As a teenager, I spent a good amount of my free time in front of a mirror. Whenever I found myself feeling sad, insecure, or just plain bored, I would go to my bathroom, pull out my skin care, makeup, or hair products and dance around to my favorite songs playing on full volume—an hours-long pastime (much to the dismay of my sister). I would think up new natural hairstyles, test different skin care concoctions, or create crazy makeup looks as I sang and moved freely. Looking back, my ritual was a way of building confidence and discovering a deep love and appreciation for my skin and body. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve noticed that there continues to be a connection between my beauty routine and my emotions. Indulging in the textures and the smells of my favorite products makes me feel centered and calm—almost therapeutic. It has become a necessary part of my day for relaxation, even when I don’t have hours to spare dancing in the mirror like I used to— though I squeeze in a quick dance session every now and then.
Luckily for me, Neuraé understands this link that I feel between emotions and beauty. The new brand comes from the Sisley Paris family, and launched this past April with a collection of products specifically designed to boost mood through scent, ingredients, and texture, and in turn, boost skin health. There are four categories for sparking different positive emotions: Harmonie, Énergie, Joie, and Sérénité, with moisturizers, serums, and aromatherapy roll-ons. For example, the brand’s Joie roll-on emotion-boosting fragrance uses sparkling citrus notes to enhance the feeling of joy.
According to the mind-based research behind the brand, over time, our emotions can have a visible impact on our skin. I learned that the process happens through a sort of dialogue in utilizing our brain’s neuromediators (the body’s natural messengers) and carry signals from the brain through to the nerves and muscles. These messengers control all of our body’s natural functions; they are what tell our limbs to move when we need them to or what tells our heart to keep beating. They take in the information we receive internally and externally and allow us to respond to it. When it comes to our skin, our neuromediators help to recognize our emotions and signal a skin response based on whether those feelings are positive or negative. This allegedly manifests in our skin in a variety of ways. For example, negative emotion can show up as dull, dry skin. Experiencing positive emotions on the other hand, can be regenerative and give skin a vibrant, healthy glow.
The standout product among this line for me is the Harmonie Serum. This serum helps to soothe and calm the skin and leave it feeling rebalanced and refreshed. When I first began using it, the first thing I noticed was the calming and indulgent, woodsy notes of Palo Santo. Every time I opened the bottle, I felt like I was being transported to a relaxing spa getaway which was enough to ease my mind already. Taking a deep inhale of the scent was soothing and almost meditative, as I found myself continuously taking long deep breaths to bask in it. The texture was like silk and urged me to really take my time applying the product. In a way, it forced me to slow down and yield to a few moments of self-care, which is a luxury in itself. The ribbed frosted glass bottle even felt like a gentle massage in my hands and was a chic addition to my bathroom sink.
Though applying the serum is a centering moment, I should note that using any skin care product will obviously not completely alter your emotional state. Trust me; there were a few stressful days and sad post-heartache moments that my skin care routine couldn’t solely fix. But incorporating this serum as a part of my daily ritual was a calming respite that was very much appreciated in those times.
Throughout our lives, we all will experience a wide range of emotions, both positive and negative. Our ability to do so is what makes each of our lives beautiful and unique. Regardless of how you cope with your emotions and process your individual experiences, your skin doesn’t have to bear the brunt of our day-to-day trials and tribulations. I know my teenage self probably would have appreciated the idea that a skin care product could help boost my emotions. My adult self finds the same joyful enthusiasm about beauty as I did as a kid, and I will always make time to dance in my bathroom mirror when I can.