bewaterproof42 SHAPE.COM MAY 2020
Learn the triggers
When stress happens, our bodies go
into the fight-or-flight response. “If
you’re faced with a threat, you need
to fight or flee for your life,” Dr. Gross
says. To do that, your body releases
two hormones: cortisol and adrena-
line. “Adrenaline elevates your blood
pressure and heart rate, and cortisol
increases sugar in the bloodstream
for immediate energy,” explains
Marnie Nussbaum, M.D., a dermatol-
ogist in New York. These stress hor-
mones come in handy when you need
to defend yourself from a wild animal,
but they’re not as helpful in other
situations. “They favor sending blood
to your heart, lungs, muscles, and
brain,” Dr. Gross says. That means
your skin gets less oxygen and fewer
nutrients and antioxidants—all
things it needs to look and function
at its best. The process also causes
inflammation, which compromises
your immune system, Dr. Nussbaum
explains. This is why skin conditions
like eczema, psoriasis, and rosa-
cea flare up.
Because cortisol has increased
sugar levels in the blood, it spurs
a process in the skin called glycation,
which breaks down collagen, she
says. “Stress hormones can also make
the oil in your skin thicker and more
likely to clog your pores and cause
acne,” Dr. Gross explains. Conversely,
they can also make your sweat glands
rev up. The excess water loss leads
to dry, dehydrated skin, Dr. Nussbaum
says. And if stress is disrupting
your sleep, you may also have dark
circles, puffiness, and a dull
complexion, she says.“STRESS POKES HOLES
IN YOUR COLLAGEN;
ANTIOXIDANTS HELP
PROTECT IT.”
Fight back with skin careSoothing activities like meditation
and sound baths can help keep
you calm. But given our nonstop
schedules, you’ll likely need smart,
stress-relieving skin care as backup.
Antioxidants are your first line
of defense. Stress creates free radi-
cals in your skin. As they scavenge
around seeking an electron to pair
with, they hurt your collagen and
elastin and can even alter your
DNA, Dr. Nussbaum says. Experts
have discovered that combining
the antioxidant niacinamide with
adaptogens and certain super-
foods create a serious defense that
can neutralize the free radicals.
“Niacinamide also helps normalize
oil chemistry and improves the
moisture barrier,” Dr. Gross says.
Adaptogens like ashwagandha,
maca root, and turmeric have
added antifatigue and stimulant
properties. And foods like kiwifruit,
avocados, and goji berries are filled
with nutrients. Dr. Gross createda new formula called B 3 Adaptive
SuperFoods Stress Rescue Super
Serum ($74, sephora.com) based
entirely on this research.
On top of antioxidants, your
skin desperately needs mois-
ture to function optimally in
tumultuous times. You need an
emollient, fragrance-free mois-
turizer that will nourish skin
without irritating it. “Look for one
with ceramides and hyaluronic
acid,” Dr. Nussbaum says. Try It
Cosmetics Confidence in a Cream
Hydrating Moisturizer ($49,
itcosmetics.com). And that’s it.
By using a minimalist approach to
calming your skin, Dr. Nussbaum
says, you’ll hopefully have a bit
less to stress over.SHA0520WPSKN.indd 42 FINAL CONTENT 3/13/20 11:08 AM