Best Ways to Rejuvenate Stressed Skin: Top Treatment Options & Guide

We all want to look and feel our best, but sometimes life gets in the way. Perhaps you’ve had a particularly hectic — and fun! — holiday season, with lots of late nights and champagne toasts. Or maybe work has been extra busy, with lots of high-stakes meetings and air travel. While evidence of a full, successful life, stressful times can wreak havoc on our skin, showing up as redness, dryness, acne breakouts and a lackluster tone and texture.

Simply understanding the root cause of stressed skin will help you take action to get your glow back.

Stressed skin happens due to a confluence of conditions. Dehydration is key, as is inflammation. And there’s a big mind/body connection, too. When you feel tired, anxious or sapped of energy, there’s a pretty good chance your skin is showing the effects. That’s because stressed skin is, in fact, due to elevated levels of cortisol — the same hormone responsible for that fight or flight feeling — as well as environmental stressors like extreme cold or heat and pollution. 

Sometimes stressed skin can stick around, leaving fine lines that aren’t easily erased with topical eye cream, recurring breakouts or a sallow tone that always looks dull. If you’ve spent an extended period under the assault of social or environmental stressors, you may need proverbial bigger guns when it comes to getting your glow back. And that’s where a visit to a cosmetic dermatologist or medispa comes in. If an at-home regimen isn’t working, it’s time to consider minimally invasive pro treatments.

Neuromodulators like Botox, Dysport and Xeomin temporarily soften wrinkles by inhibiting muscle contractions. The treatment lasts four-to-six months depending on substance used.

• Injectable fillers literally bulk up areas under the skin to lift, plump and restore volume. Hyaluronic acid-based filler like Juvederm and Restylane have a decidedly temporary effect and last about six, while collagen-stimulating substances including Sculptra and Radiesse encourage your own body to synthesize new collagen, enhancing elasticity for the long haul.
• There’s recently been some chatter around newfangled treatments including Rejuron (derived from salmon sperm) and fat stem cell transplants to boost collagen — while these treatments aren’t widely available in the United States yet, they certainly hold promise.

Laser treatments continue to be the gold standard to refresh tired complexions. From non-ablative fractional lasers like Fraxel to radio frequency-powered microneedling devices like Morpheus8, a professional can recommend the best treatment for every skintone and type as well as level of damage to be corrected.

If you choose to do more than a simple topical plan, seeking an accredited pro is key. While there’s zero-to-minimal downtime with minimally invasive treatments, they are still procedures that come with risk. It’s important to see an expert who can assess your needs and handle any complications should they arise.

Beyond the bath, daily treatment with soothing topicals can help get your skin back in balance — and stay that way. For a broader approach, explore our Wellness Skincare Routine: A Lifestyle Approach to Better Skin. Every aspect of your skincare routine, from cleansing to moisturizing, should lean towards anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial. Formulas infused with a powerful plant active like copaiba will help diminish redness, irritation and the bacteria that can be causing minor acne breakouts, while bolstering the skin barrier to prevent future inflammation.

Shower or bathe with Halo42 Nourishing Body Wash and slather on Halo42 Body Oil after toweling off. Heal and protect delicate facial skin with twice daily applications of the Halo42 Glow Recovery Mask, which also has zinc to clear and brighten, followed by a dab of Halo42 Copaiba-Infused Face and Body Oil Elixir.