We all know the obvious skin stressors: not washing your face, sleeping in makeup, or skipping SPF. But what about the less obvious ones - the ones that sneak up on your skin barrier and make your moisturizer work overtime? Here are a few surprising skin stressors that could be behind that dullness, dryness, or flare-up you can’t quite explain.

1. Your Morning Coffee Habit ☕️

Caffeine is a diuretic, meaning it can dehydrate your body and your skin. That extra latte might be fueling your to-do list, but it could also be pulling moisture from your skin barrier. We are NOT saying to skip your morning cup, but do balance it out with extra hydration and a barrier-supportive moisturizer like Dew or Dry.

2. The Weather Inside Your Home

Between AC in the summer and heating in the winter, indoor air is often drier than the desert. Constant exposure to dry air can strip the skin’s natural moisture barrier, leading to redness, tightness, and fine lines. A humidifier (or even a bowl of water near a vent) can make a huge difference.

3. Over-Cleansing and “Too Clean” Living

We’ve become a little too obsessed with “clean.” Over-washing your face - or even your pillowcases - with harsh detergents can strip your microbiome and barrier lipids. Sometimes, your skin doesn’t need another active - it needs a break.

4. Blue Light Exposure

Your laptop and phone aren’t just bad for your eyes - they also emit HEV light, which can contribute to oxidative stress and premature aging. Antioxidants like cactus flower and prickly pear extract (both in 760’s formulas) help neutralize that free radical damage.

5. Stress (The Kind You Don’t Feel)

Even low-grade, everyday stress - traffic, deadlines, wedding planning - triggers cortisol spikes that break down collagen and increase inflammation. Think of your skincare ritual as your calm cue; it’s not just self-care, it’s biochemical balance.

6. Not Enough Sleep (or Sleeping Wrong)

It’s not just beauty sleep - it’s barrier repair sleep. Your skin regenerates most while you rest. Not sleeping enough - or sleeping on rough pillowcases - can slow recovery and increase transepidermal water loss overnight.

Closing:

Your skin is your body’s first responder - it reacts to everything. The best thing you can do isn’t just use great products; it’s to support your skin through every layer of your lifestyle. Think hydration, rest, calm, and a few desert botanicals that can handle it all.