Whether it’s due to money worries, family issues, or watching the news too much, elevated stress often shows up on my skin.

Here are 5 ways your skin sends you a message that it’s time to take a deep breath and slow down:

1. “Adult acne”

Stress causes your body to release more cortisol - your stress hormone. 

This elevated cortisol then causes the glands to produce more oil. And this excess oil then mixes with dead skin cells and bacteria to trigger pesky breakouts. 

So “adult acne” is a real thing. Except it's not rampant hormones to blame, but overwhelming stress to blame.

2. Dryness and Flaking

Stress hormones weaken your skin's natural moisture barrier. And when your skin’s ability to retain moisture is compromised, this leads to dry patches, flaking, and an uncomfortable tight feeling. 

The good news is that eating foods high in hyaluronic acid - like bone broth, oranges, and pineapple - can flood your skin with moisture from the inside out. So you can maintain plump, glowing skin during even the most demanding times. 

3. Dark Under-Eye Circles and Bags

Stress causes fluid retention, resulting in puffy bags that make you look exhausted - even if you've had a full night’s sleep. 

Stress also causes blood vessels to dilate, causing dark circles in the delicate under eye area. 

Stress-induced eye bags and dark circles are hard to fade, or hide even under a thick layer of concealer. The good news is that Complete Eye Serum can fade four aging eye signs at once and restores her eyes’ youthful sparkle.

4. Accelerated Wrinkles and Sagging

Chronically elevated stress can make you look like you’ve aged years in a matter of weeks. Again, high levels of cortisol are to blame. 

This is because cortisol loves to munch on a protein that’s essential for firm, youthful and snappy looking skin: Elastin. 

The good news? 

You can restore peak levels of elastin with a 30 second morning ritual, which uses ingredients found on a volcanic Mediterranean island.

5. Angry Red Patches

Periods of stress can trigger outbreaks of inflammation around the skin’s surface. This inflammation can then cause the skin to become more sensitive and prone to redness, blotchiness, and flare-ups. 

Yet, like all the other warning signs of stress…

The secret is adopting self care, for both your mental health and skincare.

So if you struggle with stress, and it’s showing up on your skin, consider practicing relaxation techniques, like yoga, deep breathing, and make sure to keep your skin nourished and hydrated.

The key takeaway is this: Your skin’s appearance isn’t just what happens on the outside.

Your skin reflects your emotions and what’s happening inside your body too. 

Which is why outbreaks, redness, and accelerated wrinkles are all gentle reminders to take better care of ourselves and our skin.