National Stress Awareness Day: The best beauty products to help you relax

Time to unwind: stress, if not dealt with properly, can show on your face and cause mental health problems (Getty)

Considered a given part of fast-paced modern life, we all know what it feels like to be stressed but when it becomes overwhelming, it can lead to more serious problems and even trigger poor mental health.

In fact, some 12 million people visit their GP with mental health problems annually, many of whom are dealing with stress, according to the Mental Health Foundation.

That’s why National Stress Awareness Day – which falls on the first Wednesday in November each year – is so important, and a great opportunity to think about our wellbeing.

There are lots of ways to cope with stress and the issues caused by it, from being active and eating a balanced diet to meditation and, of course, seeking help from medical professionals.

But for many, this is where beauty really shows its therapeutic side.

From essential oils, to soothing lotions and bedtime sprays, there are a whole host of products that promise to boost your mood and kick anxiety to the kerb through the power of scent.

Tata Harper, Aromatic Stress Treatment, £72, Cult Beauty

Most stress-relieving beauty buys work by influencing your olfactory system for an almost instant effect. One of which using this powerful tool is Tata Harper’s Aromatic Stress Treatment – a small, unassuming mixture of rose, frankincense and neroli that helps to alleviate anxiety, aid relaxation and dispel nervous tension.

Simply dot a little to the three pulse points – inside of wrists, behind the ears and on each side of the throat – when stress levels soar.

Lavender Foaming-Relaxing Bath with Sea Salts and Aloe, £28, Kiehl’s

If you prefer a bit of pampering with your products then Kiehl’s Lavender Foaming-Relaxing Bath with Sea Salts and Aloe will give you an exceptionally soothing bathing experience. One that, if possible, can be made even more comforting when paired with Neom’s Complete Bliss Candle.

When you – eventually – step out of the bath, it’s time to take care of your skin with a stress-busting cream like Lush’s Sleepy Body Lotion. Infused with gentle oatmeal and calming lavender flower, the £8 cream has been hailed as “magic” by fans who claim that it helps them relax and even reduces anxiety.

Neom, Complete Bliss Candle, £30, John Lewis

Similarly, Sunday Riley’s Luna Sleeping Night Oil is also a cult favourite among beauty buffs. Not only does the retinol rich treatment lessen lines and wrinkles but it also helps calm signs of stress while the strong, therapeutic scent follows you to bed.

Sleepy Body Lotion, £13.95, Lush

That being said, stress is well known to cause insomnia by making it difficult to fall asleep and stay that way for a full seven to eight hours. Luckily though, that’s where one of the most revered products in the beauty sphere comes in.

If a lack of sleep is stressing you out, This Works’ Deep Sleep Pillow Spray is the ultimate beauty secret. A best-selling natural aid, it contains a concentration of lavender, vetivert and chamomile that’s clinically proven to aid a soothing night’s sleep, while calming your mind and body.

This Works, Deep Sleep Pillow Spray, £18, Space NK

Sunday Riley, Luna Sleeping Night Oil, £42.50, Harvey Nichols