How To Calm Your Skin

By Mary Klest | editor

To calm your skin, you often need to calm yourself. The mind-body or skin-brain connection is apparent when it comes to taking care of our skin. Skin issues may occur when we are stressed and worrying about something. Under stress our body releases all sorts of hormones including cortisol, which increases oil production in skin glands. Internal inflammation caused by the body’s stress response may manifest itself as redness, itchiness, psoriasis, acne or eczema flare ups. Other factors such as overly aggressive skin care, cosmetics, and long exposure to pollutants and sun rays can agitate the skin. If we are reacting badly to something, it’s likely that your skin is too. Don’t let worry ruin your skin. Here are some ways to calm your skin that will likely calm yourself as well.   

When it comes to skin care and cosmetics products many dermatologists agree that products with fewer ingredients and no fragrance are less likely to agitate the skin. Products most likely to cause a skin reaction include soap, moisturizer, shampoo, detergent, eye makeup and lip stains. Read the labels on such products to determine what ingredients they contain and whether it is fragrance free. Knowing what’s in your products will calm you and your skin. Some ingredients known to soothe skin include aloe vera, niacinamide, chamomile, caffeine, and licorice root.

Make your skin care routine a soothing ritual, not an aggressive attempt at perfection. Be mindful of the sensory experience of washing with water, the texture of soap and creams, the smells, and tactile touch when massaging your skin with a moisturizer. Take a few deep breaths, increasing your flow of oxygen to help rejuvenate skin. Making skin care a ritual can banish your worries and boost a sense of accomplishment. It can become a form of meditation and relaxation. Research shows that relaxing meditation supports cell reparation and regeneration. Instead of stress hormones, your body releases feel-good serotonin, which increases your sense of well being. A good mood often shows itself in glowing skin. 

Environmental factors such as poor air quality and UV index are associated with skin aging, atopic dermatitis, skin cancer and more. Many weather apps show air quality levels as well as UV index so heed precautions if you are exposing your skin. Some skin is sensitive to sunscreen products so look for ones with fewer ingredients that contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide which act as physical blockers.

Another important aspect for calming your skin is to be patient with it. Unlike social media platforms that provide filters and airbrushing tools for instant beautification of your skin, real life is slower and more telling. Relish your look for what it is, not some Eurocentric ideal of beauty. Be you, an authentic original who knows how to stay calm and carry on.

(photo: monstera | pexels)