Helping your skin cope with pandemic stresses

2020 is a strange year. It's been a time of fear, of stress, of change. We're not socializing the way we used to. Many of us aren't exercising the way we used to. And with long hours inside we're eating and drinking more than we used to. There's no doubt all this is having an effect on our bodies, and for me, on my skin.

Staying inside and drinking more coffee and alcohol has certainly made me notice how much I need to hydrate. Most of us don't drink the same amount of water when we binge on TV as

we do when we're out and about.

But your skin still needs the hydration. Without it we lose that glow, the skin gets dull and almost looks grey.

Water also flushes your system of toxins. So when you drink a lot of water you're keeping your skin clean, pushing out bacteria and reducing the risk of acne and other skin problems. If your skin is oily, then your pores will clog up, eventually leading to acne breakouts.

You also need to get your heart pumping and your blood circulating.

Exercise helps to deliver oxygen and nutrients to your skin which keeps the skin healthy, promotes collagen production, and promotes new skin cells which keeps the skin glowing and looking younger.

You might not be able to go to the gym but a good, physically distant walk every day can do a world of good.

I know how hard it is to stay motivated and focused during these extremely difficult times, but doing so helps me cope better with the challenges of this time and feel a little less stress. That makes it easier to remember to smile!