Skin health represents overall health. So, if you’re noticing stress lines pop up on your skin, your body may be signaling to you it needs some time and care to unstress. Because the essential function of the skin is simply to protect you from the outside environment, your skin will reflect the amount of stress it is combatting — which may result in dryness, dullness, and fine lines on the skin. While aging is a natural part of life, accelerated aging can actually occur from oxidative stress but with ample antioxidants and stress relieving practices, you can protect yourself from oxidative stress and reduce stress lines on the face.

Stress lines are simply a symptom and snapshot of your overall health. Read on to learn what causes stress lines, how different types of stress affect the skin, effective techniques to reduce stress lines, and natural remedies to help manage your day to day stress.

What Causes Stress Lines on Your Face?

Age is biological, not chronological and we can actually measure age by the health of our cells. Stress, the environment, and lifestyle factors (like alcohol, sugar, and lack of sleep) can create oxidative stress in the body, which is the root cause of accelerated aging. One of the major ways accelerated aging presents on the skin is fine lines on the forehead, under eyes, frown, and around the mouth.

As stress puts skin in a weakened state, the tension wears away at its protective barrier and biome, making skin less firm, elastic, and resilient.

How Different Types of Stress Affect Skin

There are two different types of stress but interestingly, they affect the skin in similar ways.

Psychological Stress

Stress can be psychological and can come from a variety of places — maybe you’re overwhelmed at work, or balancing home life, or struggling with a relationship. According to the American Psychological Association, there are three types of mental stress:

• Acute Stress: This is stress that is brief, like a momentary argument with a loved one.
• Episodic Stress: This is stress that is conditional but sequential, like multiple projects being juggled at work.
• Chronic Stress: This is stress that has been consistent throughout time, like worrying about how to simultaneously tend to work life, home life, and relationships.

Psychological stress, regardless of the type, impacts both the body and the skin. These mentally draining situations cause oxidative stress in the brain and because of the brain-skin connection, these life events can impact skin health.

Environmental Stress

Environmental stress is everything in the outside environment that can put pressure on the body. In this case, there are two types of environmental stress:

• Environmental stress you can control: Think toxins applied to the body (like harmful chemicals in skin care products), and lifestyle choices (like not getting enough sleep and eating nutrient low foods).
• Environmental stress you can’t always control: Think sun damage, air pollution, and toxins in your environment.

These external environmental factors can increase oxidative stress in the body and accelerate signs of aging, potentially causing stress lines. While you may not see these stressors or feel their effects emotionally, they can weaken the immune system and decrease general health. In the same way you can get stressed out from a variety of things throughout the day, your skin can too. While some of these environmental stressors may be outside of your control, the good news is lifestyle choices can greatly affect the appearance and function of your skin.

Here are a few ways you can reduce the appearance of stress lines: 

7 Ingredients for Reducing Stress Lines

The following ingredients can be ingested and used topically to reduce stress lines from the inside out and outside in. Learn how these ingredients help reduce skin stress while building skin health.

1. Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic Acid helps skin cells to retain their moisture and make skin appear more hydrated and smooth. When applied topically, some benefits of Hyaluronic Acid serum are: supports barrier function, supports collagen production, increases skin elasticity, and reduces the appearance of fine lines. Add Hyaluronic Acid into your skin care routine by using Plump Jelly, a Hyaluronic Acid serum, to prime the skin and Cosmic Cream, a dewy moisturizer, to hydrate the skin.

2. Tocos

Tocos is a super Vitamin E that works as a powerful antioxidant to help protect against oxidative stress and seal in hydration. This nutrient protects collagen levels and can reduce stress lines. Plump Jelly and Cosmic Cream also contains skin supportive Tocos.

3. Glutathione

Glutathione, the master antioxidant, helps maintain healthy cell function and can be found in every cell in the body. Glutathione works synergistically with Vitamin C and E to neutralize free radicals and repair cell structure, which is essential for healthy, stress free skin.

4. Vitamin C

There’s many benefits of Vitamin C serum, as it contains a powerful antioxidant that protects against oxidative damage and supports collagen production, which is essential for stress resilient skin. Because the body cannot create Vitamin C, nature wants us to supplement by incorporating it as an ingredient in our diet and skin care to nourish skin health.

5. Vitamin E

Vitamin E is an essential fatty acid with regenerative antioxidative properties that works on the lipid layer of cells to protect from free radicals. By doing so, Vitamin E protects collagen levels and prevents visible signs of aging.

