Stress Less

We are faithful to our skincare routines, focusing on perfecting each layer, technique and tool used to massage, melt and manipulate those creams and oils into our faces each day. However, selfcare rituals should always extend below our necks and we need to put just as much care and love into the body products we use.

From shoulders, necks, knees and even toes… we all hold stress in different areas of our body, that build up over time. The last year of lockdown has only increased the hours we have spent sitting hunched over computers, trying to combat ‘text neck’ and being cooped up inside with the glimmer of getting out once a day.

‘We have an internal nervous system (known as the autonomic system) which, in response to challenge, diverts our energies to optimize our brain and muscle function at the expense of our body’s usual abilities. This is called the ‘fight or flight response’, explains Weleda Integrative Health Consultant Dr Rosy Daniel. ‘When stressed we experience physical symptoms such as a racing heart, digestive pains, headaches and tense muscles. While mentally we also feel anxious and panicky’, says Daniel.

April is ‘Stress Awareness Month’ coordinated by the Stress Management Society and has been held every year since 1992 to raise awareness around the many causes and cures of modern stress. The site recently conducted a study with Huawei AppGallery, gathering data from 2000 British adults to find that 65% of people in the UK have felt more stressed since COVID-19 restrictions began in March 2020.

So when feeling stressed; physically, mentally and emotionally, taking the time to truly unwind and get in touch with our bodies can work wonders. We must not underestimate the power of touch. Massaging our bodies, breathing in an uplifting scent in our morning shower or using an all-over exfoliator to increase blood circulation are all little self-care moments that can help us relax.

‘The scents of products, such as essential oils, will stimulate our olfactory nerve (the short nerve between your nose and brain) and trigger the limbic system’, says Bio Scents Founder, Emilie de Block. ‘This is the part of our brain linked to handling emotion, so breathing in calming scents can help our body let go of unwanted tension’, explains Block.

We are running with the motto that ‘self-care is not selfish’ and taking time to massage and moisturise your body head to toe, is not only stress relieving but offers an instant release of endorphins (the happy hormone). From body crèmes, butters, serums, oils and powders, we have curated a list of ‘Stress Less’ must-haves so you can take time to tune in to your body, wash away stress and give yourself some much deserved TLC.

Weleda Rosemary Invigorating Bath Milk, £15.75
Glugging in bubble bath sounds a good idea but it often dries out your skin even more as it can contain strong surfactants (foaming agents). However this Weleda Bath Milk is a gloriously gentle and vegan alternative, packed with natural rosemary essential oil to ease tight muscles, relax tired bodies and cleanse skin. Pour four generous capfuls into your bath and breathe deeply as the fragrance rises with the steam, this will help to clear your sinuses and tap into the olfactory system, relaxing you from the inside out.

Neal’s Yard Remedies Beauty Sleep Shower Oil, £19.50
Traditionally oil and water can be immiscible, however this beautiful launch from Neal’s Yard Remedies is formulated to transform from an oil to a smooth milky lather once mixed with water. An evening shower is the time to wash away the day, forget our stresses and let the hot water loosen our clenched muscles. This certified organic oil uses a bedtime blend of ylang ylang, patchouli, clary sage, and cypress as a relaxing concoction to not only cleanse and condition skin but leave you moisturised long after you are towel dried.

DECLÉOR Neroli Bigarade Hydrating Shower Gel, £19.00
Never have time or think to massage your body while in the shower? Wake up while you wash with this hydrating shower gel. 98% natural and infused with neroli essential oil, this is the perfect morning treat for your skin. Instead of making a stressful morning to-do list in your head while vigorously lathering, take a moment to really massage this gel into your limbs, breathing in and out, to let the scent energise you while also softening your skin.

