It’s Back-To-School time and you know what that means: stress! Although we all get stressed out, the effects of stress on skin is especially evident in teens. Turns out that stress acts as a catalyst to breakouts by making skin glands pump out more oil. If that oil sits on skin and skin is not cleansed properly, it clogs pores and becomes inflamed, aka: acne. That breakout happening on your chin? Blame stress. That pimple on the middle of your forehead that feels as though it’s as big as a mountain? Yep, blame stress for that, too. So what’s a teen supposed to do? Just follow these tips to keep skin stress-free during what is arguably both the most exciting and stressful time of the year and don’t forget to breathe while you’re at it!

(1) GET YOUR SWEAT ON

We know sometimes all you want to do is netflix and chill, especially when you’re feeling overwhelmed by stress. But did you know that as little as 30 minutes a day, 3-4 times per week can improve brain-power, boost circulation, and keep inflammation in check? Yep, that’s right- you can keep your breakouts from happening, or at the very least from getting worse by getting a sweat sesh in. Want to give your mind a break AND exercise at the same time? Try adding Yoga to your fitness routine. Not only will your body produce endorphins, the happy-go-lucky hormones that improve our mood, it’ll also boost your energy so you can get more done. And getting more done means less stress about all the things you have to do, right? We’ve come full circle.

(2) START A PROPER CLEANSING SKINCARE ROUTINE

With all that sweating you’ve been doing to combat stress, it is essential that you have a proper cleansing routine in place. What does that look like, you ask? It’s really quite simple:

  • Don’t subject your skin to harsh scrubbing, especially with abrasive cloths or soaps or scrubs. We know you want that pimple gone, but over cleansing skin will only lead to more inflammation. That also means you shouldn’t squeeze pimples! That alone can force oil and bacteria into the deeper skin layers, making cysts more likely to occur. And you don’t want to deal with both breakouts and cysts, right? We didn’t think so.
  • Instead of harsh scrubs, wash your face with a gentle cleanser in the evening and only rinse your face with water in the mornings. That way your skin won’t be inflamed and it will hold on to all those healthy oils it produced overnight, which will help your skin fight off inflammation. We love IMAGE’s skincare Ormedic balancing facial cleanser ($27.90), which is effective for all skin types and clinically proven to repair and rebalance skin.
  • Once you have a proper cleansing routine in place, pay attention to what you’re putting on your skin! We know you want to look good, but avoid at all costs makeups and creams filled with comedogenic ingredients, which clog pores. Some comedogenics to watch out for include: palm oil, cocoa butter, coconut oil, sodium lauryl sulfate, and lindseed oil, just to name a few. If you’d like to see a full list of comedogenics and their respective ratings, you can do so here. Instead, how about wearing makeup that acts as a healing balm? We swear by IMAGE’s Skincare I Conceal Flawless Foundation ($59.90), which not only hides imperfections but also heals skin with oxygenating and botanical ingredients, leading to a healthier complexion the more you use it.

(3) GET YOUR ZZZZZS IN

It may seem as if sleep is not that big of a deal, but getting a good 7-8 hours of sleep will help you wake up refreshed and better equipped to deal with stress. As it turns out, the more stressed you are, the more restless and devoid of sleep you’ll be. If you have trouble sleeping at night, try turning off all electronic devices an hour before bedtime so your mind has some time to calm down. You could also try switching out your workout routine to the morning and drinking a warm decaf tea before bedtime.