CONNECTIONS - LUCIANA FERNANDEZ

Connections where mental health and your skin collide

SELENA GOMEZ

on skincare, makeup, and mental health

INSIDE

Makeup effects on mental health Makeup/skincare routines & Products

Content Intro: What is Mental Health?

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Six ways makeup can improve your mental state

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How does makeup relate to mental health?

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Basic makeup routine

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Skin care routine

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Selena Gomez: How beauty can influence mental health

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What is mental health?

Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act, and helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental and physical health are equally important components of overall health. Depression increases the risk for many types of physical health problems, particularly long-lasting conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. Similarly, the presence of chronic conditions can increase the risk for mental illness.

“When in a state of good mental health, a person can accomplish daily tasks, maintain relationships and engage in meaningful recreation.”

Six ways makeup can improve your mental state IMPROVED SELF-ESTEEM Individuals with low self-esteem are more likely to have mental health issues like anxiety and depression. It can be challenging to perform at work when you don’t feel good about yourself. Makeup is a great way to regain confidence in yourself and everything you do.

CREATIVITY IS A PROVEN MOOD BOOSTER

Makeup is a beautiful way to let your creative side out. When people sit down with an eyeshadow palette, they start to get ideas about eyeshadow looks.

Makeup provides the perfect opportunity for an artist to go to work; her face is the ideal canvas.

Playing with colors and different finishes and experimenting with new looks is a great way to let the creative part of your brain take over temporarily. Once you start enjoying creative activities, like having fun with makeup, your brain releases

dopamine. Dopamine is a chemical in

the brain that’s known for boosting your mood. This natural antidepressant can help alleviate anxiety and symptoms of depression.

TAKE A BREAK We all need a break from the stress of life.

It doesn’t take long for a person to feel burnt out, depressed and anxious about life.

Makeup helps your brain create those natural feelgood chemicals, like dopamine, to give you a much needed break from stress.

When you touch your skin, it releases

oxytocin. Once your body begins to

release this hormone, it encourages the production and release of other stress-reducing chemicals in the brain, such as dopamine. Applying makeup and having a skincare routine involves touching your skin quite a bit, which can instantly make you feel calmer.

When you combine the feel-good chemicals applying makeup releases with a severe boost in self-confidence, you can’t help but feel like makeup gives you the ability to take on the world. It makes you feel like you can take on any challenge and succeed.

Simply putting on makeup is not enough to give you the courage to feel good.

RITUALS ARE CALMING

YOU FEEL IN CONTROL

Individuals with anxiety often find daily rituals calming. These can include morning and nighttime rituals. Makeup involves the morning ritual of makeup application.

However, skin care is necessary if you wear makeup daily, creating another ritual to calm anxious feelings further. Makeup and skincare go further to calm down those with mental illnesses.

Makeup gives you the control you need and is healthy for you. Even a brightly colored eyeliner can make you feel in control and remind you that you don’t have Makeup is a healthy way to be in control of your life.

HOW DOES MAKEUP RELATE TO MENTAL HEALTH? Improving your well being with makeup People wear makeup for different reasons. For some, daily makeup has become a routine; some wear makeup because they want to highlight certain parts of their face; some wear makeup because makeup makes them feel well-groomed.

What all these people, as well as other makeup lovers, have in common is that they enjoy the process.

Whether you only wear makeup when you go out or makeup is part of your routine, it represents a time when you can completely relax and let go. The time when you use makeup to highlight your natural beauty and give yourself extra shine. You gave a dose of glamour.

Imagine the situation, you are listening to the music you like, there are lighted candles around you with your favorite fragrance, you are moving to the rhythm of the music and taking time for yourself and putting on your makeup. So who wouldn't feel good after that?

The examples we have given may be banal, and you may not be able to set aside every day to enjoy the process, but even just five minutes is enough to do your mental health a favor. If makeup is what makes you happy and helps you feel better.

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You might not think about it, but you sure feel good when you take care of your skin and then put on makeup. In addition to taking time for yourself which is excellent! – you are allowed to discover what you like, what suits your skin and what makes you feel like you.

Even many experts and psychologists agree that self-care, including makeup, positively affects your mental health.

One of the reasons is that the brain reacts to our actions. When you apply makeup, touching your skin helps release the hormone oxytocin.

