Stress is one of the biggest culprits when it comes to problem skin. Did you know that stress affects your entire body, not just your mood? Stress can also have a powerful effect on your hair, skin and nails.

Unfortunately work, family and financial stresses are all part of life we all have to deal with and get on with at times, but have you ever noticed a pretty quick deterioration in your skin during these stressful times?

When we’re stressed, a chemical response in our bodies makes our skin more sensitive and reactive.

Our bodies produce increased levels of cortisol and other hormones when we’re stressed, causing our sebaceous glands to produce more oil. As we all know, oily skin is bad news for skin prone to acne and other skin complaints.

We tend to eat our emotions, so mix the above with an increased craving for bad foods during periods of stress eating, and we have one very unhappy skin situation!

If you’re prone to skin problems such as psoriasis, rosacea and eczema, stress can worsen these conditions, and even lead to hives, skin rashes or trigger beastly fever blisters. Not good!

Although we can’t always avoid increased periods of stress in our lives, we can take steps to minimize the effects it has on our skin.

Worry not: here are my top 5 tips to help you through times of stress and back to your happy place:

1. No matter how tired or stressed you are, don’t neglect your skin! Continue to use high quality skincare products, double cleanse at night and exfoliate three times per week. My Cream Suprême AKA skin savior is Infused with an organic certified Anti-Acne Complex, which has been clinically proven to reduce acne bacteria activity and redness, improve the health of oily skin, providing balance between hydration and oil production. Read more about my multi-functional skin superhero here
   
2. Exercise regularly to not only burn off some of that stress, but also get the oxygen pumping around your body and release some of those feel good endorphins
3. Take time EVERY DAY to relax. Even if it’s a 15-minute bath with your favourite products, candlelight and soothing music, you will feel like some of that weight has been lifted off your shoulders
4. Sleep, sleep SLEEP! When we’re stressed we often don’t sleep as well, which can further aggravate our stress levels and our skin issues. Try chamomile tea before bed, and reading a book before you go to bed rather than looking at a TV, computer or phone which can stimulate your brain and keep you awake
5. Practice calming stress management techniques such as yoga, meditation or breathing slowly in and out

Stay brave!