9 WAYS TO STRESS LESS AND GLOW MORE

Stress Less and Glow More

It’s a catch 22, telling someone to stress less can have the opposite effect. They end up stressing more.
But perhaps by me sharing with you the effects of stress on the skin, something just might click and give you the turn key moment you need to find ways of de-stressing your life. Even if it's going for a 15-minute walk every day to clear the head or indulging in that warm bubble bath with your favourite magazine. Taking you time is a powerful way to stress less and glow more.

When we stress more we produce a stress hormone called Cortisol. Cortisol increases your testosterone levels which increases your sebum (oil) production. If you already have clogged pores (see my tips here on how to keep pores clear) this increase in oil can cause an unexpected skin breakout.
Our bodies also make less progesterone and oestrogen which are needed to make skin plumping hyaluronic acid and collagen. Cortisol also elevates your blood sugar levels leading to an increase in Glycation a process of sugar binding to our collagen fibers. We need collagen to keep our skin looking plump and youthful. Collagen is the scaffolding of our skin.
Stress increases skin sensitives such as rashes, itches and eczema as the immune function is impaired.

9 Ways To Stress Less and Glow More


These techniques may not completely remove all the stresses in your life, but even if they help you a smidge I am happy. Try 1 or all of the below and allow your skin to glow:

1. Try to get a minimum of 7 hours a sleep every night. Your body needs this important recovery time to remove waste, rebuild and recover from the daily onslaught of free radical damage from the UV and environment. Say goodbye to dark circles and puffiness when you get a regular good night's sleep.

2. Try to avoid that nightly glass of alcohol, you not only sleep better but you won't be depleting essential vitamins.

3. Eat a diet rich in protein, healthy fats, vegetables and cultured foods. Limit processed foods and sugar. Drink 1-1.5 liters of water daily.

4. Exercise, even if it is a 15-minute walk after dinner to clear the head. Daily exercise has profound research for decreasing stress levels and releasing those feel good hormones.

5. Throw away that magnifying mirror .... if you cannot see it in the normal mirror, no one else can. We are our own worst critics, flip that magnifying mirror time to sit quietly for that 15 minutes instead. Stillness is like magic for the soul.

6. Breathing, you can do this in the car or in the middle of your weekly meeting with your not so favourite boss. Breathe in for 6 seconds, hold for 3 and release for 6 seconds. No one will even know you are doing this and you will be the zen and glow master.

7. Take a B Vitamin along with magnesium and zinc. Are body is lacking in these minerals and vitamins when our body is under stress.

8. Good-bye refined sugar. I have written on glycation before and it is a fascinating subject for me. Our collagen forms the scaffolding in our skin, it is part of our skin's matrix and is utterly important for anyone wanting to look youthful and healthy. Excess sugars floating around in our body attach to our collagen fibers and break them down. NOT what we want. Yes, that Kit Kat tastes damn fine, but it is the skin's worst enemy. If you cannot cut out refined sugar completely, then don't stress about it. Perhaps cut down to once a week instead of nightly.

9. Self Development: this is my most powerful way to de-stress. Don't get me wrong it can be confronting, but gosh do I feel great once I have processed and implemented the learned lessons. I love learning more about myself and my emotions and taking proactive steps to be a better person than I was the day before. If you have stressful situations in your life, counselling or talking to friends/family you trust can relieve those stress levels dramatically.

Image credits:

Copyright: dolgachov / 123RF Stock Photo

Copyright: alenkasm / 123RF Stock Photo