How much do you look after your physical health? What about your mental health? Did you know that they are linked?
Managing and being aware of your physical and mental health is vital; they can impact each other. For example, the quality of your skin can affect your mental health, so self-care is a crucial part of life to keep yourself healthy.
The skin is the human body’s largest organ, and finding the right skincare routine is essential to look after your overall health.
We’ve broken down five ways the right skincare products can help you physically and mentally.
How Skin Care Is Important for Your Mental Health
1) Boosts Self Confidence
People want to look and feel their best, which can be difficult if they suffer from a skin condition such as eczema or acne, sometimes leading to low self-esteem.
Conversely, stress can result in skin conditions and flare-ups. For example, anxiety can worsen conditions such as psoriasis.
Caring for your skin can help reduce the effects of these conditions, improving your self-esteem and confidence as you feel better about yourself and your appearance.
2) Relieves Stress
With the constant stress of life, skincare routines can help to relieve those stress levels and reduce irritability.
Studies have shown that taking care of the skin can reduce stress levels significantly, with participants’ cortisol (stress hormone) levels lowering.
Many skincare products contain antioxidants, which can help to reduce inflammation and some of the impacts stress can have on the skin. Less stress can also improve your mood.
Carving a little time out of your day to look after your skin can be a great way to leave your responsibilities behind for five minutes and destress.
3) Promotes Self-Care
Self-care is important during stressful times; it is crucial to anyone’s life. Self-care is when you do something specifically to look after your physical, emotional, and mental health; it can become a calming part of your day.
Your skincare routine can be a method of self-care and release those feel-good neurotransmitters, both before and during the process, which can help with relaxation.
Whether it be a bath containing oatmeal, a facemask, or using your favourite moisturiser, self-care can make you feel good and promote healthy skin.
4) Provides a Sense of Control
Structure and routines help provide a sense of control, crucial in a changing world where stress is everywhere. No or inconsistent routines can contribute to loneliness, lower happiness, and depression.
A study has also shown that a lack of routine can lead to disrupted sleep and mood problems.
A skincare routine can give you a semblance of control, even when life doesn’t go as planned. Little habits such as this can provide comfort and help people feel grounded when things become stressful.
5) Helps You To Feel Yourself
When finding your ideal skincare routine, try experimenting with products and processes to find the right one.
Skincare routines aren’t just about what fits into your daily life but also about which products you enjoy using and bringing out the best results from your skin.
Getting results from your routine can be an empowering experience, especially when managing potential skin conditions. Improving your confidence by using enjoyable products can help you feel more connected to yourself.
Looking after your skin not only helps you look amazing, but it can help you feel fantastic too. With how skincare and mental health are linked, you must find the best routine to suit your needs and keep your body and mind healthy.
This routine doesn’t need to be complicated, but having a few minutes in the morning and evening to care for your skin is a great way to unwind and show yourself the care we all need.
