Add stress to the growing list of culprits that accelerate aging. It’s true: Not only does stress take a toll on how you feel, it affects how you look. In addition to causing dehydration and increasing inflammation and redness in skin, stress is proven to contribute to premature aging.
Similar to UV exposure and pollution, stress leads to free radical exposure which damages the skin at a cellular level causing those early signs of aging. You can blame cortisol, a hormone your body releases when it’s stressed. Too much cortisol can wreak havoc on the body, including your skin, and leads to wrinkles, dullness and loss of elasticity.
Plus, when you’re stressed, chances are you’re also not sleeping well or eating particularly healthy. Lack of sleep and too much sugar or processed foods are also known to contribute to accelerated aging.
While there’s not much you can do to avoid stress, you can address the effect it has on your skin. These products help the skin to cope with stress, aiding and restoring its natural defenses against premature aging. Plus, they’re easy to add to your existing skincare routine and the act of applying them may just provide that moment of meditative stress relief you need in your day.
Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Moisturizer
This supercharged moisturizer delivers up to 24 hours of hydration with a dewy glow that works great when applied under makeup. The potent formula is powered by antioxidant-rich lotus root extract, maca root extract and vitamin E to fight the first signs of aging while simultaneously hydrating and improving skin radiance.
Dr. Dennis Gross B3 Adaptive Superfoods™ Stress Rescue Super Serum
This serum is the ultimate wellness package with an abundance of stress-fighting adaptogens, antioxidant-rich superfoods and reparative niacinamide. Adaptogenic herbs, including chaga mushroom, maca root and ashwagandha, help the body recover from short- and long-term physical or mental stress, while antioxidant-rich superfoods like goji berry, cacao and avocado peptides help the skin repair itself and fight off inflammation. All of these ingredients are housed in a double-wall encapsulated delivery system for clinically proven penetration and targeted absorption.
Read next: Why Stress Is the Surprising Culprit Drying Your Skin this Winter
