There are some days when I am just spread way too thin. I'm running from pre-school drop off to karate and back to pre-school pick up! And somewhere in between I'd like to post on my blog or do some work-related research for Purity!
But by the end of the day, I am spent and exhausted. Tightly wound and a bit frenetic. I look in the mirror and my skin is haggard, my eyes are bloodshot. And I am certain that my frown lines are that much deeper.
The stress of life undoubtedly plays a role in the health of your skin. So tonight, while my husband is at a work event and (miraculously) all three boys are asleep, I thought I would research some quick de-stressing techniques that can also help in the beauty department. Here's what I found!
Exercise: According to the Mayo-Clinic, almost any form of exercise will help reduce stress by boosting your endorphins! I personally find that going for a quick run at least 3x a week helps me put my worries into perspective and cleans out my head so I can focus on the positive. How is exercise good for your skin? Well, anything that boosts your body's circulation is going to help keep your skin vibrant and glowing!
A Cup of Tea: Me time. I rarely get it yet always crave it. Taking the time to enjoy a cup of tea helps your body slow down, rest, restore. And sipping on Green Tea infuses your body with skin-protecting antioxidants that will boost your radiance while fighting off free radicals!
Hot water with Lemon: Like a cup of tea, a nice hot cup of lemon water usually means I've finally gotten a minute to myself- a moment for self-care! Any consumption of water, hot or cold, helps with hydration (dry, dehydrated skin is the #1 cause of premature aging) and adding a few lemon slices is thought to help detoxify your body. Jam-packed with antioxidants, lemon water can help fight against free radicals while the Vitamin C helps repair damaged skin cells.
Skincare Ritual: A good skincare ritual is essential for more than just your skin. Retreating to a spa or even taking five to ten minutes before bedtime to focus on your skin can have major de-stressing capabilities. Tee-ing up a shameless plug here, but
Purity of Elements is all about the self-care ritual. Delicately scented products like our
Daily Detoxifying Exfoliating Cleanser and
Hydrating Body Wash do more than clean your skin- they provide an aromatherapeutic experience- a few moments to focus on you while you escape from the chaos of your day.
Sleep: Rest is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle. It's difficult to cut ourselves off from technology- emails, text messages, phone calls, television, computers, cell phones. There is no shortage of stimulus! But putting down the technology and making sleep a priority will help eliminate stress and restore your skin. Our bodies need a chance to recover and if we aren't getting the recommended seven hours of sleep, than we will wear that fatigue on our faces. My goal is to be in bed by 10pm and lights out by 10:30pm (editor's note, I was feeling inspired this evening and had to type away...I acknowledge that it's 11:30pm ;)
Do you think you will adopt any of these tips??
