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Looking for a way to take your self-care habits to the next level? More and more people are turning to skincare ASMR – a trending concept that has the potential to transform both your complexion and your mind.
What exactly is skincare ASMR and how does it contribute to self-care? Read on as Lionesse explains everything you need to know!
What is ASMR?
Let’s start by talking about ASMR. It stands for autonomous sensory meridian response. You know that tingly feeling that you get when someone whispers something to you or lightly touches your hair? It usually starts at the scalp and then runs through the rest of the body, often feeling static-y and bringing on goosebumps. That’s ASMR.
It’s something that many people don’t give much thought to, yet ASMR can have a profound effect on your mind. Research shows that ASMR can cause the brain to release a range of neurohormones, including dopamine, oxytocin, and endorphins. They’re often referred to as the ‘feel-good hormones’ because of how they quickly boost mood and emotions.
ASMR can have several other positive effects on the mind too, including:
- Reducing feelings of anxiety and stress
- Improving deep concentration
- Promoting relaxation and improving sleep quality
- Decreasing feelings of chronic pain
- Lowering blood pressure
Sounds good, right? For many, it is. However, not everyone experiences ASMR. It is estimated that only around 20% of the population reacts to stimuli in this way. For everyone else, that same stimulus either has no effect or can even be considered annoying!
What About Skincare ASMR?
Now that you know what ASMR is, where does skincare come into play?
Well, ASMR can be triggered by various stimuli. Take a look at some of the ASMR content available online and you’ll see exactly what we mean. However, when it comes to effective stimuli, skincare is among the best. Unlike the ASMR videos that have been flooding social media, which rely on your auditory and visual senses, the act of applying skincare also incorporates your sense of touch. Research shows that touch is the most intense ASMR trigger, enabling you to experience the above benefits so much faster and to a stronger degree.
Sure, you can get your fix by watching skincare ASMR content but nothing quite compares with the feelings that you’ll enjoy if you bring ASMR into your real-life skincare routine. This can send your mental health soaring – it really is the ultimate self-care experience!
Incorporating ASMR Into Your Skincare Routine
Wondering how to go about making your skincare routine ASMR-worthy? Here are our top tips:
Start by Exploring Your Sense of Touch
As mentioned, your skincare routine will be able to stimulate your sense of touch in a way that online ASMR content will never do. There are two ways to make the most of this; finding products that feel good when your fingers touch them and finding products that impart that tingly sensation when they’re applied to your skin. Certain products are able to do both, making these the ones that you want in your routine.
One product that does this exceptionally well is the Lionesse Black Onyx Mask. It’s a rich, clay-infused mask, meaning that it will feel sumptuous on your fingers as soon as you touch it. This makes applying the mask extremely enjoyable, which is enhanced by how the mask heats up when it’s massaged into the skin. As you can imagine, this will quickly heighten your senses, giving your skin a warm caress that plays perfectly into an ASMR self-care experience. Of course, the fact that the mask will also remove excess sebum, brighten your complexion, and give your skin a much softer finish is also a big bonus!
Certain skincare devices can also stimulate your sense of touch, such as the Photonix-2 Jade Eye Wand. This device features two modes, one of which makes use of infrared heat technology. Just like our Black Onyx Mask, this exposes your skin to a balmy heat that will soon have it tingling in delight. This device will also smooth away the look of wrinkles, calm the feeling of inflammation, and banish the appearance of puffiness and dark circles, making it well worth having around!
Catering to Your Sense of Smell
Your sense of smell is something else that cannot be stimulated through online ASMR content. Again, real-life skincare ASMR comes out on top here. All you need to do is pick products that smell appealing to you (while also heightening your sense of touch), and your mind should quickly feel more relaxed.
Of course, this isn’t anything new. Aromatherapy has been used for centuries to improve mood and reduce stress. However, combining this with other sensory-stimulating aspects takes regular aromatherapy to the next level.
