It’s no secret that stress can have a major impact on your body, and that includes your body’s largest organ: your epidermis, or skin.

Stress can cause your oil glands to work overtime, which can not only make your skin look oily, but it can spark blemishes, too. Stress also increases inflammation in your body, as well as slows down recovery time. So if you’re wondering why the pimple you popped last week is taking forever to heal, take some time to check in with mental health and evaluate your stress levels.

Furthermore, stress speeds up the aging process. Fine lines and wrinkles? No thank you. 

Here are some tips to reduce stress, and, in turn, get your skin glowing:

1. Meditation. Many people use the excuse that meditation isn’t for them, but those are usually people who haven’t given it a chance. There are numerous apps and YouTube videos as well as books and other resources at your disposal to help you understand and practice the art of meditation. Meditation is all about living in the present moment: AKA not stressing about the past or worrying about the future. The more you practice living in the moment that you’re in, the more you can reduce your stress levels and reduce the severity of chronic skin conditions.

2. Exercise. Whether you’re a runner, weight lifter, yogi or swimmer, exercise is pertinent when it comes to stress management. Hate working out? Commit to a 10-minute walk every day. It may seem pointless, but those 10 minutes of movement can help reset your brain and alleviate stress.

3. Take a time out. We all need alone time, even extroverts. Taking 10 minutes alone (or longer, if you can) every day to take deep breaths and be with yourself can be a great way to mitigate the stress in your life. 

4. Journal. It doesn’t have to be a “Dear Diary” situation, but taking a few minutes every day to jot down your worries, memories, ideas, and/or gratitudes is an excellent way to reflect and take some of the stress out of your head and put it down on paper. 

Stress can be a silent killer. Don’t let stress rule your life. Find ways to manage your worries, fears and anxieties--your skin will thank you.

Photo by @paolalaudacki for @voguemexico