We hear it all the time, stress is the leading factor of disease within the body…and the skin is no different. As our largest organ, it’s paramount we learn how to keep damage in check during anxiety-ridden times, especially if your face is the place that’s showing signs of stress.

Wrinkles

Noticing more fine lines and laxity in your skin? Stress may be impacting you on a hormonal level. Cortisol, the hormone released in response to stress, is the natural enemy of collagen, breaking down the connective tissue that keeps your complexion taut and firm. But beyond damaging collagen, anxiety can also cause us to hold certain facial expressions, such as furrowing the brow which can eventually cause permanent wrinkling on the forehead and around the eyes.

The Solution: Become mindful of when you are holding facial expressions in moments of stress. Breathe in deeply, and as you exhale, visualize your face being relaxed and smooth. Meditation is also helpful, even if you have just a few moments. Download a meditation app onto your mobile device so you have no excuse to take a quick beauty bliss moment. Lack of hydration is typically a wrinkle culprit, so make sure you consume at least 8 glasses of pure water each day to prevent dry skin and to eliminate toxins. For a quick hydration fix, use a serum that contains hyaluronic acid, an ingredient that naturally occurs in your body and holds 1,000 times its weight in water. It even pulls moisture from the air into the skin, instantly hydrating and leaving you with a gorgeous glow.

Under-Eye Bags

Tomorrow’s to-do list can weigh on your mind, keeping you from getting enough beauty sleep. This can cause fluid to pool below your lower eyelid resulting in a puffy mess in the morning. Stomach sleepers, bad news: You can expect the puffiness of your under-eye bags to be even worse due to gravity.

The Solution: Get at least eight hours of sleep. Since the light from your smartphone’s screen simulates sunlight, shut off any electronic devices an hour before you go to sleep. Use your downtime to enjoy a cup of caffeine-free chamomile tea to help calm and relax you before bed. If you still wake up with puffy eyes in the morning, hold the back of a cold spoon (pop it in the fridge) up to your under-eye area and massage it from the inner to the outer corner of your eye to jumpstart the fluid’s drainage. Then, apply concealer in an inverted triangle under your eye. The brightness will start slightly below your nostrils and build toward your eye, concealing the puffiness.

In today’s world, stress seems inevitable, yet, there are simple solutions that can make all the difference in showing a face that appears to have just returned from a relaxing vacation.

Elizabeth Scarcella, founder of Go Get Young and co-owner of Rx2Fitness, is dedicated to helping others find health in all aspects of life. For more information, find her at [email protected].