Published: January 15, 2022

The field of psychology recognizes two kinds of stress that affect the human mind: eustress and distress. Eustress, which is commonly known as good stress, pertains to short-term stress that causes a spike in focus or performance. An example of eustress is taking on a challenging workout, or accepting a new, unfamiliar job for the first time. While these may cause momentary stress, they ultimately push a person to do their best and teach them new ways to cope with difficult situations. 

Distress, on the other hand, is jarringly different. Unlike good stress, distress feels unpleasant and may cause anxiety. Rather than boosting performance, it stunts personal improvement. The way we react and cope with negative stressors varies. However, when distress spirals beyond our control, it can manifest emotionally, mentally, and physically. One of the most obvious ways that stress manifests is through our skin.

Here, VouPre unpacks the factors that contribute to negative stress and break down a few simple ways for you to de-stress for your skin:

Unpacking External and Internal Stressors

These days, it can seem like there is no shortage of stress in the world. From personal relationships to public health concerns, stress seems like a constant that we just can’t shake. 

This observation is more truthful than most may realize. Stressors are perpetual forces that are always present, manifesting in our lives both externally and internally. In both external and internal forms, stressors can negatively affect us and our skin in their unique ways:

First, consider external or environmental stressors. Both natural and manmade, external stressors can take the form of:

• Pollution
• Smoke
• Dust
• Harsh weather
• UV radiation

These stressors are the reason why keeping the skin in check is crucial. These factors contribute to aging and increase the risk of cutaneous diseases like skin cancer. Among the environmental stressors listed above, UV radiation and pollution are particularly alarming. UV radiation can be credited for up to 80% of visible signs of skin aging, while air pollution causes up to eight million deaths per year, according to the World Health Organization.

Internal Stress

Stress can also take shape internally. Internal stressors take psychological, mental, and emotional factors into account. These refer to things like:

• Expectations
• Personal relationships
• Lack of control

Unlike external factors that we have minimal control over, our response to internal stressors plays a part in how much or how little they affect our well-being. When the mind is under stress, the hypothalamus signals the body to release adrenaline and cortisol. Both can do the body good. Adrenaline boosts energy while cortisol disposes of non-essential functions in potentially life-threatening situations. However, if stressors are constantly present, health problems like anxiety, depression, headaches, heart disease, and memory impairment may arise.

Further, elevated cortisol levels disrupt the skin’s sebum balance. It makes oil production surge which, in turn, clogs pores and causes “stress acne” breakouts.

6 Ways to De-Stress for Your Skin

With a variety of internal and external stressors present in our daily lives, learning how to cope with and expel stress is vital for both our skin and our sanity. Here, VouPre helps you get started with six quick tips to de-stress for your skin:

Try Out Microneedling

On the hunt for ways to spice up your self-care routine? Look no further than microneedling, a dermatological procedure that involves using a tool with small, shallow needles to make micro punctures on the skin. While this may sound intimidating to some, at-home microneedling devices are gentler, safer, and less sharp than those used in professional dermatology clinics. Nevertheless, these convenient home devices still get the job done.

Despite the uncanny nature of microneedling, it remains a popular self-care and skincare ritual worldwide. Its benefits include visibly improving the effects of skin stress, such as:

• Improving the look of acne
• Reducing the appearance of hyperpigmentation
• Fading the visibility of scars and stretch marks
• Reducing the look of wrinkles and fine lines

When used alongside skincare, microneedle rollers can also aid in product absorption. The micropunctures created by the roller act as micro-channels for skincare to penetrate the stratum corneum and work on a deeper level.

Here at VouPre, 0.3-millimeter microneedle rollers come with our skincare sets: the Aqua Collection, Cannabis Collection, and Thermal Collection.

Take Caution with Sensitive Skin

Despite the many benefits of microneedling, it is always important to be cautious of your skin state and sensitivity level. Those who suffer from easily irritated skin or a compromised barrier would benefit from a gentle skincare routine packed with ingredients that soothe the feel of the skin instead. 

Here are some skincare ingredients to consider to de-stress for your skin:

• Cucumber Fruit Extract
• Green Tea Extract
• Aloe Vera Extract
• Marigold Extract

Those with sensitive skin would also benefit from alcohol- and essential oil-free formulas. These ingredients can aggravate irritation.