UpCircle Coffee Body Scrub with Peppermint, £14.99
Think of this as your way to scrub away stress at home. These UpCircle exfoliators are vegan, cruelty-free, and sustainably made in the UK with 100% plastic-free packaging. Formulated with a liquid base and cleverly repurposed coffee grounds from artisan London cafes, this is the product to use for a ‘self-care Sunday’. Massage into damp skin in slow circular motions, an action that will buff away dead skin cells and drain lymph nodes by increasing the blood flow to your skin's surface. Added peppermint oils and shea butter make this one long relaxing experience, ending with a silky smooth body post-scrub.

Crabtree & Evelyn The Gardeners Ground Exfoliation Powder, £28.50
Getting creative can also help you relax and when using this exfoliation powder from Crabtree & Evelyn, you become your own mixologist. Shake a little (or lot) of the powder into your favourite rich body wash to create an instant exfoliator. Packed with coffee bean powder and raspberry seeds these natural ingredients offer a gentle scrub to draw out impurities, clear congestion and boost blood circulation, whilst milk thistle soothes damaged skin. Just sprinkle, mix, rinse and repeat to create a custom buff and add a moment of relaxation to your nighttime routine.

Bio Scents Eucalyptus & Peppermint Body Oil, £18
Hand-poured in Portugal, these beautiful Bio Scents Body Oils are fragranced with 100% organic essential oils and packaged in glass bottles, topped with bamboo caps. Fresh and minty, peppermint and eucalyptus relieve itchy tight skin, while a base of sweet almond oil will deeply hydrate. Cooling and stimulating, apply this oil post-shower in long strokes in the direction of your heart to help relieve mental exhaustion and tension by boosting circulation to the brain. Thirsty tired skin will simply drink this up.

Sisley Le Sculpteur, £165
This is the holy grail of contouring body care, backed by seven years of research and innovation between Sisley Laboratories and the University of Paris. The formula is a unique gel-in-oil texture which helps ingredients melt deeply into the skin, leaving a velvety finish. This dual action emulsion uses pink berry oil, caffeine and white ginger extract during the day to firm and tone skin. While at night mandarin extract and andiroba oil work to smooth and sculpt your figure. To apply with effect, stimulate (by lightly pinching the skin) and then sculpt (massage using pressured upwards stokes). Scented with natural lavender, sage and rosemary essential oils, this day to night emulsion adapts to your body's biorhythm to restore skin- the ultimate self-care indulgence indeed.

The Organic Pharmacy Resculpting Body Serum, £69
Not used a body serum before? Now is the time to start. This beautifully fast absorbing formula helps to firm, tone and resculpt everywhere it touches. This is thanks to The Organic Pharmacy’s targeted technology in the form of a microscopic cosmetic drone which controls the release of active ingredients such as kigelia, green coffee and garcinia. The slow release of these powerful plant extracts means the serum continues to work over 12 hours to decrease the roughness and uneven texture of your skin- this is one clever body serum.

Jo Malone London English Pear & Freesia Body Crème, £56
The beautifully classic body brand Jo Malone is the go-to for anyone in need of an indulgent post-shower or bath ritual. Their famous body crèmes are luxurious in scent and rich in an unbeatable creamy texture. The English Pear & Freesia Body Crème is blended with nourishing oils of sweet almond, jojoba and cocoa seed to really hydrate and protect your skin. Take a creamy dollop while skin is damp and massage this all over for supple smooth limbs, while the fragrance will cling to you for hours to come.

The Body Shop Avocado Body Butter, £18
Who didn’t use the iconic Body Shop body butters when growing up? There is still something about slathering a rich cream over freshly shaven skin that is not only relaxing but makes you feel new born again. This vegan body butter is hot off the stands, packed with sustainably sourced South African avocado oil and both Community Fair Trade shea butter and Brazil nut oil. Creamy yet non-greasy, this moisturiser will nourish and protect dry skin while adding that natural-looking glow which we all crave.

This PIBE Beauty exclusive has been produced by:
Photography / Studio PIBE
Words / Sarah Barnes

Stress Less

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