THE WELLNESS EFFECT
Stress can wreak havoc on our wellbeing. Can wellness-minded beauty products help combat the negative impact of our hectic lifestyles?
We all know that stress can wreak havoc on our health and wellbeing. Can beauty products help to combat the negative impact of our hectic lifestyles?
When the humble face mask made its debut onto the beauty scene, taking half an hour out of the day to indulge in an at-home beauty treatment might have been seen as a frivolous waste of time. But with a growing number of us looking for new ways to unwind, switch off and take a moment of mindfulness, the lines between the wellness and beauty worlds are blurring. In the future, beauty products that both benefit our skin and help us de-stress are not only set to become the norm, they’re likely to become a necessity.
As the beauty industry taps into the notion that beauty innovations should make us feel good too, we will start to see the rise of lifestylerelated products that help address the demands of everyday living, explains Katy Bacon – education manager for Murad Australasia Pacific. “When you have beautiful skin, it’s a sign you have a healthy body and mind.”
“Our skin is our biggest organ,” says Roberta Weiss, head of product innovation for Kiehl’s. “And we are definitely starting to see more people who recognise this fact and approach the care of their skin as part of their overall health and wellness.” While genetics will always play a role in our overall skin health, the impact our lifestyle has on our skin should not be understated. “Good health is reflected on the skin due to many factors, which include what we eat, how much water we drink, how much sleep we get, our sun exposure, and, of course, what we use topically on our skin,” Weiss says.
According to Bacon, there is an “exciting momentum driving a shift in how we should look not just at our skin’s health, but our total body wellness and the effects our lifestyle – both good and bad – has upon our skin and wellbeing”. And Tracy MayHarriott, global director of education for Elizabeth Arden Pro and Priori, says it’s a movement that’s only going to grow. “We all know there is a great connection between our physical and mental wellness and what we see on the surface of the skin,” she says. “We all know how our skin looks after one sleepless night or a period of stress – our skin [mirrors] what is happening inside, both physically and mentally.”
STRESSING LESS
As more of us begin to understand that a healthy skin is a reflection of our overall wellness, we will continue to see wellness and topical skincare products become one, states Bacon. “Countless studies have demonstrated that the lifestyle choices we make have a significant influence on the length and the quality of our lives, and how we look,” she explains. And while we all know that eating better, sleeping better, getting more exercise and coping with stress can improve our wellbeing, with our always- on lifestyles, only a small percentage of us manage to do all these things. Stress alone not only exacerbates a number of serious health problems, but is also thought to cause mental health issues, high blood pressure and even heart disease. Bacon says that ‘cultural stress’ – the unrelenting day-to- day pressure of modern living – and our growing awareness of the impact it has on the declining health of people of all ages is driving the wellness trend.
An overworked and overstressed global population means that there’s increasing research being dedicated to ingredients and products that can address the side effects of stress and induce relaxation, says Emma Hobson, education manager for Dermalogica Asia, Australia and New Zealand. “Stress has a negative impact on the body and the skin, not just from lack of sleep but also from the hormonal imbalance stress causes,” she states.
Finding a spare 30 minutes to meditate in an already busy day can be difficult, therefore it makes sense that stress-busting beauty innovations that combine the best of both worlds – offering relaxation and also treating skin concerns – could play a key role in helping us manage stress.
“Many brands are creating ‘rituals’ that you can perform using your specialised skincare products,” says May-Harriott. “These products are enticing us to perform things like self-massage using a specialised serum or moisturiser, or masks and balms that melt onto the surface of the skin and are designed to be used with a pressure-point technique and a focus on deep breathing and taking a ‘minute’ out of your life.”
Game-changing ingredients that work to undo the impact stress has on our skin will also feature in the future. “A good example of this is wild indigo, a native Indian plant used in the Ayurvedic tradition for its anti-inflammatory qualities. It’s been cited to de-stress the skin by reducing cortisol levels,” explains Hobson. “Reducing stress and fatigue in the skin allows the skin to function optimally, [and can] reduce fine lines, help prevent premature ageing and ensure a healthy glow.”
Getting a good night’s sleep is essential for overall wellbeing – and according to Bacon, there’s a growing demand for topical products that aid relaxation and improve sleep quality. “Lack of restorative sleep can lead to increased stress hormones in the body, which increase the severity of inflammatory skin conditions, slow the body’s natural regeneration of skin cells, and reduce skin’s ability to retain water – all of which have a negative impact on the skin’s appearance,” Bacon explains.
The idea of ‘beauty sleep’ may seem like a myth, but Bacon says it’s far from it. “As we sleep, muchneeded cell renewal, detoxification, DNA and barrier repair processes activate. The tell-tale signs of poor rest and sleep deprivation include dehydration, inflammation, dryness, loss of elasticity, dullness and deeper wrinkles.” Later this year, Murad will launch its Night Fix Enzyme Treatment. “It’s designed to repair skin overnight, to give you the radiant, healthier-looking skin associated with a good night’s sleep,” explains Bacon.
In 2018 Dermalogica launched its Sound Sleep Cocoon, which harnessed the power of botanical ingredients to not only repair skin, but also promote deep, restful sleep. “Products are being formulated to work and support the body’s circadian rhythms. They work with the skin at night to help it heal and repair itself and induce relaxation and aid sleep,” explains Hobson.
EMPOWERING WELLNESS
Weiss believes that many skincare rituals and routines make people feel good. “The act of self-care is an important part of relaxation and de-stressing,” she states. “Skincare with natural aromas and wonderful textures help amplify these feelings when the formulas are used.”
May-Harriott says we’re already starting to expect beauty products to come with a feel-good factor that can be both felt and seen. “It’s driven by idealistic demands of if you look good, you surely have to feel the benefit too,” she says. And while she believes our beauty routine can help us conquer some of the side effects of stress, she is concerned about how much we are turning to products for a feel-good factor. “Confidence is a big part of looking good. We need to take care of what is happening inside, and add our own aspect to the idea of feeling good,” she explains. “We need to remind ourselves that we can control a lot of what makes us feel good, and it doesn’t always come in the form of a product.”
Healthy skin is unlikely to come packaged up in a pill any time soon, so the secret is an holistic approach to wellbeing. And a skincare routine, no matter how stress-busting it might be, is only one part of the equation belives Bacon. “If you are want be a healthier version of you, I recommend taking care of your skin with clinically proven efficacious products, eating a water-rich diet – think whole foods and grains with limited processed foods and refined sugars – and have a stress management plan … something you enjoy, such as yoga, meditation or creative outlets to help reduce any excessive cortisol which contributes to premature ageing.”
“We should look not just at our skin’s health, but our total body wellness.” KATY BACON