#ICYMI: Skin science now targets your glow from the inside out

The Covid-19 pandemic altered many things for us. Among those was the essence of skincare, which is now governed by self-care. According to Beautystreams, a global beauty industry insights provider, this year kickstarted a movement called ‘Joyology’. Focused on embracing a holistic lifestyle, and maintaining physical and psychological health, Joyology has been defined as “the ultimate luxury in beauty”. According to their study, ‘joy’, a new form of inner peace and beauty, will be the macro theme for the next five years.

There are numerous studies that prove the mind-skin connection. Dermatologists will affirm that when you are dealing with tremendous stress and anxiety, it shows up on your skin in the form of acne, rashes, and allergies. And when the mind is at peace, your skin automatically appears well-rested and healthy. The beauty industry, of course, has now made it the focal point of their research and innovation. However, it isn’t new information, per se. Ancient healing rituals—like using energy crystals in the form of face tools or aromatherapy to treat skin—have found a place in modern skincare. And this beauty revolution is in tandem with the self-care movement.

As most people were forced to work remotely for the past two years, we all have had to relearn how to ‘disconnect’ and ‘reconnect’ in our daily lives. And brands have tapped into this space by luring us with formulas that come with the promise of transporting one to a tranquil space after a frenzied work day, or help revive one’s senses to take on those never-ending to-do lists.

Seekers of hedonic pleasures would question if a body wash or cream can make one happy. And the simple answer is: yes! Fragrance is at the forefront of this joyful journey. With a focus on ritualistic beauty that allow us to ‘switch-on’ and ‘switch-off’ as required, beauty aficionados now crave multi-sensorial experiences in the form of scent, colour, and texture. For when we engage in touch, feel, and smell, it leads to cognitive response that enhances mental performance. An aromatic soak with essential oils, a rejuvenating bath with a fragrant foam, or massaging your body with a perfumed body lotion or oil are all ways you can de-stress.

It is interesting to note that along with fragrance, products with crystal energy and ‘vibrations’ also help detox one’s skin and mind. Gwyneth Paltrow is a believer (but you could have guessed that, right?). Kourtney Kardashian Barker is also all about ‘energy shifting’ products that promise to raise her vibrations.

In fact, model Miranda Kerr has a special ritual for her beauty brand KORA Organics’ formulations. Miranda is known to run all her skincare products through rose quartz energy to infuse them with the powers of self love. She has, in the past, spoken about creating formulas that holistically nurture one’s mind, body, and skin.

Luckily, many brands already have collections that work with the neuro-cosmetics trend, with ingredients like menthol, rose, lavender, jasmine, CBD, etc, to relax your mind and ease pain. And along with the ‘feel-good’ emotions, these happy products target certain nerve receptors in skin that have potential for anti-ageing benefits, too. Think about it, when you are less stressed, you won’t be frowning, putting less pressure on your skin. And from a scientific standpoint, neuroactive ingredients have been proven to influence the performance of skin cells, leading to faster cell regeneration and healing, thus making your skin stronger.