It’s the season of love, but here at Care to Beauty we specialize in skin, so that’s what we’re talking about today. What do people mean when they say “you look radiant”? Does being in love really make your skin glow? What are the actual effects of love on the skin? We have all the answers for you, and some might actually surprise you–they have definitely surprised us!
The Link Between Love and Skin
When you are in love you tend to feel radiant and beautiful, even if you are just sleeping three hours per night. We’ve all been there and it’s awesome. However, the fact that you feel great doesn’t necessarily mean that your skin looks better. Or does it?
Well, the link between your mind and your skin is pretty easy to spot; just have your crush appear unexpectedly and you will probably turn red in about 0.3 seconds. This tells us that the mind and the skin are deeply connected, and that this connection is nothing to be disregarded.
Indeed, the link between being in love and your skin runs much deeper than you may think. It’s not just the occasional flush caused by good surprises. Even so, blood flow alone will have some pretty serious effects on your skin, as increased blood flow means that the nutrients will reach your skin cells more easily. If you’ve ever wondered if love makes your skin glow, the answer is it might, yes–and it’s all due to the wonders of good blood flow. In addition, the effects of love on the skin are actually also linked to the circulating molecules we produce when we are in love, particularly three of them: oxytocin, serotonin, and dopamine.
Oxytocin
Also known as the “love hormone” or the “attachment hormone”, this is one molecule that is running wildly through your body when you experience love and contact with other people. It doesn’t even have to be related to romantic love, as skin-to-skin contact between parents and their babies will raise this hormone’s levels in just a few minutes. If you have a loved pet, they will also spark an oxytocin peak in your body. Love is love here, it makes no distinctions regarding this hormone.
So, you already know that your oxytocin levels are high when you feel love–but what does this mean in terms of your skin? Oxytocin reduces inflammation, boosting the skin’s speed regarding healing processes. This is great news for those who suffer from chronic diseases that are related to inflammation and healing, like rosacea or atopic dermatitis. Besides increasing the body’s ability to heal, oxytocin is also responsible for lowering cortisol levels. Besides reducing stress, the interesting thing with reducing cortisol is that it can actually boost collagen production, which in turn may lead to an increase in elasticity and firmness of the skin.
Serotonin
This neurotransmitter is deeply linked to depression and anxiety. What you also don’t know is that serotonin helps to get rid of free radicals, molecules that are responsible for premature aging of all organs, including the skin. This is due to the fact that serotonin promotes antioxidant circulation in the organism. Serotonin is also what helps you feel amazing even if you’ve only slept three hours since it relaxes you and helps to get rid of signs of fatigue.
Dopamine
Dopamine is also a neurotransmitter that makes the connection between neurons and is responsible for controlling movement and the emotional response to situations. It is also responsible for increasing microcirculation, ensuring that the nutrients reach the skin cells, and for the recovery of the skin barrier. This means that people who usually have compromised skin tend to have fewer problems regarding this issue.
Surprised to learn that there is actually a lot of scientific evidence to support the hypothesis that being in love makes your skin glow? Turns out, the effects of love on the skin are nothing to sneer at! Falling in love is actually great for your skin, so we definitely recommend you include it in your skincare regime this year.
Not sure you’ve got a suitable candidate to fall in love with? No problem! At Care to Beauty, we can provide you with a vast range of loveable skincare and beauty products that will definitely get your heart pumping. We’re sure you’ll find your match!
