Research carried out by teams at Kao Corporation have found that carrying out a skin care routine could be making consumers happier.
According to the studies carried out - through tactile stimulation - touching the facial skin with the palm of the hands was found to cause an increase in blood flow to the brain’s prefrontal area, which is known to play a part on the reward system and evoking positive emotions.
This was measured using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), the methodology for determining brain activities, on 20 women aged between 20 and 49 by touching their faces for 15 seconds six times.
In a second study, participants applied four types of creams (A,B,C and D) with different application sensations to the inside of the forearm.
Changes in cerebral flow were measured again with NIRS by applying cream for 20 seconds with a 20 second rest repeating four times and was equally found to arouse positive emotions.
However, cream C, which had a rich moisturising feel and blended well into skin, was found to have significantly different cerebral blood flow change.
The study was undertaken on 15 women, again, from the ages between 20 and 49.