Learning to Love Your Skin
Love your skin!
Sometimes that’s easier said than done, though. The conversation around skin has been topical for centuries, and as years have passed, our understanding has expanded, our conversations have changed, and communities have been created.
So, how does one learn to love their skin?
Let’s first acknowledge that skin changes, and it can be challenging to appreciate your skin through the different phases.
As seen through the media, there are several approaches to learning how to love your skin or enhance all that you already love. By now, you’re familiar with your holy grail products, the highly recommended products on social media, or even the regular rejuvenation practises, but did you know your emotions affect your skin?
According to medical experts, your emotions have a physiological influence on your skin. For example, the feeling of love releases the hormone oxytocin, which acts as a bond between you and the loved ones in your life. Medical expert Dr. Jennifer Linder says that oxytocin is thought to minimize the inflammation that interrupts the healing of the skin. Oxytocin also lowers the stress hormone–cortisol.
Stress
Speaking of stress, that feeling of ineffable and intangible fear, otherwise known as anxiety, is the tantrum oxytocin buffers, and cortisol is the antagonist. A short-term surge of cortisol is necessary in regulating stress in your body; however, an overproduction of this hormone increases inflammation and lowers the immune system, says Dr. Linder, which can be damaging to the collagen in the skin.
So, before I share my recommendations for loving your skin, let’s give some attention to the essential honourable mentions: take care of your mind and heart because your emotions are the directors behind the scenes.
Hydrate
Finally, hydrate (inside and out), eat nutritious and colourful foods, find products that work for your unique skin (even if it’s only a 3-step regime), wear sunscreen, exercise regularly, speak kindly to yourself, and lastly, visit us at Healing Waters Spa. We will love your skin just as much as you!
References: https://www.byrdie.com/skin-emotions
https://www.vogue.co.uk/beauty/article/cortisol-stress-on-skin