You wear sunscreen daily, eat a healthy diet, and apply anti-aging treatments every night. But if you’re not managing stress in your life, you could still be experiencing signs of premature aging, not to mention acne, eczema, and psoriasis. Keep reading to learn how stress affects your skin and what you can do about it.

3 Negative Effects Stress Has on Skin

1. Stress Can Dry Out Your Skin

Stress raises levels of adrenaline and cortisol in the body, which activates the sweat glands. If you’re not replacing the water you’re releasing, your skin can easily become more dehydrated. Dehydrated skin shows more signs of aging like fine lines and wrinkles. To prevent dehydrated skin, make sure to drink plenty of water, avoid alcohol, and use a hydrating serum like M serum underneath your moisturizer.


2. Stress Can Make Your Skin More Oily

Stress is tricky because while it can cause your skin to dry out, it can also make it more oily, especially if you’re prone to acne. To keep pores clear and prevent breakouts, exfoliate regularly with Perfect Cleansing Scrub.


3. Stress Can Cause Under Eye Circles

If you’re having a hard time turning off stressful thoughts so you can go to sleep, you might also experience dark circles under your eyes. Without enough beauty sleep, fluid can pool in the under eye area, making your eyes look darker and puffier than usual. To brighten and depuff under eye circles, use M Eye Brightening and practice good sleep hygiene habits—like sleeping with ear plugs and avoiding screens an hour before bedtime.


Natural Ways to Relieve Stress

Learning to manage your stress levels is one of the best things you can do for your skin. Need some ideas? Meditation, regular exercise, creative pursuits like drawing or journaling, and time spent outdoors are all proven ways to reduce stress naturally.