Face your fears and get your complexion glowing with our guide to healthy skin

The skin is your body's largest organ - and the most telling. When you're stressed, tired, anxious or worried chances are it'll show up on your skin.

Inflamed cheeks, an irritated scalp, frown lines and dark circles under your eyes can all be tell-tale signs that something isn't right with your body. But your skin won't always fix itself when things go back to normal - often it will need some extra help. Here's what your skin's trying to tell you.

Worry - frown lines

It might not happen straight away but if you frown when you're worried, those lines appearing on your forehead will eventually become permanent.

For some people, furrowing the brow is a hard habit to break. Try applying a concentrated wrinkle cream to the area daily. Some of the creams on the market promise better results than Botox - and the best part is they don't require any injections. Look for products with ingredients such as collagen or silicone that will plump the skin to help fill the deep lines between your brows. You could also use products that are designed to fill the fine lines around the eyes, as they often have the same smoothing properties.

Anxiety - dandruff

An irritated scalp is one of the most common signs of anxiety. Some women get flaky dandruff, while others say their anxiousness leads to a sore and tingly scalp.

Look for shampoos and conditioners designed for sensitive scalps that also contain calming ingredients, such as camomile.

If flakes are your main concern, start using an anti-dandruff shampoo, which should clear up any embarrassing white flecks quite quickly. If your scalp is also red or feels tight and uncomfortable, you might need to apply a concentrated mask or a serum directly to
the irritated spots.

Most women who experience a scalp problem linked to anxiety report that it's a recurring issue, so they like to keep special shampoos or serums handy. But it's important to only use these products when your symptoms show up, as prolonged use can make your skin less responsive to the active properties.

Tiredness - dark circles

Dark circles are the most obvious sign of a lack of sleep and, let's face it, we've all been there.

Cold tea bags, cucumber slices or even a cold compress on your eyes will reduce the puffiness that comes with sleeplessness, but dark circles are sometimes harder to combat and will require a specialist eye cream.

Another frequent cause of these circles is the thinning of the skin under the eye that occurs naturally as part of the ageing process.

It's important to apply your eye cream liberally every day and you should look for a product that also combats puffiness. To reduce further stress to the delicate skin around your eyes, apply eye cream using your ring finger and a light tapping motion. Never vigorously rub in the cream because this will only stretch the skin, causing additional damage.

Stress - inflamed cheeks

Rosacea is a common condition that tends to flare up when something causes blood vessels in the face to expand, creating redness.

There's no known reason why some people are more prone to this condition than others, and the triggers can differ between people.

Stress is a common trigger but rosacea can also be brought on by exercise, exposure to sun and wind, hot weather, spicy food, alcohol and piping-hot baths.

One of the best and simplest treatments is a cold compress applied directly to the cheeks to constrict blood flow to the area. But cooling cleansers and moisturisers can also help calm the skin and soothe away any redness.

Treating yourself to an express manicure or a quick scalp massage is instantly relaxing. Close your eyes and put whatever is bothering you out of your mind. You'll feel better right away.

Taking some time to prioritise relaxation for a few moments a day helps your skin look great. Make peace with your body - compliment yourself often

Get more beauty tips from New Idea