Here at VouPre, our products are formulated to bring the best out of all skin types, including those who may be suffering from sensitivity. Here are some products to consider to soothe your appearance: 

Stress-Busting Skincare from VouPre

The Deep Renewal Facial Peel is an exfoliating peel that helps bring back the bright look that your skin may have lost to stress and fatigue. Lightweight and gentle, this product helps lift dead skin cells and deep-seated dirt trapped within the skin. It is also formulated with Vitamin E and Hydroxyacetophenone, both of which are antioxidants.

The Advanced Gold Eye Serum is another multi-tasking product to add to your rotation. In addition to a rich blend of plant extracts that can help you de-stress for your skin, this eye serum contains peptides. These peptides contribute to reducing the look of fine lines.

Get Enough Sleep

Even with piled-up responsibilities and pressing deadlines, rest should not take the back seat. A study conducted in 2017 reported that two days of restricted sleep negatively affected the perceived health, sleepiness, and trustworthiness of participants. Getting enough rest in a day not only keeps you mentally sharp — it contributes to the body’s natural reparative processes, too:

When you clock in six to eight hours of sleep, the body’s blood circulation improves, collagen is replenished, and skin damage is slowly but surely repaired. After all, it’s called beauty sleep for a reason.

Mind Your Sugar Intake

Take a little time to think about your stress relief habits. What do you do when you’re overwhelmed? If one of your coping methods is reaching for a slice of cake or a pint of ice cream, we can’t blame you — but we will give you a word of caution. Anxiety loves sugar for a reason: while sweet treats help us feel better in the short term, they also make us less effective at responding to stress. 

Here’s how it works:

Sugar suppresses something called the HPA or the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in the brain. This controls the way we react to stressful situations. However, studies have shown that consuming sugary foods reduces the function of the HPA. While helping yourself to a slice of cake (or three) can be comforting, self-medicating with sugar can easily turn into a pattern of emotional eating — an even more stressful habit to shake off. As far as its visible effects go, sugar has also been linked with the prevalence of acne. 

To help you de-stress without feeling deprived, try to enjoy everything in moderation. Bear in mind, overconsumption is just another stressor in the making. 

Turn Up the Temperature

In the summertime, we often hear about cooling skincare. As relaxing as skin-cooling products might feel, we’re setting our sights on the opposite end of the spectrum: self-warming skincare.

Exposing the skin to self-warming skincare can help boost how the skin looks and feels. Plus, a little warmth can help elevate a regular skincare routine to a decadent, spa-like experience — especially in the colder months.

VouPre’s Thermal Collection is a curated trio of self-warming skincare. The collection contains:

• The Detoxifying Thermal Mask, a clay mask infused with Vitamins A and C to brighten and smoothen the look of the skin
• The Perfecting Facial Serum, a potent plant extract-enriched serum that helps amplify the warming effect of the Detoxifying Thermal Mask
• The Corrective Facial Cream, a lush moisturizer that replenishes the skin’s moisture. It is also formulated with a blend of antioxidants

Explore Home Facial Treatments

In 2020, the worldwide market for non-invasive aesthetic treatments was valued at a whopping 47 billion USD. While injectables like botox and filler make up the largest portion of this statistic, the demand for skin rejuvenation treatments continues to grow every year. 

Currently, there are three popular skin rejuvenation treatments gaining attention in the beauty industry:

• Radiofrequency (RF) skin tightening
• Electric muscle stimulation (EMS)
• Light-emitting diode (LED) therapy 

While each of these treatments functions differently and provides distinct skin benefits, with the growing popularity of at-home beauty devices, all three have become more accessible than ever.

A 3-in-1 Skincare Device from VouPre

All three of these non-invasive treatments are made easily accessible with VouPre’s L’Rae Beam. A handy, ergonomically designed beauty tool, this beam comes with three modes that can soften the feel of the skin, reduce the visibility of fine lines, and improve the look of radiance: 

• The first mode combines RF electrodes and red LED therapy to improve the feel of firmness and suppleness
• The second mode combines purple LED with EMS to refresh the look of the skin
• The third mode combats the feeling of inflammation with blue LED therapy

In addition to improving the skin’s appearance, the L’Rae Beam is fitted with a metal head that amplifies the warming and cooling effects of the device. This creates a soothing sensation that can help alleviate stress — ideal for a self-care night spent indoors.

See the VouPre Difference

VouPre is an innovative, science-first skincare brand that hinges on the formulations of board-certified dermatologist, Dr. Mary Ellen Luchetti. VouPre’s skincare solutions harness the properties of vitamins and nature-derived ingredients to help you de-stress for your skin.