The Expert-Approved Tips from Dermatologists for Anti-Stress Skincare

Words by Anna Gosling

It’s no secret that the efficacy of our skincare routine is intrinsically linked to our biology. But what happens when our mood begins to influence it? Once considered a background factor, stress is now recognised as a key biological disruptor that can challenge skin health – shifting how skin regulates inflammation, maintains its barrier and carries out its natural repair processes.

That’s why we’ve enlisted our little green book of leading dermatologists to answer a more constructive question: how can you support skin during periods of stress? And no, the advice isn’t simply to “worry less”. Instead, we’re talking soothing, reparative formulas and habits designed to help skin restore balance and resilience. Read on for the experts’ key principles for supporting skin when stress takes its toll.

The good news is that skin is highly responsive to considered support. As Dr Ivy, expert in aesthetic medicine advises, “It’s important to prioritise ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin and ceramides to support hydration, alongside anti-inflammatory ingredients such as chamomile extract, green tea or niacinamide to help calm irritation.” Sisley’s Sensitive Soothing Care bottles this ingredient-first approach with a focus on restoring hydration and comfort using gentle, plant-based actives. Golden seaweed extract – derived from marine algae – helps improve moisture retention, while Japanese Lilyturf extract supports ceramide synthesis.

The Soothing Cream by Augustinus Bader provides the same supportive approach, combining black cumin oil, known for its anti-inflammatory properties, with niacinamide to help reduce redness and deeply hydrate the skin. Both formulas also contain shea butter, a naturally gentle emollient, to seal in moisture and ease tightness without irritating stressed skin.

Soothing treatment masks can provide an extra layer of relief – offering concentrated comfort while encouraging the skin to reset. Valmont’s Regenerating Mask Treatment prioritises biocompatible ingredients to support natural recovery, pairing mineral-rich alpine water with collagen to help replenish skin when it feels depleted by stress. Its fragrance-free formulation further reduces the risk of irritation for hypersensitised skin. For a more neuro-cosmetic approach, the Whitening Mask NeuroRELAX by NIANCE is designed to help counter visible stress responses, releasing calming neuropeptides to support skin comfort and resilience.

When breakouts appear, it can be tempting to over-cleanse in an effort to regain control. However, as Dr Christine Hall, GP, emergency medicine doctor and aesthetic physician, reminds us, “Stressed skin heals more slowly – it is important that formulas combine soothing, protective and reparative ingredients to maintain balance”. Gentler cleansing choices are essential here. Cellcosmet’s Gentle Purifying Cleanser uses mild surfactants to cleanse thoroughly without stripping the skin, while copper PCA helps regulate oil without disrupting barrier lipids. The smart formula also enlists purifying botanicals such as witch hazel and yellow sweet clover to help soothe active breakouts.

Treating stress-triggered breakouts effectively is less about stripping the skin and more about restoring balance with tailored, supportive formulas. The Clarifying Serum by Dr Barbara Sturm uses zinc PCA and plant-derived actives to help regulate excess oil and support blemish healing without overwhelming stressed skin. For a more targeted intervention, Murad’s Outsmart Blemish Clarifying Treatment clarifies pores and reduces excess oil without the drying sensation often associated with stronger acne formulas, enlisting gentle botanical extracts to help soothe and hydrate the skin.

Lightweight gel or lotion moisturisers also play an important role, helping replenish hydration without blocking pores or contributing to surface shine. SkinCycles’ Bio-Balance Moisturiser prioritises microbiome balance and barrier support, using probiotic-derived ferments to help strengthen the skin’s natural defences and support breakout regulation. For those seeking oil control and pore refinement, the Balancing Moisturiser by Omorovicza harnesses Hungarian thermal water and minerals to help regulate sebum while delivering lightweight hydration – ideal when stress drives excess oil production.

For Sturm, the solution lies in “intelligent formulations that strengthen the skin barrier and support the skin’s natural healing processes”, with ingredients such as lipid-replenishing ceramides, moisture-binding humectants and barrier-mimicking oils becoming especially important during periods of stress. Night-time is when the skin’s repair processes are most active, making evening formulas particularly effective for supporting barrier recovery. Medik8’s Advanced Night Restore is formulated with ceramides, squalane and linoleic acid to help replicate the skin’s natural lipids, while glycerin supports overnight hydration – ideal for when the barrier is compromised.

For targeted overnight support, look to intensive masks like The Indigo Overnight Repair by Tatcha, which takes a soothing-first approach, reinforcing the barrier through microbiome balance. Its fragrance-free, fermented ingredients help support the skin’s natural ecosystem, while antioxidant vitamin E adds a protective layer – particularly beneficial when stress is causing sensitivity and irritation. To address barrier weakness at a more structural level, RéVive’s Rescue Balm Overnight Mask uses multiple ceramides to replenish the skin’s lipid matrix, alongside squalane and peptides to help reinforce barrier architecture and resilience.

Daytime barrier support is just as important for consolidating recovery. As Annee de Mamiel, expert integrated facialist, notes, “during the day, we’re supporting the skin’s defensive functions for barrier integrity and protection against oxidative stress.” If you're looking for daily resilience and defensive support, 111Skin’s Repair Day Cream NAC Y² is formulated with glycerin and hydrating humectants to attract and retain moisture, alongside its NAC Y² complex, which supports skin as it copes with ongoing environmental and emotional stressors. If your priority is nourishment and improved skin comfort, Skin Design London’s Alpine Rose Glow Crème combines plant-derived hyaluronic acid with glycerin, argan oil and jojoba oil to deeply moisturise and soften stressed skin, while peptides help bolster skin structure and reinforce barrier integrity over time.