Self-care and skincare routines have long been linked to improving mood and mental health. But what if the products themselves could directly impact how you feel? An emerging beauty trend called neurocosmetics might be the answer, taking the relationship between beauty and mind to a whole new level.
What is Neurocosmetics?
The philosophy behind neurocosmetics is rooted in the idea that the brain and skin are intrinsically connected, with some brands advertising products that are “designed to capitalize on that connection.” charm Some product descriptions claim that their ingredients communicate with neurotransmitters in the skin to stimulate certain emotions or sensations. Skin Health Cosmetic chemist Kelly Dobos told Allure magazine that sensory responses can be heightened by using ingredients that affect the skin’s nervous system. Neurocosmetics active ingredients can be “any type of ingredient that acts on neuroreceptors: topical, olfactory (aromatherapy), or ingested,” says cosmetic chemist Ron Robinson. PopSugar.
This trend has led to a rise in the popularity of topical products that claim to act directly on the nervous system.SerotonerIt includes griffonia, a plant that contains the molecule 5-HTP, a precursor to serotonin, to promote “happier, healthier, more joyful skin,” according to the skin care company. self-made The company is touting a three-step “Secure Attachment” kit that includes a relationship psychology book, “Attached,” a serum that makes people feel more “safe and secure” with themselves, and a moisturizer that “encourages people to realize that past negative experiences and emotional states can carry them through their lifetimes.”
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Stephanie Lee, CEO and founder of Selfmade, acknowledged that the product alone won’t lead to long-term psychological change, but argued that it could play a role in helping young buyers, especially those in the midst of American poverty, address issues of anxiety and low self-esteem. Teen mental health crisis” Atlantic Selfmade’s mission is to teach young people how to “use their skin as data for what’s going on inside,” she told the outlet.
What do experts think about this trend?
Neurocosmetics isn’t necessarily new, but it’s becoming more and more popular these days. “It’s kind of jumping on the bandwagon of all the conversation around mental health these days,” neuroscientist Claudia Aguirre told Allure. It’s possible that simply taking care of yourself through a beauty skincare routine can make you feel better, and that’s a good thing. “Just know that it’s not actually changing your brain,” Aguirre said.
Experts say so-called neuroenhancement products are best used as “adjuvants, not cures.” The hustle and bustle “So don’t expect a topical product to completely change your state of mind.” As humans, we have mood baselines that we eventually return to, psychotherapist Alyssa Mancao explained to the outlet. mental health“It’s important for consumers to ask themselves: Are the methods I’m using to feel better sustainable?
There’s also a big difference between finding a product that changes your mood and falling prey to the temptation to spend more and more. “Equating consumerism with happiness can perpetuate a vicious cycle of materialism, which results in fulfillment depending on external possessions rather than internal satisfaction,” psychiatrist Anna Yushim tells Bustle. Indulging in a beauty routine to stay healthy, rather than relying on it, can help “cultivate a healthy, holistic approach to self-worth and self-care” by “prioritizing habits that nourish the mind, body, and soul over improving appearance.”
Experts also argue that “confusing skin care with mental health only reinforces the stigma attached to wrinkles, acne, and other imperfections,” according to The Atlantic. “The association of appearance with morality, which leads to people being judged for not looking their best, is fundamentally unfair and problematic,” Kjerstin Gruis, a sociologist at the University of San Francisco, told the magazine.
