How To Prevent Stress Wrinkles

It’s fair to say that thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, many of us are feeling stressed right now. Schools are shut, workers have been laid off or furloughed, and people are suffering.

Unfortunately, the uncertainty of life right now may also be affecting our skin, leaving us with stress wrinkles that form on our faces. While our skin may not seem important in the face of a pandemic, on a personal level, it can have a massive impact on our the way we feel about ourselves, so it’s essential to keep it looking and feeling as best it can.

Sure, wrinkles are inevitable. We can slather our faces with a plethora of lotions and potions designed to combat anti-aging, but eventually, the lines will come calling.

When it comes to stress wrinkles, though, we can make a difference in preventing them. But how?

We’re here to spill all on what stress wrinkles are and how we can stop them. Keep reading to learn how.

What Are Stress Wrinkles?

Think about when you’re feeling stressed. The chances are you’re not getting enough sleep, you don’t have the energy to exercise as often as you should, and you may be eating more or less than usual. Putting it lightly, your body is out of sync.

As we know, these changes can negatively affect our health, and that includes our skin too.

Stress wrinkles develop as part of psychological or chronic stress, and environmental stressors such as prolonged sun exposure or pollutants.

The face is where stress wrinkles crop up first, usually around the forehead and in between the eyebrows. Ever heard of the phrase ‘frown lines’? That’s where it comes from. When you’re stressed or unhappy, you end up frowning often.

Stress develops from many things. A harsh work environment, money issues, and broken relationships spring to mind. But what’s the science behind stress wrinkles?

The answer is telomeres. These are the caps at the end of each piece of DNA that defends our chromosomes. Think of telomeres as like the plastic part at the end of a shoelace. When telomeres shorten in length, at a certain point, they are unable to duplicate. This begins the aging process.

People that are more stressed end up with shorter telomeres than those that are happier, resulting in skin that ages quicker.

Sounds pretty dire, right? While we can’t control how we feel, there are ways to slow down the aging process and prevent stress wrinkles. We’re here to tell you how.

Create a Routine

Amid a stressful period, implementing a routine in your daily life helps restore balance. Give yourself something to look forward to and clear your mind daily by meditating or journaling. Regular exercise is excellent for your body and mind, allowing you to let off steam.

If you can, stick to a regular time of exercising to help you form a healthy routine.

Wear Sunscreen Daily

Wearing sunscreen daily that features an SPF of at least 30 is crucial for protecting your skin from aging. Yes – that includes the days that it’s overcast and cloudy too. And the days that you stay indoors. And even during the winter months. We’re a big fan of  Tuel's Daily Protect SPF 30 Moisturizer. The formula protects the skin from the sun’s harmful rays, helping prevent premature aging from wrinkle development.

Specially designed with natural moisturizers and antioxidants, the product is suitable for all skin types and climates.

Stay Hydrated

When you’re going through a stressful time, it’s easy to forget about chugging enough water. That’s especially if you’re rushed off your feet and feel like you don’t have enough time in the day.

We all know it’s essential to drink enough water, but did you know that consuming enough of the good stuff can keep unwanted stress wrinkles at bay?

Feed the skin both internally and externally by drinking enough water each day. Your skin will thank you for it.

Use Anti-Aging Products

From moisturizers containing vitamin C to retinol serums, there are plenty of ingredients packed into skincare products that help reduce or soften stress wrinkles.

While there’s a lot of anti-aging skincare products to choose from in many different forms, we recommend  Replenix Age Restore Brightening Moisturizer.

A clinical-grade restorative brightener enriched with the age-defying properties of niacinamide that help restore skin's youthful glow and appearance. Helping to improve skin firmness, elasticity, and texture, the advanced formula deeply moisturizes and strengthens skin's barrier, while brightening dull, tired skin.

Change Your Lifestyle

It’s easier said than done in many cases, but if you have unhealthy lifestyle habits, changing them is one of the best ways to reduce stress and the development of wrinkles that come with it.

Do you smoke? Or perhaps you drink alcohol often? Or maybe you splurge on unhealthy foods when you’re feeling stressed?

If so, try to better these habits and practice a healthier lifestyle. By reducing your smoking and alcohol intake and consuming a healthy diet, your body will feel better and you’ll feel less stressed. Need more advice for healthy-looking skin? Here are our easy hacks for super smooth skin.