This Sisley-Backed Skin-Care Brand Addresses the Effects of 'Emotional Aging'

For much of modern history, beauty was seen as merely skin-deep — meaning physical appearance, and the skin care, makeup and other cosmetics that contribute to it, were limited to the superficial and considered unrelated to (and less important than) a person's intellectual and emotional character. But in recent years, there's been a notable shift in this thinking as consumers, brands and academics alike have come to realize that there is, in fact, a heavy connection between looking good on the outside and feeling good on the inside.

That's the thinking behind Neuraé, a new luxury skin-care brand based on neuroscience.

"We all know aging modifies the healthy look and desirable skin face, but our emotional state, called 'emotional aging,' also impacts our skin," explains Philippe d'Ornano, the brand's president. "And the progress of neurosciences over the last 20 years now offers us very interesting tools to better understand and measure the links between the brain and the skin."

Through more than 10 years of scientific research, the Neuraé team has discovered exactly what these links look like and, more importantly, how they act. What they've learned is that the skin and mind communicate through electric impulses and chemical messengers, called neuromediators. Dopamine and serotonin, two of the best known neuromediators, can have positive, balancing effects on skin when in high supply; but when they’re lacking, it can lead to visible damage in skin. Tiredness, sadness and stress, in particular, can lead to a loss of firmness, loss of radiance and the development of fine lines and wrinkles, respectively.

The Neuraé scientists realized, however, that this didn't have to be the case: There are some actives and fragrances that, when used topically, can express these neuromediators in the skin directly. They tested various formulas, both in the brand's labs and in independent testing centers, focusing on different methods and the expected skin benefits, like smoothing and firming.

"For the emotions, we performed the tests on physiological (heart rate and facial analysis) and psychological (implicit and explicit questionnaires) sides, in order to have a complete process of testing," says Caroline Bertrand, the brand's head of active ingredients and scientific communication.

The result is Neuraé's new seven-product collection, which launched this week. The line includes a serum, Harmonie, alongside three moisturizers of varying textures — Joie, The Emulsion; Sérénité, The Balm; and Énergie, The Cream — and three corresponding "booster" roll-on neuro-perfume oils. The lineup functions as a sort of pick-and-choose, whereby users can reach for the moisturizer and booster they feel is most needed for their skin and lifestyle, with the Harmonie Serum serving as a base for all.

"Powered by our NA3 technology, the serum is a universal product that acts as a foundation for your skin-care routine," Bertrand explains. Its aim is to "reset skin to zero," mitigating signs of emotional stress and restoring balance so that it can get the most out of the products that follow.

Then, depending on an individual's skin needs, they will reach for one of the three moisturizers. Joie, which has an emulsion texture, addresses skin dullness and enhances  radiance and luminosity. Sérénité has a relaxing and smoothing effect, supposedly relaxing facial features and providing an overall sense of calm. Finally, Énergie, which has a traditional cream texture, is revitalizing and firming on skin, purportedly diminishing the signs of fatigue and exhaustion. All three moisturizers also come in refillable pots.

The roll-on "neuro-perfume boosters," meanwhile, offer the chance to balance well-being anytime, anywhere, with the same neuro-actives found in the moisturizers themselves. The Sérénité, Joie and Énergie scents feature an amethyst, quartz or jade applicator, respectively, and are designed to provide an instant mood boost and calming ritual.

"The 'neuro-actives,' which are natural ingredients, act at the skin level to promote positive messages between the skin and the brain," Bertrand says of the collection. "The 'neuro-textures' bring a high-level cosmetic experience, while the 'neuro-fragrances,' composed with blends of essential oils and fragrance compounds, are selected for their aromatherapeutic effects."

The brand is backed by the Sisley Paris family but will notably exist separately from the heritage beauty house. And while d'Ornano sees this as a testament to Neuraé's individual identity and the years of research and development that have gone into shaping it, he also believes the line will carry on the torch for the larger Sisley brand: "Our group has always been a pioneer. We revolutionized the use of natural actives and high-quality concentrated formulas with Sisley, and we have very strong innovations coming with our main brand," he says. "Neuraé's launch will be not a trend but a new major approach of cosmetic efficiency."

Neuraé is among the first beauty brands to root itself entirely in the connection between skin and emotional health, but it certainly won't be the last. In fact, as the scientific understanding of this link continues to grow, it seems to be a burgeoning new tenant of the skin-care landscape. "This new field of research in skin care, inspired by neuroscience, is very promising to work on more efficient cosmetic product and emotional well-being," d’Ornano says. "That is why we created Neuraé, and we are just at the beginning of the adventure."

Priced from $65-$195, the complete collection is now available on the Neuraé website, as well as Nordstrom, Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus. Click through the gallery below for a first look at the full product lineup, along with pricing.

View the 7 images of this gallery on the original article

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