Mental Health and Skin: When Life Gets Heavy

Last week was hard. Like, really hard. The kind of week where you wake up and already feel exhausted before your feet hit the floor. And I know I’m not alone in that – whether it’s what’s happening in your personal life, your work, or just the weight of everything going on in the world right now.

Here’s what I’ve learned after 20+ years of struggling with acne: mental health and skin are deeply connected. When you’re emotionally drained, your skin knows. But here’s the thing nobody talks about – the reverse is also true. When your skin is struggling, it affects your mental health. It’s a cycle that can feel impossible to break, especially during chaotic times.

I want to share what happened last week, what I did to protect both my mental health and my skin, and why giving yourself permission to rest isn’t selfish – it’s necessary.

Why Mental Health and Skin Are Connected

You already know that stress triggers breakouts. I wrote about the cortisol connection a few months ago. But there’s more to the mental health and skin relationship than just hormones.

When you’re anxious, depressed, or emotionally overwhelmed, a few things happen. Your body stays in fight-or-flight mode, which increases inflammation throughout your entire system – including your skin. Additionally, you might skip your skincare routine because you don’t have the energy. Or you might pick at your skin as a nervous habit. Meanwhile, poor sleep (which often comes with mental health struggles) disrupts your skin’s repair process.

It’s not just that stress causes acne. Mental exhaustion affects every single habit that supports clear skin.

What Happened Last Week (Permission to Be Real)

Last week was one of those weeks where every single piece felt hard. Professionally, personally, emotionally, societally, and then I got sick on top of it – it all hit at once. You know those moments when you look at your to-do list and even the simple things feel impossible? That was me.

Here’s what I know about mental health and skin from experience: when you’re carrying this much emotional weight, your skin will tell on you if you don’t take care of yourself. But taking care of yourself when you’re already exhausted feels impossible.

The Guilt of “Not Doing Enough”

I skipped things last week. My weekly blog post didn’t get written. My newsletter didn’t go out. There were other projects I’d planned to tackle that just…didn’t happen.

And I felt guilty about it. That voice in my head kept saying “but you should be able to handle this” and “other people have it worse” and “you’re letting people down.”

Can I tell you something? That guilt is part of what makes stress so damaging to your mental health and skin. Because guilt creates more stress, which creates more cortisol, which creates more inflammation. It’s a vicious cycle.

I had to remind myself of something important: saving my energy for what truly matters isn’t lazy. It’s strategic. Consequently, I could show up better for the things and people that really needed me – including my own body and skin.

What I Actually Did to Protect My Mental Health and Skin

Instead of pushing through and pretending everything was fine, I made some intentional choices. These weren’t elaborate self-care rituals or expensive treatments. They were small adjustments that helped me get through the week without completely falling apart.

I worked from the sauna. Seriously. I brought my laptop to the sauna and took calls from there. The heat supports detoxification, reduces inflammation, and honestly? It just felt good to sit somewhere warm while dealing with hard things.

I took walks during work calls. Instead of sitting at my desk for every single meeting, I walked around my neighborhood. Movement helps process stress hormones, supports lymphatic drainage, and gives your brain a break from staring at screens.

I didn’t skip my evening skincare routine. Even when I was exhausted, I kept this one non-negotiable. There’s something grounding about the familiar steps – cleanse, serum, moisturize. It’s 10 minutes where I’m taking care of myself in a tangible way.

I went to see a movie with my sister. When everything feels heavy, there’s something healing about just being with someone who knows you. You don’t have to talk about the hard stuff if you don’t want to. You don’t have to have the energy to be “on.” You just get to be present with someone who supports you. Sometimes that quiet companionship is the best medicine for both your mental health and your stress levels – which your skin will thank you for later.

I used a biocellulose face mask. I’d been saving it as a treat, and last week felt like the right time. Sometimes the small indulgences matter most when things are hard.

I scheduled a lymphatic massage. This wasn’t just about my skin – though lymphatic drainage absolutely helps reduce inflammation and support detoxification. It was also about giving myself permission to rest for an hour while someone else took care of me.

For the things I couldn’t skip? I found ways to make them feel less heavy. That’s the key when you’re trying to protect your mental health and skin during stressful times – you don’t have to be perfect, you just have to be intentional.

When Your Skin Reacts (And What to Do)

Despite my best efforts, my skin did react to the stress. I got a few pimples. Nothing catastrophic, but enough to notice.

Here’s where being proactive matters. Instead of panicking or giving up, I adjusted. I upped my acid active serums to address the congestion before it got worse. I made sure I was staying consistent with my routine even when I felt too tired.

This is what I wish someone had told me 20 years ago: you can’t always prevent stress from affecting your mental health and skin. But you can minimize the damage by staying aware and adjusting as needed.

If you notice your skin starting to react during a stressful period, here’s what helps:

• Don’t abandon your routine (even if you have to simplify it)
• Increase your active ingredients slightly if you’re seeing congestion
• Resist the urge to pick or over-touch your face
• Drink extra water (your body needs it when you’re stressed)
• Be patient with yourself (skin takes time to reflect internal changes)

The goal isn’t perfection. It’s damage control while you get through the hard stuff.

The Reminder That Kept Me Going

In the middle of this rough week, I got a message from a client that made me cry (the good kind of crying). She’d been using my Routine Method recommendations for just a few weeks. Last week, she didn’t wear makeup for five days straight – for the first time in years.

She said she felt so happy. So confident in her skin.

Reading that reminder while I was struggling with my own mental health was powerful. Because it showed me the full picture of how mental health and skin are connected.

When your skin is breaking out, it affects how you show up in the world. You avoid the gym without makeup. You cancel plans. You feel self-conscious in meetings. Your skin struggle becomes a mental health struggle.

But when your skin clears? You get that confidence back. You feel comfortable in your own face. That mental weight lifts. Furthermore, taking care of your skin becomes an act of self-care that supports your emotional wellbeing, not just your appearance.

Everyone deserves to feel confident in their skin – especially during the hard weeks. That’s why this work matters. That’s why protecting your mental health and skin during stressful times isn’t selfish.

Your Permission Slip

If you’re going through a hard time right now – whether it’s work stress, relationship struggles, health issues, or just the general heaviness of existing in 2026 – I want you to hear this:

You’re allowed to skip things. You’re allowed to say no. You’re allowed to work from the sauna or take a walk instead of sitting at your desk. You’re allowed to treat yourself to a face mask or massage or whatever small thing brings you comfort.

Taking care of your mental health and skin during chaotic times isn’t optional. It’s essential. Moreover, it’s not separate – they’re connected in ways that affect your entire quality of life.

Here’s what you can do this week:

• Identify one thing you can skip or simplify to save energy
• Find one way to make a necessary task feel lighter (music, movement, different location)
• Keep at least one self-care non-negotiable (even if it’s just your skincare routine)
• Treat yourself to something small that feels like care
• Be kind to yourself when your skin (or emotions) react to stress

You don’t have to have it all together. You just have to keep taking care of yourself, one small choice at a time.

If you need help building a skincare routine that supports you through the stressful times – one that’s both toxin-free and non-comedogenic so you’re not adding more triggers to your system – check out my Routine Method. Because you deserve skin (and mental health) that feels good, even when life gets heavy.