Fact or Myth? How Do Everyday Habits Really Affect Your Skin?

We investigated how stress, sleep, sugar, and laughter affect the skin and provided scientific facts.


Sleep

We often hear that a balanced life leads to balanced skin – a good natural diet, a minimum of 7 hours of sleep, spending time in nature, and less stress positively affect the whole body, including our skin’s appearance. Consequently, there are many cases where, for example, a new job or a stressful environment caused an outbreak of acne, spots...

Coincidence or not?

Scientists claim that this is not a coincidence. If you do not get enough sleep, the body cannot regenerate during the night.

The night is a natural stimulant of the secretion of melatonin, the hormone which regulates sleep and is the body’s strongest antioxidant. The pineal gland is a small gland in the brain which secretes melatonin during the night, lowering the level of cortisol, the stress hormone, and calming the body down to prepare it for sleep.

In order to fall asleep, the level of cortisol must be low. It should decrease after 8 p.m., enabling melatonin to start calming the body down and preparing the body for sleep soon after dark. Of course, this is almost impossible with our current lifestyle, but the message is clear – go to bed as early as possible to benefit from the antioxidative effect of melatonin.

To enhance the benefits, use ingredients which promote collagen production while skin is dormant, such as Anti-Wrinkle Elixir which contains a mixture of immortelle, myrtle, sweet orange, and mandarin orange essential oils, as well as other natural nutrients. During sleep, the skin produces collagen, a protein which strengthens the blood vessels and promotes elasticity, preventing the skin from sagging.


Sugar

When you eat chocolate or similar food rich in sugar for a few days in a row, the skin seems to lose its radiance. Sounds familiar?

If you suffer from acne, dermatologists advise to drastically reduce the intake of sugar. However, sugar is not the only culprit. Carbohydrates have a negative effect too.

High sugar levels promote a process called glycation, in which sugar molecules connect to collagen, causing skin hardening, cracks, and wrinkles.

The process is very clear – sugar molecules bind to elastic protein fibres, creating networks and diminishing the effectiveness of elastin and collagen, which are responsible for a youthful appearance. Glycation ends with the formation of compounds – advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) – which contribute to skin aging over time.

The first signs of glycation appear around the age of 30 or 35, when the production of collagen in the body gradually starts to reduce. One of the ways of making up for it is, among others, proper skincare, for example Nikelift Intensive Cream.

Dermatologists say that the sooner you lower your sugar intake, the sooner you will notice positive changes. Start by introducing small new habits, stop drinking sugary drinks, followed by sugary snacks. You should see improvements after just a few weeks.


Stress

Unfortunately, most of us know how and just how much stress affects our overall health, including the skin.

When we feel anxious or worried, the hypothalamus sends a signal to the pituitary gland, which passes it on to the adrenal gland, which produces cortisol – the stress hormone.

Cortisol causes inflammation as a reaction to stress, which leads to cell damage. When pores are inflamed, they become swollen, and there is a high chance of them clogging. This causes acne, wrinkles, dryness...

Everyone fights stress in their own way, but when we look at the incredible damage it causes to the body, it is clear that we need to change our lifestyle and finally start thinking about our health.


Laughter

Laughing raises the level of the pleasure hormones – endorphin and dopamine – and decreases the level of cortisol and adrenaline, the stress hormones.

Laughter “forces” the whole body to be physically active, and the movement of muscles while laughing is a sort of exercise for our skin, making it more supple. Just like exercising positively affects the rest of the body, laughing positively affects not only your face but the whole body as well.

It maintains skin muscle tone and improves circulation, giving a beautiful complexion and an even more beautiful glow to the face. It also maintains the tone of abdominal, back, and leg muscles.

And, perhaps most importantly – it is proof of good mood and healthy habits, so don’t forget to have a good laugh at least once a day.