity and interfering with the benefits of the products you use.
  • If you tend to be puffy in the morning, sleep on your back with two pillows instead of one, in order to promote circulation and drainage as you sleep. More importantly, never neglect your skin routine. Otherwise your skin will show signs of aging much more quickly.
"Shopping" suggestions

Always think in terms of "ensemble" and "complementarity." All the little tips given above need to be rounded out with a skin calming product. Similarly, if you apply a product without dealing with your daily stress, it will be slower to act, so don't expect an instant miracle cure.

  • Chanel - purifying mask
  • Clarins - Relax body treatment oil with 100% pure plant extracts and Relax bath & shower concentrate with essential oils
  • Lancôme - Hydra Zen anti-stress available in serum, cream and gel
  • Sothys - Complete anti-ageing de-stressing treatment
  • La Prairie - De-stressing anti-aging cream

 

 
 
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