The face mask that we featured above, for instance, contains lemon peel extract. Citrus scents have long since been revered for having an uplifting effect on mood and alertness. Lemon peel is known for having an even zestier scent than the flesh, which you’ll notice as soon as you start to apply the mask.
Lavender is another botanical that’s loved for similar reasons. Its floral scent has a calming effect on the mind. This is why many people light lavender-scented candles when they’re undertaking other relaxing self-care activities. Adding a lavender-infused skincare product to your routine is a great way to boost the ASMR aspect of your regimen. Again, pick one that plays into your sense of touch too, just like the Lionesse Diamond Rejuvenation Facial and Eye Mask. Not only does this hydrogel mask feel so satisfying to touch but it smells gorgeous too. Plus, it will also leave your skin feeling plump and deeply hydrated!
Don’t Forget About Sound and Sight
We’ve talked about touch and smell – two senses that can’t be stimulated by the thousands of skincare ASMR videos out there. However, what about sound and sight? This is where those videos excel. Slow, close-up shots of exquisite skincare products combined with amplified sounds of packaging being opened or those products being tapped into the skin is what helped skincare ASMR videos become popular in the first place. While you may not be able to include those tech skills in your routine, there is still plenty that you can do to stimulate these senses.
Start by thinking about how ASMR content creators take their time when opening product packaging. They really emphasize each step, providing the full visual and auditory impact of the entire process. This is something that you can do too. Pick products that are boxed in an aesthetically pleasing way and are contained in sleek containers, just like Lionesse products are, and you’ll be able to use that packaging to your advantage.
Practicing Mindfulness When Applying Your Skincare
Skincare ASMR goes hand-in-hand with mindfulness, another technique that’s often used for self-care. Mindfulness is all about being in the moment. Being mindful means focusing on what you can see, hear, feel, and smell at that exact time, meaning that it can really boost your ASMR experience. It’s also a form of meditation in itself – even just 30 seconds of mindfulness can do wonders for your mental health.
How can you incorporate mindfulness into your skincare ASMR routine? Here are a couple of ideas:
Engage Your Senses
We’ve already talked about how to pick out skincare products that stimulate your senses. However, if you quickly swipe them onto your face without a second thought, while your mind is occupied with all of the other tasks that you need to do afterward, your senses won’t fully benefit from those products.
Instead, work on engaging your senses while you’re applying each product in your skincare routine. Start by processing each product’s appearance. What color is it? What is its texture like? What does it look like when it spreads onto your skin?
Then, hone in on its scent and how this makes you feel, before focusing on the feel of the product itself. Does it feel cool or warm on your skin? Is it silky or does it have a gritty texture? How does it feel as you’re massaging it into your skin?
Meditate While Masking
Masking is a great opportunity to take some time out and focus on relaxing your mind. Most face masks need to sit on your skin for at least ten minutes, so try using that time to meditate.
Start by focusing on the face mask itself, in the same way that we discussed above when it comes to engaging your senses. Then, focus on your breathing. Take deep breaths, inhaling and exhaling slowly. Hone in on each breath while also paying attention to how those breaths feel as they pass through/interact with your face mask. Practice some deep breathing exercises – there are plenty out there to choose from!
Masking can also be combined with other meditation techniques, such as mantras. This is when you repeat a certain word or phrase to give your mind something to focus on. It’s very helpful if you find it difficult to concentrate when trying to meditate.
A body scan is another popular meditation technique that can be combined with masking. Once you’ve focused on how the mask feels on your face, hone in on the rest of your body. Close your eyes and, starting at the top of your head, connect with each part of your body. Do this slowly, gradually scanning your way downward until you reach your feet.
Summary
It’s easy to see why skincare ASMR has become so popular. It offers up so many mental health benefits, which, in turn, boosts the skin too. This is intensified by the products that you apply when following an ASMR skincare routine, as these will take care of your skin too. The result? Ski that looks healthier, along with a mind that feels happier. If you’re one of the lucky people who are able to experience ASMR sensations, incorporating skincare into this would be well worth trying.
Click here to elevate your skincare ASMR routine with more bestselling products from Lionesse.
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