How does what I put on my skin affect my mood?

Every day, intentionally or not, we structure and then unravel our days with our daily routines—our self-care routines; our at-home spa regimens. Whichever your preference, those five (or twenty) steps hold a lot more power than we often think. 

Redoux explores the intersection of scent and skincare, and how the two trigger certain feelings, memories, and desires that we share as a collective. Today, we focus specifically on mood: how do the products we put on our skin affect our mental state? 

Let’s take a moment to reflect:

• Do certain products spark an abundance mentality, while others remind us of toxic patterns we once held close? 
• Which products in your routine spark joy? 
• Do certain aspects of your routine, or the products on your shelf, remind you of something you’d rather forget? 
• Are we using certain products just because they feel familiar and comforting?

There are no right or wrong answers to any of the above! These questions are only here to spark mindfulness and encourage intentional choices in skincare and scent. When we become more conscious of what we put on our body, we also become more conscious of how we use them, like in our daily routines. 

How your beauty/self care routine affects your mood

Stress, anxiety, and other components of our emotional well-being deeply affect our skin, presented through dryness, breakouts, or simply exposing a lackluster texture that doesn’t reflect our inner glow. 

Self-care routines and daily rituals provide a framework for finding peace in our lives. Triggers of stress include being unprepared, short on time, or ill-equipped. When we form the habit of a morning or night routine, we alleviate some of the anxiety surrounding “time.” Routines create structure that free up space in the mind. Once they become second nature, we are free to utilize that energy in more productive and creative ways.

The result? An outer glow that matches your inner flame. 

This is not to say that we must stick to the exact same regimen every single day to experience the benefits of routine. It’s about taking the extra time to care for ourselves and form an idea of what that looks like for us—we then become more and more in tune with our emotional and physical needs. 

The initial choice of which products to use is equally important as being mindful of our daily rituals. Switching things up periodically is good for the mind, body, and soul, and picking scents is a very personal experience.

How scent affects your 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. 

Despite its force, scent is something we are not always the most intentional with. It’s easy to find smells we enjoy; most scents are pleasant. We should challenge ourselves to determine if “pleasant” is the best we can strive for with our mood, or the best that we can treat our skin. 

To find scents that add to or replace current favorites, we can lean into our memories, goals, and think about when we will be using the product. For example, when looking for a cleanser you’ll be using both morning and night, you might stray away from lemon or peppermint as they have the tendency to energize rather than calm. Look for blends that encompass your needs. 

What energizes you may be someone else’s least favorite scent...and that’s the beauty of it. We may not all make the same associations to scent, but we all experience and look for products that encapsulate common feelings like joy, stillness, serenity, and growth. 

The next time you get ready or unready for the day, pay attention to each feeling and thought that comes to light. What, if anything, do you notice about your routine? What feels euphoric? What’s missing? Let’s explore what ritual means to us-- the current, old, and aspirational.