Expressing Gratitude May Be the Skincare Ingredient You Didn't Know You Needed

Being grateful has its perks. The most obvious of all is it makes you a pleasant person to be around. Expressing gratitude, even for seemingly ordinary things, can take away feelings of jealousy, inadequacy, and worry. It helps you focus on the now and embrace the blessings that come your way. There are many things to be thankful for: a stable job, supportive co-workers, solid friends, a loving family. But have you ever tried being grateful for your skin?

Yup, skin gratitude is a thing. It reportedly has several benefits. Influencers and celebrities are also incorporating this latest “it” ingredient into their beauty routines. Beauty industry icon Emily Weiss writes in a gratitude journal every day. Emma Watson starts her morning by listing three things she’s grateful for. Oprah Winfrey and Ariana Huffington do it, too. Skin gratitude, specifically, focuses all this mindful gratitude on your skin and what it does for you every day. What does that do for you and your skin?

A study published in Harvard Health states that giving thanks can make you happier. According to the article, expressing gratitude is “consistently and strongly associated with greater happiness.” By witnessing and appreciating the good in your life, you teach yourself to see the good around you. It makes us better people and improves our connections with others as well. 

The University of California conducted a study wherein three groups wrote a few sentences each week. The first group wrote about what they were grateful for, the second wrote about things that irritated them, and the third wrote about their activities that are neither positive nor negative. After 10 weeks, the research found that those who regularly practiced expressing gratitude were more optimistic and happier about their lives. They also made fewer visits to the doctor versus those who wrote about negative experiences.

Harvard Health notes that negative emotions can release stress hormones, causing a high heart rate and blood pressure. In a study by US Health and Retirement, a positive mindset lowers the risk of heart attack by 38% percent. Further, a journal on Personality and Individual Differences published by Elsevier cites that expressing gratitude is an essential personal resource that helps people cope with burnout and emotional demands.

Believe it or not, beauty-related gratitude also has some scientifically backed benefits. Based on 57 studies on the subject, a review in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology concludes psychological stress can trigger skin inflammations. It can exacerbate preexisting conditions where stress is the main trigger, including psoriasis, eczema, and acne.

Reducing stress by expressing gratitude for your skin can help. Expressing gratitude reduces cortisol levels, boosting your immune system’s ability to repair skin cells. A National Library of Medicine article also states that gratitude improves the quality of sleep and increases happiness, which can manifest in your skin, too. Here are some ways you can express gratitude for your skin:

Write a gratitude journal and always include your skin in your thanksgiving.

Say daily positive affirmations for your skin, such as “You’re healthy, strong, and glowing.”

Thank your skin by drinking lots of water, eating healthily, and sleeping well.

Practice mindfulness by doing yoga or setting aside a few minutes for meditation.

Celebrate your skin by taking a barefaced selfie.

Talk openly about your skin issues — they are not something to be embarrassed about.

It also helps to practice a regular skincare routine. Wash your face with a clarifying cleanser, such as POND’S Clear Solutions Facial Foam, which helps reduce acne, redness, and dullness. Apply POND'S Bright Triple Glow Serum to smoothen, brighten, and hydrate your skin in one nourishing step.

Expressing gratitude for your skin is something anyone can practice and it’s worth a try. It’s the largest organ in the human body and it does so much for you. Giving it a little love, whether by writing in a journal or saying positive affirmations, won’t go unappreciated.