One Proven Way to Decrease Stress I Can’t Stop Thinking About
There’s so much wrapped up in such a small, one-syllable word: STRESS. It’s physical and emotional and mental and basically happens in good and bad ways every single day of life. I get so irked when someone gives the advice to reduce the stress in your life because sometimes it’s not really something you can just cut out.
But we know there are ways to manage the stresses we experience in healthy ways and reducing stress is much more about how we deal with it than necessarily avoiding it altogether. One way that actually decreases stress hormone (cortisol) reduction in the body especially caught my attention.
Stress impacts the skin in some obvious ways. We see it in around the eyes, in breakouts, in slowing collagen synthesis. All of this is tied to the cortisol hormone. When you’re feeling stressed, under pressure, cortisol levels spike which triggers the sebaceous glands to produce more oil (can lead to breakouts, inflammation, redness). Lines and wrinkles are more apparent, skin loses bounce and firmness.
A research study conducted by Dr. Tim Falla, Dr. Katie Rodan and Dr. Kathy Fields published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology found that cortisol levels in saliva decreased by 85% over 8 weeks of using a 3-step skincare routine, morning and night.
That is a massive change from a simple, intentional skincare routine! They also found increased levels of confidence in the study participants.
This means a consistent skin routine has a huge impact on how you feel in all parts of your life.
Having spent years of extensive work with dermatologists on my own skin, and then through training and hands-on experience with my own skin clients, I can say that this finding and statistic are true. I was hit with severe cystic acne and sensitivity in my 30s that lasted for a very long time. 7+ years with dermatologists all along the way. I was always trying new prescriptions and new skincare products and not seeing any results. You can read more about my skin journey here.
When I was able to find a regimen that had all the right active ingredients in a simple daily routine, my consistency increased, my skin changed dramatically, my confidence increased, and my stress felt more manageable.
If you’re looking for this same decrease in stress and increase in confidence, committing to your skincare routine is key. I’m guessing you probably already wash your face, whether it’s just with the bar of soap in the shower or some random products in your drawer, so you’re not necessarily creating a whole new habit here. But switching up your products to a routine that is more streamlined and designed to give you visible and tangible results will feel amazing.
This is what I help clients with every single day and what I love to do because of the impact it has on every day life. To find your dermatologist-recommended routine with the best skincare on the planet — products you can trust to be clean, safe AND work — start with a free facial analysis from our dermatologists and your recommendations will get emailed right to you so you can learn more. Once you have that recommendation, I’m here to help you know what you really need to start with for your particular skin concerns and climate, and what are the best add-ons if you’re looking to boost your results.
We’re all stressed. The world has been heavy and hard these last few years especially. Let’s decrease the stress together starting with our skincare. You know I’m doing this every morning and every night, so I would love for you to do it with me.
Love,
Dayna