The hormone oxytocin is located in the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland and is also known as the love hormone. Since hormones affect our mood and emotions, wearing makeup releases oxytocin, which makes the body and mind feel good and relaxed. Don't forget the good feeling after you finish your makeup, and you look better than you imagined.

Maybe great artists would disagree with us, but makeup is a kind of art.

Applying makeup helps to relax your body and mind and allows you to slow down and focus on yourself. Experts add that the body releases dopamine and the hormone of happiness after we finish applying makeup. And that's exactly why, because of all the good things it awakens in us, makeup boosts selfconfidence, mood and the general opinion of ourselves.

However, you can also help your mental health by applying makeup in other ways.

We all like to look good and choose carefully how we dress up.

The control that makeup gives you is already visible in the selection of products that you will use on your face.

It may seem unbelievable to you, but you can achieve a lot with small steps.

of your makeup, so you will start applying this method in other parts of your life. Control over your decisions will boost your happiness because no one but you knows what is best for you and what makes you happy.

Daily, weekly or monthly routines are what makes us happy in life. Practices have become a favorite self-care technique to quickly do something good for yourself. Skincare and makeup bring happiness and satisfaction to us, and after we're done with makeup, we can't wait to show everyone how good we look.

Not only does the beauty world embrace diversity, but it also celebrates it. There is so much we can learn from each other if only we allow ourselves to believe in ourselves and show others who we really are.

Using makeup, you can show how you feel; you can become your canvas and the most beautiful picture.

Don't forget makeup is there to highlight all your attributes and show you how beautiful you are on the outside, even when it's hard for you to believe it. If you're feeling bad, take out the palettes, choose the colors, prepare the brushes and let the hormones of happiness and satisfaction flood you.

So, for example, at first, you will feel great that you have taken control

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Basic Makeup Routine Step 1: Moisturizer

Variety of options: You can apply face mists, cream, oil, lotions or serums. A small amount will go a long way, just make sure you figure out your skin type!

(Oily, dry, Mixed...)

Step 2: Primer

Now that your skin is well moisturized, prep your face with primer. Whether you’re planning on applying a light coat of foundation or a full face of makeup, primer is an important first step. Using primer under your makeup will make your look last longer.

Step 3: Foundation

When it comes to foundation, finding the perfect shade for your skin is priority number one. The right shade of foundation can make all the difference. Test foundation colors against your jawline. After applying, if the foundation disappears without any sort of blending, you’ve found your true match. This may take a bit of trial and error, but taking the time to pick the right shade is crucial.

Step 4: Concealer

Liquid concealer is best for the times you want light coverage over a large area of your face. Liquid concealer also works well for those looking to create a light finish, especially in areas of wrinkles, like around the eyes and mouth. Stick and compact concealers are well-suited for heavier coverage on smaller, more specific areas of the face. To reduce the appearance of dark under-eye circles and create a glowing, bright look, apply light concealer beneath the eyes. You may also apply concealer on the chin, nose tip and bridge and center of the forehead to brighten up the areas. To reduce the appearance of dark under-eye circles and create a glowing, bright look, apply light concealer beneath the eyes

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Step 5: Setting powder

Applying foundation powder or setting powder can be a tricky process; too little and you may as well have skipped the step altogether, too much and you’ll be sporting the dreaded “cake look”. In your quest for a flawless complexion, you’ve likely heard plenty of tricks of the trade regarding powder foundation. Keep these tips in mind to get that perfect complexion.

Step 6: Bronzer

Bronzer can give your skin that sun-kissed glow all year long. Use a dedicated bronzer brush to sweep a golden tan across your face; bronzer brushes are crafted with more bristles, and placed much more tightly together, ensuring you get the most out of your colorful bronzer with each and every swipe.

Step 7: Blush

Flushed cheeks have been a mainstay of makeup glamour for centuries. If you want to add a bit more color and vibrancy to your complexion, blush may be the key.

Use a dense brush with plenty of bristles to apply your blush—this will make sure you get the most out of every blush sweep.

Step 8: Highlighter

The right highlighter adds a bit of glam and glow to every makeup look. Whether you’re opting for a more natural look or want something bold and beautiful, highlighter can complement your makeup application.

Pssst! Don't forget!

After your full face is completed, apply some lipgloss, mascara and fill in your brows! Once you have completed these steps, you can start playing around with eyeshadows and liners.

