Marie Claire UK - 11.2019

SOCIABLE SKIN
Researchers have found that the health
impact of chronic social isolation is as bad
as smoking 15 cigarettes a day, and scientists
have only recently recognised how
destructive it is to the body. ‘Loneliness can
lead to depression and anxiety, and these
feelingscan manifest in the skin through
stress reactions,’ says Dr Paris Acharya,
aesthetic doctor at Waterhouse Young
Clinic. ‘Stress triggers cortisol levels and
chronicinflammation that initiate a cascade
ofevents affecting the skin. These include
dryness, breakouts, premature ageing
and a sallow complexion.’ Touch calms
the nervous system and lowers stress
hormones, which in turn means that
nutrients and oxygen circulate around
the body more easily for brighter skin.
A HydraFacial (£230 for 45 minutes,
waterhouseyoung.com) uses massage to
relieve stressed skin. Or, try the Inner Facial
by A-list facialist Nichola Joss (£ 350 for
0ne hour, nicholajoss.com). ‘Massaging
a client’s mouth from the inside out removes
the emotional stress sitting actively in the
muscle tissue,’ she says. ‘This has an impact
on how the skin acts and looks.’ For best
results, massage daily with a luxurious
face cream, such as Guerlain’s Abeille
MAKE-UP BY GINA KANE AT CAREN USING GUERLAIN Royale Day Cream, £98.