6. Astaxanthin

Astaxanthin is a powerful antioxidant derived from microalgae that reduces the appearance of stress lines by improving skin elasticity. Studies have shown Astaxanthin can support skin balance and smoothness.

7. Silica

Silica is an essential mineral for health and plays a major role in the health of skin and connective tissues. Because Silica is a cofactor of collagen and elastin production, it is important to have adequate levels of it, which can be sourced from Silica rich foods, supplements, and skin care.

An easy and efficient way to incorporate several of these ingredients into your routine is to take a comprehensive skin supplement.

SuperBeauty® is cellular skin care that provides a potent blend of antioxidants and essential ingredients to protect the skin from accelerated aging and stress lines. This skin nourishing beauty supplement has Vitamin C from Acerola Berry which helps manage oxidative stress, the powerhouse antioxidant Glutathione which supports cell health, and Silica which is an essential cofactor for collagen and elastin production. Its clinical strength formula also has marine algae derived Astaxanthin to reduce the appearance of lines.

Natural Remedies to Help Manage Stress

Stress management is essential for healthy skin and reducing the appearance of stress and worry lines. By consistently engaging in a few natural remedies for stress relief, you can sustainably manage your stress. Here’s how:

1. Meditate

Meditation is especially helpful for psychological stress. A study conducted on a meditation training program found that mindfulness meditation could significantly reduce stress levels and increase well being. If you’re experiencing acute or episodic stress, meditation may help you effectively and sustainably manage it.

2. Spend Time in Nature

There is extensive (and exciting!) research on the benefits of simply being outside amongst the trees. Spending time in natural green spaces, also known as forest bathing, has been shown to help reduce both psychological and environmental stress. Grounding (walking barefoot on the earth) has been shown to reduce stress, increase energy and sleep quality, and support well being. So the next time you’re feeling stressed, take your shoes off and spend some time connecting with the natural world around you.

3. Nourish With Food

The quality of your nutrition will be reflected in your skin. If you’re experiencing psychological or environmental stress, and noticing stress lines on your skin, it may be worthwhile to reflect on what your relationship with food looks like. By incorporating a diet that is rich in essential vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, and protein, you can supply your body with the nutrients it needs to recover and repair from stress. When you eat a variety of plant based foods, your internal health will be reflected in your external appearance.

4. Take Adaptogens

Adaptogens are stress-busting herbs and mushrooms that can help the body find balance amidst daily stress. These potent plants and mushrooms have been used for centuries in Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine. Adaptogens are natural stress relievers that can improve mood and energy while keeping stress levels in check. Look for supplements containing powerful stress reducing adaptogens like Ashwagandha and Reishi.

5. Hum

Humming and singing create vocalized vibrations that can actually reduce stress. These feel good vibrations activate the vagus nerve, the body’s superhighway that runs from the diaphragm to the brainstem that regulates feelings of stress and safety.

Engaging in humming can create rhythmic vibrations that send signals throughout the body that it is safe to reduce stress and increase feelings of calm.

6.Sleep More

Many people report not getting enough sleep and sleep deprivation can increase stress. By improving your sleep quality and quantity, you can give your body the time necessary to repair skin cells and recover from environmental stressors.

7. Move Your Body

Any amount of physical activity helps combat stress. It is not necessary to overwork yourself with exercise, in fact movement that is too intense and too frequent can actually add stress to the body. But, by participating in conscious movement and getting your heart rate up, you can reduce psychological stress and protect yourself against environmental stress.

8. Be in Community

Managing stress can be as simple as spending more time with those you love. By having good social support and surrounding yourself with those who care about your welling, you can actually reduce stress levels! So consider carving out more time to nurture the relationships in your life — it’ll keep your stress and their stress in check. 

Takeaway

Your skin is a snapshot of the bigger picture that is your health. If you’re seeing forehead lines (here’s some tips on how to get rid of forehead lines) or frown lines pop up on your face, that’s okay! It could simply be your skin’s way of telling you that your body is stressed, either because of psychological stressors or environmental stressors, or likely both. Regardless of the type of stress you may be experiencing, there are a few simple ways to effectively reduce your stress lines and a few more ways to sustainably manage your overall stress levels. By incorporating a couple of these tips — like adding in a skin supportive beauty supplement, engaging in movement, and spending time outside or with those you love, you can protect your skin (and body) from everyday stress.