September 2, 2025

Breathing Your Way To Better Skin: How It Works

Your breath is a powerful tool. So, how does breathing your way to better skin work? Let's find out.

Breathing affects everything from your energy levels to how good your skin looks. Deep breathing flushes excess carbon dioxide from our body and replaces it with a rich supply of cell-energising oxygen. Your breath is also a powerful tool to ease stress and make you feel less anxious. So how can you breathe your way to better skin? Let’s take a look.

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Oxygen

Breathing happens automatically, but the quality of your breath can determine your health. Poor breathing leads to higher cortisol levels (hello stress!), which can cause inflammation. Oxygen is essential for the body’s tissues, and this includes the body’s largest organ – our skin. Quality breath improves circulation which affects energy levels, your digestion and even your skin tone.

Oxidative damage can play a key role in cellular dysfunction. Improving your breathing will help cell turnover and repair.

Deep Breathing

Deep breathing reduces stress and cortisol, which can worsen skin concerns. It helps to improve lymphatic drainage, as the diaphragm creates pressure changes in the chest and abdomen that encourage lymph fluid to move, removing toxins and leading to more radiant skin. By managing stress through deep breathing, collagen production gets a boost leaving your skin clearer and more luminous.

Breathing Techniques

There are a variety of breathing techniques which you can take just a few minutes each day:

Diaphragmatic Breathing

Also known as belly breathing, practise this for 5-10 minutes each day (ideally 2-3 times). Lie on your back with knees bent and your head on a pillow. Put one hand on your chest and the other below your rib cage so you can feel your diaphragm. Exhale through pursed lips while tightening your stomach muscles. Inhale deeply through your nose allowing your abdomen to expand. Breathe out slowly through your mouth, letting your abdomen relax. Continue this sequence for a few minutes.

Box Breathing

A simple technique with 4 steps which can be done standing or lying down. Release any body tension and breathe in slowly to a count of 4. After breathing in, hold your breath for 4 seconds. Breathe out slowly, counting to 4 in your mind. After breathing out, hold your breath again for another 4 seconds. Repeat from the beginning.

Pursed Lip Breathing

This simple technique slows down your breathing pace by making a deliberate effort with each breath. You can practise it at any time. Start by relaxing your neck and shoulders. Keeping your mouth closed, inhale slowly for 2 counts. Pucker or purse your lips as if you’re going to whistle, exhale slowly by blowing air through your pursed lips for a count of 4.

Alternate Nostril Breathing

Also used in yoga practise, this breathing technique promotes relaxation. It is best to practise on an empty stomach. Sit comfortably. Using your right thumb, press gently on your right nostril to close it. Take a slow, smooth deep breath in through your left nostril. Close your left nostril with your right ring finger while releasing your thumb from your right nostril. Breathe out slowly through your right nostril. Keep your left nostril closed and breathe in through your right nostril, then close it again. Open your left nostril and breathe out. Repeat from the beginning.