STRESS: OUR 8 TIPS TO REDUCE IT NATURALLY
According to a study carried out at the end of 2017 by the French Institute of OpinionWay opinion polls, stress affects 9 out of 10 French people. 50% say they are “very” or “somewhat” stressed, women being the most affected by stress , since 60% of them say they are stressed, against 38% for men.
Science has shown the link between stress and its detrimental effects on skin health.
How does stress manifest itself? How to remedy it naturally? We tell you everything!
THE ADVERSE EFFECTS OF STRESS ON THE SKIN
We have all experienced a moment of stress in our life: examination, interview, preparation for an event, illness, unemployment… This period of stress can be longer or shorter, with a feeling of varying intensity depending on the person. .
How does stress manifest itself and what is its use? Stress and the way it is expressed (faster heartbeat, cold sweats, tremors, etc.) are warning signals triggered by our body to prepare us to react to surrounding dangers. The body then secretes stress hormones (cortisol and adrenaline) which induce an increased heart rate, and faster breathing. Our energy is mobilized to face the danger to come. In prehistoric times, this mechanism proved to be particularly effective in dealing with predators and ensuring the survival of the human species. Today, although our lives are rarely really threatened, our bodies have retained these same survival mechanisms. He doesn't differentiate between a grizzly bear on the verge of attacking and an angry coworker blaming you.
Since the skin comes from the same embryonic tissue as the nervous system, it is closely connected to it. Under the influence of stress hormones, the skin reacts and changes appearance. She becomes pale as the vessels constrict, sweats more. Continuous overuse of the skin by stress hormones ends up altering the skin barrier by disrupting blood circulation providing it with the nutrients it needs to function properly. It is not for nothing if we say "to be bad about yourself" or "to be on edge"!
Depending on the nature of our skin, stress will aggravate and accentuate certain discomforts. For example, if you have dry skin, it will become more dehydrated, and in the most extreme cases, red patches will appear on the face but also on the whole body.
For combination to oily skin, stress will result in the appearance of excess sebum, especially in the T zone, promoting clogging of the pores and the appearance of blemishes. In fact, stress induces an inflammatory response which makes acne worse.
But unfortunately, our skin is not the only collateral victim of stress. The condition of our hair and nails can also deteriorate along with anxiety. Generally, the most preoccupied and stressed people are often more prone to behaviors such as biting their nails, pulling their eyelashes, etc. Far from being aesthetic for both men and women. , nibbling his nails considerably damages the hands.
Once this habit has set in, it becomes difficult to remedy it.
In addition to weakening the nails, stress can also cause hair loss. While it is completely normal and natural to lose around 50 to 100 hairs per day, beyond a hundred you will need to start thinking about it and seeing a specialist.
As with skin problems, stress will have a significant impact on our weight gain depending on the morphology of each person.
Weight gain or loss, please watch your diet during stressful times.
OUR 8 NATURAL ANTI-STRESS REMEDIES
1. Exercise regularly or walk 10 minutes.
Yoga, walking, etc ... get moving and stay active to free your mind.
While regular sports activity helps reduce stress, sometimes there is not enough time or motivation. In this case, walk only 10 min, preferably in a green space, practicing "full consciousness" close to meditation, that is to say in silence while focusing your attention on your sensations, your breathing allows you to release endorphins, the hormones of well-being and therefore reduce stress.
2. Avoid bad fats and favor meals rich in vitamins and antioxidants.
To help your skin defend itself against external aggressions but especially the harmful effects of stress on your epidermis, consider eating healthy. For the list of fruits and vegetables rich in vitamins, antioxidants and omega 3 and 9, see our article: Anti-aging, our 8 natural tips to reduce wrinkles.
3. Learn to breathe.
It doesn't sound like much, but breathing helps soothe thes tension and relieve stress effectively and quickly.
When you feel the stress building up, breathe in slowly through your nose, and breathe out through your mouth. Count 5 seconds per inhalation and 5 seconds per exhalation. Repeat the operation as many times as necessary to relax and make that lump in your stomach disappear.
4. Practice self-massage by stimulating the LI4 acupuncture point to restore calm.
This point is located between the index finger and the thumb, where the two fingers meet. Using the index finger and thumb of the opposite hand, pinch, applying firm pressure for three minutes. Breathe deeply while inflating the abdomen.
You can also heat a few drops of our Precious Radiance Oil in the palm of your hands and massage yourself gently to loosen the knots. Skull, forehead, shoulders and feet, focus on these areas to chase away stress.
5. Transform your home into a place dedicated to well-being and relaxation.
Avoid leaving your apartment in a mess, which can increase stress once you get home.
Create a place conducive to relaxation by placing scented candles and diffusing soothing essential oils (eg Mandarin).
6. Practice positive thinking
There is a solution for every problem. Change the way you think about situations in a positive way. Practiced regularly, positive autosuggestion is a good way to build self-confidence, reduce stress and anxiety.
7. Take care of your skin with organic and natural cosmetics!
To fight against dryness, excess sebum, and skin barrier imbalance due to stress, it is important to hydrate your skin sufficiently.
- If you have combination to oily skin, apply the Soothing Radiance Jelly morning and evening, our organic face cream, a unique combination of high-performance active ingredients such as Green Banana, Aloe Vera and Hyaluronic Acid for plump and plump skin. hydrated for 24 hours. Dry skin will prefer the Comforting Cream with Yellow Banana, Mango Butter and Hyaluronic Acid.
- To gently absorb impurities and eliminate toxins, we recommend that you apply a purifying mask once a week. On damp face, apply our Purifying Creamy Mask. Leave on for ten minutes then rinse.
8. When the hair is damaged, dry and brittle, it only needs one thing: to be pampered!
Therefore, do not hesitate to optimize hair masks and oil baths to strengthen and limit hair loss.
In the palm of your hand, heat a dose of Nutritive Precious Oil and apply to lengths and ends. To maximize the effectiveness of the oil, wrap your hair in a hot towel. Leave on for 30 minutes and proceed with your usual shampoo.
Remember, the more stressed you are, the more the stress will have a detrimental effect on the state of your mind and your skin. So breathe, calm down and smile for life!
