What Your Skin Is Trying to Tell You: How Stress and Sleep Affect Your Glow

What Your Skin Is Trying to Tell You: How Stress and Sleep Affect Your Glow

Your Skin Is a Mirror to Your Health

When you think about it, your skin is basically a tattletale for everything going on inside your body. Stress, nutrition, hormones, hydration—they all show up right on your face.

Monina explained that when there’s imbalance happening inside—say your gut health is off or your hormones are out of whack—it’s reflected through your skin.

• Too much sugar? Expect breakouts.
• Not drinking enough water? Say hello to deeper fine lines.
• Too much coffee or alcohol? Your skin can start to look dull, dry, or even grayish.

Your skin is your body’s way of saying, “Hey, something’s not right in here!”

What Your Face Is Trying to Tell You

When Monina works with clients, she uses skin mapping—a method developed by Dr. Ben Johnson from Osmosis—to identify what might be going on internally.

• Breakouts or hyperpigmentation around your forehead or outer cheeks? That points to digestive issues.
  
• Dark circles or puffiness under your eyes? That can often link back to your liver.
  
• Irritation or darkness on your eyelids? It may indicate stress on your adrenal glands.
  
  

It’s wild how much our face tells us when we pay attention!

Emotions and Stress Show Up on Your Skin

We all know that feeling before a big event—you’re praying you don’t break out. Stress spikes cortisol, which messes with oil production and water retention. Suddenly, your skin is dehydrated and struggling to stay balanced.

On the flip side, when you sleep well, eat nourishing food, and feel calm, your skin glows. That’s no coincidence.

Your emotions are directly connected to your skin health. It’s your body’s way of reflecting how you feel inside.

Turn Your Skincare Routine into a Ritual

Monina shared one of my favorite takeaways: think of your skincare routine as a ritual, not a routine. It’s an act of self-care, not just another to-do.

Light a candle, spritz your room with a calming scent, and take time to really care for yourself. It’s the perfect way to unwind from a day spent caring for everyone else.

Our bodies follow something called the circadian rhythm—a 24-hour internal clock. Around 9 p.m., your skin goes into repair mode, which is why nighttime skincare is so important. Applying serums and moisturizers before bed locks in hydration before your skin starts losing water overnight (a process called TEWL—transepidermal water loss).

And yes—it’s true that sleeping with makeup or grime on your face can make you age faster! When your skin has to fight off pollutants and bacteria overnight, it stays in defense mode instead of repair mode.

Your Skin: The First Line of Defense

Your skin is more than just a beauty feature—it’s your body’s largest organ and your first line of defense.

If your skin barrier is compromised, everything from allergens to pollutants can sneak in. That’s when inflammation, redness, and breakouts tend to flare up.

Every skin issue, Monina says, usually traces back to a weakened skin barrier. That’s why daily care matters—it’s not vanity, it’s protection.

Give Your Skin the Care It Deserves

Taking care of your skin is as important as brushing your teeth—it’s a form of hygiene and self-respect.

Use the right products for your skin type, incorporate serums and eye creams (especially after 30!), and protect your barrier daily.

And if you’re not sure what products to use or how to start, Monina offers FREE consultations both in-person in the Bay Area and virtually. If you mention The Beauty Lab Podcast, she’ll even include a special bonus! 

Simply email and let Monina know you’re local (Bay Area) or would like a virtual consultation for free and are a listener of the podcast. 

Your skin tells your story—so take the time to make it a beautiful one.