How stress affects skin and the best ways to treat flare-ups – including £13 cream

ok.co.uk:

They say that bad things come in threes, and that’s certainly true with me and minor facial ailments. A few times a year an unsightly combination of spots, mouth ulcers and eye styes will spring up on my face, an assortment of harmless but annoying lumps that seemingly appear from nowhere.

But if I think about it, these bad skin days almost always happen during particularly stressful times, my face more than willing to give away the state of my mental wellbeing. “When you’re stressed the brain releases the hormones cortisol and adrenaline,” explains Daniel Isaacs, Medik8’s director of research. “These can damage the cells’ DNA resulting in skin ageing, weaken the skin barrier causing inflammation, and increase sebum production, which can cause acne.

Studies have shown that stress affects a whole spectrum of skincare concerns.” Of course, the real solution is to tackle the root cause of the stress, but while I work on that (two weeks on a tropical island should do it, right…?), here are the products I reach for to settle my skin, hair and maybe even my mind during trying times… Best moisturiser Faace Stress Faace Moisturiser, £34 here Doing exactly what it says on the tin, this happy chappy tackles a multitude of stress-related skin concerns – from dehydration and dullness to excess sebum production and sensitivity – all in one tub.This is thanks to a smart active ingredient called Neurophroline, which inhibits the production of cortisol, dialling down stressed skin in just a few hours.

Best night cream Aveeno Calm + Restore Re-Hydrating Night Cream, £12.99 here Oats aren’t just comforting at breakfast time on a cold morning; in skincare, they also soothe sensitive or super-dry skin.