We asked Jenny Jungell, performance coach and founder of the Well Community, how stress and lifestyle can affect our skin.
Here, Jenny shares her tips and some personal insights on how to create a more holistic balance in everyday life.
Life shows on our skin: every good and bad habit, stress, laughter, and joy. The skin is the body's largest organ and, among other things, aids in the detoxification process. It helps remove impurities from the skin that can lead to breakouts.
Taking holistic care of our health and well-being is essential to feeling our best, and this also applies to our skincare. By this, I mean caring for your skin not only externally with good, high-quality skincare products, but also internally by taking care of your gut health, your diet, your lymphatic system, and getting enough sleep. The most noticeable changes usually occur when we begin nourishing our skin cells from the inside. The skin we live in is forever, so it's important that we feel good in it—which is often easier said than done. I know, I've experienced it myself. When we understand the connection between body and mind, we can be gentler with ourselves and become aware of the root cause of our skin problems. I believe this is where we need to start if we want to make a change, not just regarding our skin, but our overall well-being.
A common cause of skin problems is stress, which is so easily forgotten. We often don't realize how stressed we are until it takes its toll (and our hectic modern lives don't leave much room for rested, radiant skin). Chronic stress disrupts the natural balance for optimal well-being, and finding ways to reduce stress is crucial. Not to mention how stress affects our hormones, which in turn can affect our skin.
"It's important to find the root cause of your skin's triggers. I've realized that stress is one of my worst triggers for breakouts."
For me, this means, among other things, becoming aware of my stress levels, knowing my triggers, and knowing how to a) minimize them and b) calm my body and mind. When my stress levels get too high or I feel my body firing on all cylinders, I actively try to minimize or avoid things like alcohol, caffeine, sugar, and high-intensity exercise. All of these things create more stress in the body, and we don't want that when we're already in a stressful state. Instead, a walk in nature or yoga, chamomile tea, or matcha might be a better choice. Remember that we are all different, and what is a trigger for me may not necessarily be a trigger for you. Other triggers I've found in working with my clients include dairy and gluten; another major trigger is your gut health. If you're consistently having issues with your skin and can't figure out what's causing it, I highly recommend checking your gut health.
We can't escape stressors, but we can learn how to respond to them. We can create a kinder lifestyle for our skin and our overall well-being. Growing up in the Nordic countries, I've had the luxury of being close to nature my entire life. Spending time outdoors and in nature has been proven to reduce stress and anxiety, promote relaxation, and improve mood. For me My daily walks by the sea are an instant stress reliever. Did you know that contact with water has been proven to put us into a meditative state, making us happier, calmer, and more awe-inspiring? I know many don't have the opportunity to be in nature daily, but we can all do something for our overall well-being. Our daily lives impact the health of our skin, and even with small daily actions that soothe and nourish our bodies and minds, we can improve our overall health and our skin. Here are some simple steps you can take:
- Beauty sleep – Your body – including your skin – repairs and renews itself overnight. Good sleep is important for healthy skin; beauty sleep isn't just a saying.
- Develop a mindfulness practice - Daily mindfulness exercises, meditation, or breathing exercises can also help calm your skin. It will primarily reduce your stress levels, but this can also affect your inflammation levels, which in turn can have a positive effect on your skin.
- Eat healthy and drink enough - give your body and skin the right tools to grow and develop.
In addition to these tips, a good skincare routine and high-quality supplements can support you on your journey. The Nordic Adaptogen supplement from Forest Spa Finland helps your skin, boosts your mood and energy, and helps reduce stress levels. Harnessing the power of Nordic nature, the supplement is made with chaga mushroom, Rhodiola rosea, wild blueberry, and pine bark. If you haven't heard about these benefits yet, don't worry, I'll tell you.
Chaga mushroom: Chaga mushrooms have the highest ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbent Capacity) value for antioxidants ever measured in a natural food. Chaga can help reduce inflammation, which is directly linked to skin health. Other benefits include firming and anti-aging, protecting cells from external stressors, and reducing acne, eczema, and rashes.
Rhodiola Rosea: Rhodiola grows in cold regions and at high altitudes in Europe and Asia. Rhodiola has long been used as a natural substance that can increase the body's resistance to stress. It can help tighten and improve lines, wrinkles, and pores, and support cell protection to combat skin fatigue.
Wild blueberry: Wild blueberries have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. They are rich in nutrients, antioxidants, zinc, and vitamins A, B, C, and K—you could call them nutritional powerhouses. They can help with acne, brightening, and natural anti-aging.
Pine bark: Pine bark is an incredibly powerful source of vitamins C and E, coenzyme Q10, and alpha lipoic acid. It is particularly rich in plant compounds called polyphenols, which have numerous health-promoting effects. It boosts natural hyaluronic acid production (hydrates the skin), improves elasticity, reduces skin fatigue, and improves lines and wrinkles.
"An inside-out approach to skincare is something we all need to embrace more.
In addition to the dietary supplement, Forest Spa Finland recently launched its Nordic Adaptogen Serum launched on the market . With the highest potency of natural adaptogens proven to support and protect the complexion, the super-natural Nordic Adaptogen Serum promotes renewed radiance and optimal skin health. As I mentioned earlier, stress has a direct impact on our skin, and that's where this serum comes to the rescue. It's specifically formulated to counteract the effects of stress on our skin by strengthening the skin barrier, enhancing skin radiance, and calming the skin and mind (the mind-body connection). The serum imparts a beautiful, healthy glow and soothes the skin.
I love the philosophy of Forest Spa Finland; an inside-out approach to skincare is something we all need to embrace more. If you're struggling with your skin, remember that it's a journey and won't happen overnight. The most important thing is to be patient and kind to yourself—remember that beauty comes from within.
Jenny Jungell
Performance Coach | Founder
