The idea that the mind and emotions are connected to the state of our skin. How our state of mind affects our skin and our skin appearance affects our mind
What is emotional beauty?
Emotional beauty refers to an inner beauty that radiates from person’s emotions and shines through their interactions and expressions. It is the beauty that comes from a genuine, compassionate and empathetic heart, that directly reflects in the face giving it a natural ‘light’ or glow!
There is no doubt that our inner state of mind reflects directly on our skin and vice versa. Relationship between stress and skin conditions has been documented since ancient times. More and more dermatologist have begun to recognize the connection between mental health and skin health. Think about how simply feeling embarrassed or self-conscious can make you blush.
When we undergo negative emotions such as stress, anxiety and fear, our body responds to that through a surge of hormonal activity which can affect more than your internal health but your skin as well. On the other hand, going through positive emotions also affects our skin. In this blog article we will examine the interconnection between our emotions and skin and the importance of emotional beauty in our skin health.
Blog Content
1. Negative emotions can contribute to skin damage
Stress and skin ageing
Stress can cause wrinkles to form because high amount of Cortisol, the stress hormone emitted during stress situations, can break down the skin’s collagen and elastin. So, continuously being stressed will affect your anti-ageing routine. The more stressed out you are, the more cortisol your body will produce, and eventually your skin cells will not be able to naturally replenish elastin and collagen at the rate they should be able to. And what is the most significant cause of wrinkle? The loss of collagen and elastin.
Negative emotions – acne connection
While stress does not cause acne but it can make acne worse by causing levels of certain hormones like cortisol and androgens to temporarily increase. Stress, anxiety and fear might also worsen acne by triggering the production of cytokines, tiny proteins that stoke inflammation.
The impact of negative emotions on the skin barrier function and wound healing
One of skin’s major functions is physical protection and wound repair upon injury. The outer layer of the skin is essential in maintaining hydration and protecting against microbial infections. Disruption of the skin barrier function can lead to flaky or dry skin. Stress can cause higher transepidermal water loss and lower water retention property which might impair the barrier function. Stress has also been shown to have a negative impact on wound healing. Stress affects cellular immunity which plays an important role in the regulation of wound healing through the production of anti-inflammatory Cytokines. Under stress, some hormones are increased in the blood leading, slowing down the delivery of the Cytokines to start the healing process.
Negative emotions disrupt our positive lifestyle habits
Being sad or depressed affects your sleep, eating routine and also might let you skip your daily skincare routine all together. Not removing makeup every night causing the pores to clog, or not applying moisturizer, leaving the skin looking dull and dry.
While negative emotions can contribute to ageing, acne and disturbance of the skin barrier. Positive emotions can also have a major impact on the health of your skin.
2. Positive emotions and skin health
It’s no secret that when you are in love or happy, you look great. You feel good and you look good. You can see it and other people see it too. Your eyes sparkle and your skin literally glow. That is because our emotions do influence our skin.
Make smiling a habit
Frowning causes wrinkles. The small muscle contractions that occur when you frown cause line to develop on the forehead between the eyebrows and the corners of the eyes. Over time, these lines become more prominent and can lead to wrinkles. Teaching yourself to make a habit of smiling or consciously entering a relaxed facial state, will help your skin look and age better.
The “feel good hormones” and your skin
When we feel happy and joyful, our body release substances like endorphins, serotonin and dopamine. These ‘feel good hormones’ have an effect on the barrier function, helping the skin to stay better hydrated and appear more radiant.
Caring of your skin can lift up your emotions
A solid skincare routine can help you develop mindfulness, improve your mood and show yourself some kindness, you worth it! Some recent research done in Japan by Makeup Product Research and Biological Science Research Laboratories of Kao has shown that skincare users experience the generation of positive emotions like happiness and satisfaction when performing skincare routine. Kao has also found that the positive emotions induced by the hand press ritual improve skin appearance.
Your skincare routine does not have to be complex, keep it simple and mindful: a natural cleanser, an oil-based serum, an exfoliant twice a week and a natural clay mask once a week to pull out deeper toxins. It is important to maintain a healthy skin barrier and microbiome with gentle natural products.
The power of touch
With touch, we induce hormonal signals carried via the skin to our brain’s cognitive and emotional centers, resulting in positive behavioral changes. When you give a facial massage, you are activating some nerve fibers that result in positive feelings and ultimately reduce levels of the stress hormone, cortisol.
Inner beauty leads to a radiant complexion
Having inner beauty allows a person to develop strong self-confidence and self-acceptance. When someone is comfortable in their own skin and embraces their uniqueness, they radiate a certain glow that cannot be achieved through external means alone. This confidence also encourages positive body image, which can prevent skin issues caused by stress and negative self-perception.
3. Your skin affects your mood
We have examined how your emotions can affect your skin. How does the state of your skin affect your mind?
Different emotions can either aggravate a skin condition or on the opposite side can bring radiance to the skin. On the other side, skin disorders like acne or psoriasis have been associated with increased rate of depression, anxiety and reduced quality of life. Moreover, those with chronic acne or skin breakouts are more likely to withdraw from social activities because their skin condition makes them feel uncomfortable or less worthy. It’s no doubt that the state of the skin itself can affect the way we feel. When skin looks good, we tend to feel better about ourselves.
When we form a habit of morning/night routine, we alleviate some of the anxiety surrounding “time” by breaking some of the negative patterns with self-care. By being invested in our skin, we have the power to make changes. You can brighten your face to switch on a radiant glow or help erase fine lines with anti-aging products. By putting efforts to improve and maintain your skin, the visible results are rewarding. Ultimately, skin care boosts confidence! And when you feel good in your skin, it makes you smile on the inside and out!
How do products we put on our skin affect our mental state? How do scent affect our mood?
Fragrance holds the power to set your mood for the entire day. It can boost your self confidence, prompt nostalgia, enhance sleep and even improve physical and cognitive performance. Essential oils can change your mood by triggering the limbic system of your brain. Different scents will bring different mood transitions. If you are feeling down and negative, it may be worth trying a scent with lemon, which can be found in our Turmeric & Lemon Scrub. You also might get a boost from a bright, uplifting scent like peppermint in our Coffee Arabica Soap. However, if you are struggling to fall asleep at night, it’s best to use an essential oil with hints of lavender found in our Red Clay & Argan Mask or Frankincense oil found in our Rejuvenate & Glow Set.
4. Conclusion
In a world that often places a heavy emphasis on physical beauty, emotional beauty reminds us the importance of inner qualities and inner state that truly make a person beautiful.
Negative emotions like stress are part of everyday life and unavoidable sometimes. It’s absolute impossible to move through life without experiencing some negative emotions every now and again. The goal is not to eliminate negative emotions all together, but to learn how to manage it in productive way and minimize their effect on our skin. Consistently focusing on the joy and good things in your life will lift your spirit. Acquiring emotional beauty by practicing emotional intelligence helps in recognizing and managing one’s own emotions as well as being sensitive to the emotions of others.
Feeling balanced and happy will stimulate the release of dopamine, and give you a more youthful and glowing skin, naturally! A healthy clear mind can help you devote the right amount of attention to a good skincare routine which in turns lift up your mood and confidence!