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Lets get into SKINCARE

Step 1: Cleanse

A cleanser removes the dirt, oil, and bacteria that you come in contact with during the day, or at night while you sleep. Cleansing your face will help you start your day with fresh skin.

You’ll be able to receive the benefits from the products you apply after cleansing and all products will be absorbed by your clean skin.

Step 2: Moisturize

Step 3: SPF

Even if you have oily or combination skin, it’s still important to moisturize.

Make sure the formula contains board-spectrum SPF 30 or higher to ensure you’re as protected as possible.

Your skin needs moisture to replenish the water it loses throughout the day.

Moisturizers with ingredients such as ceramides and hyaluronic acid can provide your skin with the healthy hydration it needs to stay soft, supple, and youthful.

But, in reality, it’s important to wear sunscreen every day. In addition to reducing your skin cancer risk, you’ll also be preventing the effects of photoaging—which can include dark spots and wrinkles.

Once you have perfected your routine.. feel free to add extra steps! The more you experiment with what products work best for you, the better your skin will perform! Try using serums, toners, eye creams, exfoliants and more!

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Selena Gomez: How beauty can influence our mental health Singer, actor and producer is an advocate for mental health.

We are constantly bombarded with images and social media posts that make people feel like they need to achieve perfection, which is unattainable. I have been open about my own personal mental health struggles and how I have felt “less than.”

Growing up in the public eye is a lot of pressure. It’s hard enough for anyone during those early years but imagine it with the world judging you and commenting on every aspect of your life and choices. Sometimes I do think it made me have a thicker skin and I don’t regret growing up the way I did. It’s an understatement to say I feel incredibly lucky to have a platform where I know I can make a difference.

But that does not mean I haven’t had difficult times. I decided to be open about what I was experiencing, and because of this I have heard from so many people over the years who struggle with their own mental health. It is an issue that has become very close to my heart. I try to use my voice to help reduce the stigma associated with talking about mental health, and to encourage people to celebrate their uniqueness There are so many unrealistic expectations for women in our society and a pressure to look and act a certain way. Social media has definitely influenced our idea

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of “perfect,” and we often turn to these platforms for validation and comfort. But in the end, this also makes us all feel a bit lonelier.

For anyone who is struggling with mental health issues or is simply having a difficult time, I want to tell you that you are not alone.

I’m also a strong advocate for therapy. It helped me answer a lot of questions about why I was feeling a certain way and helped me overcome some obstacles.

At the beginning, it wasn’t easy for me to be open with the fact that I was struggling with depression and anxiety. I felt like there was a pressure to be perfect, as so many people looked up to me. But after I made the decision to seek help and be open about what I was feeling, it was such a relief.

I think admitting I am a human being, and not perfect – nobody is – was actually more beneficial to the people that looked up to me.

Since the start of Rare Beauty, my team and I have been building a community to have positive conversations around self-acceptance and mental health. During pandemic restrictions this has included intimate Zoom calls that we call “Rare Chats,” and also profiling members of our community on social media, where we encourage people to celebrate their individual beauty (we offer 48 shades of foundation and concealer to suit all skin tones).

the stigma associated with mental health, address the epidemic of chronic loneliness, and help give people access to the resources and services they need to support their mental well-being. We launched the fund this past July (on my 28th birthday) and announced our goal of raising $100 million over the next ten years to help give people in underserved communities access to mental health services.

We are committed to raising funds with other partners and our community, and one percent of Rare Beauty annual sales will go directly to the Rare Impact Fund. With the Fund, we also created the Rare Impact Mental Health Council, which is made up of expert advisors from leading universities, organizations, and companies to help us make sure we are making the biggest impact.

I want everyone to find the power in what makes them rare.

We all need to embrace our uniqueness, stop comparing ourselves to others, and love ourselves more, especially right now.

I have seen first-hand how many of our followers have formed meaningful connections with one another during this crazy year. It was also important to me to have a purpose behind the company, and I knew mental health would be a big part of our message. With the Rare Impact Fund, we want to reduce

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If you think you need help...

Call a family member, teacher, friend or anyone.

We all need help sometimes and it's okay.

Please reach out to: Bayview Therapy at (954) 391-5305 or visit www.bayviewtherapy.com

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Connections

where mental health and your skin collide