These Are The 5 Skincare Trends That Dermatologists And Women's Health Editors Say Will Dominate 2026

Excerpt from Women's Health • Published: November 20, 2025

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The skin and the brain are intricately entwined, Dr. King says. “It's interesting because embryologically, the skin does come from the same tissue as the nervous system, and so there are going to be some common factors.” Think about how you might suddenly grow a zit when you're stressed, for instance, or how your skin might feel hot to the touch when you’re angry. “Skin can certainly be an organ where stress gets demonstrated,” she says. Well, some brands are taking advantage of the skin-brain connection through neurocosmetics: a new frontier of skincare meant to improve both your complexion and your mood.

The idea makes sense considering that stress can irritate your skin and quicken the skin aging process: Research has shown that psychological stress and anxiety can weaken the skin barrier, lead to excess oil production, cause increased fine lines, and impair the skin’s ability to defend itself from oxidative stress. Oh, dear.

But certain skincare creams are infused with essential oils and other active ingredients to improve your mood, and in turn, your skin. A familiar example of a neurocosmetic skincare ingredient might be lavender, which has been shown in some human and animal studies to possibly have a calming, stress-reducing effect when we smell it. Some research has also suggested that neurophroline, a substance derived from wild indigo seeds, may be able to reduce cortisol production in skin cells and activate genes that support a more even tone.

The thought of rubbing a cream onto your face with ingredients that can supposedly improve your sense of well-being is no-doubt intriguing. But keep in mind that robust, large-scale human studies suggesting that topical ingredients can activate skin receptors in ways that meaningfully change your mood are still lacking.

Nevertheless, it’s safe to say that taking care of your skin just feels good, Dr. Akintilo says. And that daily ritual can be enough to improve some people’s well-being. “I do think just a good skincare regimen can improve quality of life and then also improve serotonin and decreased cortisol and up-regulate mental health in that way.”

If the idea of neurocosmetics is fascinating to you, here are some products to give a go:

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