One of my skin's greatest talents is its ability to show every tiny bit of stress I'm feeling as patchy redness, blemishes, and just an overall angry look. Whenever these signs start showing up in my face, I immediately start reaching for more soothing skincare. I've admittedly got quite a bit because my skin's the type that could always go for some soothing.
My go-to cleanser when I'm feeling stressed is the same cleanser I use every morning - the Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser. I've been using it since it came out in January, and it's pretty much my favorite cleanser ever now. The name describes it perfectly - it's a milky, balmy gel that doesn't foam up at all but instead leaves the skin feeling clean but not stripped. They replaced a quarter of the water content in this with rosewater, meaning it's definitely great for soothing irritated skin. This feels so lovely at the end of a long day, and it's equally nice on early mornings.
I own probably way more facial sprays than one person needs, but I find that most of them are really great for soothing the skin. They add a nice hit of moisture and just feel so refreshing. I typically love any that contain rosewater, but my favorite when I'm feeling extra stressed is the Lush Eau Roma Water. It contains both rosewater and lavender water, so I find it not only helps my skin when it's irritated, but the scent of it helps relax me as well. Lavender is known to be an irritant for some people, so be aware of that. I've got a few products that contain lavender and they always just help with my irritation rather than adding to it.
The category in which my collection of soothing skincare really shines is the masks. Cooling, gel-like masks are a must for stressed skin. I find myself slathering on either the Fresh Rose Face Mask or the Belif First Aid Anti-Hangover Soothing Mask at the first sign of stress. They both feel refreshing on the skin due to their textures, and they're ultra-nourishing as well. I pretty much use them interchangeably, but when I'm still feeling the effects of stress and anxiety and need to relax, I use the Fresh one because the smell is divine. One other mask I've been reaching for a lot lately is the First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Instant Oatmeal Mask. This one is more of a super thick cream, and it's even more hydrating and nourishing than the other two. This is the one I've been reaching for when my skin's feeling rather delicate and flaky, and it cures it right away.
My go-to moisturizer for stressed skin is always the Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream. This is an interesting one - it feels quite thick but sinks into the skin easily and doesn't leave a greasy film on the skin. It's amazingly hydrating, and because it's such a no-frills cream, I can always count on it to treat any irritated skin without damaging it further. I love using facial oils every night without fail, but a lot of mine are a little too heavy duty (with retinols like Luna or strong smells like the Clarins Blue Orchid) for when my skin's feeling delicate. I'll always go for the Indie Lee Squalene Facial Oil. It has no fragrance and sinks into the skin quickly. I don't know what it is about it, but my skin instantly feels better once I put a bit of this on. Slathering the Kiehl's cream on top makes it the perfect ultra-hydrating nighttime duo.
What do you reach for when your skin's showing signs of stress?