Psychodermatology is a psychological field of research that inherently connects the mind (psyche) and the skin (derma). It addresses the complex interaction between the skin and mind whilst combining two important medical specialisations: psychiatry and dermatology.

Being a specialist area of dermatology, psychodermatology believes our physical, mental and emotional wellbeing are linked and therefore treating one can impact the other. The discourse around psychodermatology is becoming evermore important amongst both Gen-Z and Millennials who are shown to have vested interest in skincare, self-care, & wellness. But whilst other brands are focusing their attention on pleasing the masses via brand messaging, Espérer has mental health and wellbeing at its heart.

The word Espérer translated from French means 'hope', which is coined as the brands ethos, explaining that hope is an essential component of life. Espérer Skincare claims to focus on wellness and aims to promote physical and emotional health through encouraging self-acceptance and self-love, allowing the user to embrace and celebrate uniqueness. The brand was created to "heal the skin not to mask who we are as people or hide our differences if they do not fit into what is deemed to be the 'norm'."

After working in the beauty industry throughout the entirety of her University degree, Dina El Adlani realised there was an intrinsic, deep-rooted connection between internal emotion and external appearance; noting that many of her beauty clients suffered with self-esteem concerns, some of which resulted in more serious mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety.

Dina was heavily motivated by her rich Parisian and Moroccan heritage and began learning about the natural and traditional skincare techniques that resulted in healthy, radiant skin. Her interest in botanicals and natural ingredients drove her towards extensively researching into ingredients that were natural yet effective. Her and her team of fellow Neuroscientists created a complex called NeuroPlant™ Technology which promotes the release of neurotransmitters. This means that not only is the skincare brand promoting wellness psychologically, but also is working at a cellular level involving the nervous system to improve your skin.

Her drive to improving her own mental health and self-esteem issues regarding her skin made her seek out ingredients that also contributed to overall well-being. The addition of science-based research pushed the brand past surface-level healing and into the depths of psychodermatology and neuroscience combined. This in turn, led to her need to connect the skin and mind through a series of products targeting both... and so Espérer Psychodermatological Skincare® was born.

Having graduated from Applied Psychology of Fashion MSc at London College of Fashion in 2023, and now working in Beauty & Wellness; learning about the existence of Espérer was more than just exciting! A brand incorporating the ideals I learnt throughout my tough year of studying? Yes please. And being relevant to my chosen career path? Amazing! Upon meeting Dina, who is one of the most grounded and invested brand founders I have encountered, I immediately felt that this brand would be perfect for a blog post on the JB&C website.

It is no longer taboo to share your own mental health concerns, and as someone who has struggled with my own mental health, the idea that certain skincare products could help improve my mental wellbeing as well as my skin health, was too good an offer to turn down. We are all guilty of being too stressed, too busy, too restless; Espérer has three separate ranges: Uplift, Calm, & Relax, to help target these areas of your life whilst simultaneously treating your skin.

I was invited to take the personalised quiz on the Espérer website that gave me a direct answer to which products would be best for my skin-type. As someone with combination/sensitive skin, it was amazing to have the products ranges broken down for me. Allowing me to choose by skin concern and mental aims.

A number of the Espérer products are predominantly oil-based, which may not be an issue for some, but can often scare people away from certain skincare products. Particularly if you have oily skin, the thought of adding an oil to your routine raises alarm bells. However, it's really not as scary as you might think.

Oils in skincare can help regulate sebum production, and using non-comedogenic (non-pore-blocking) oils, eradicates the worry for acne prone skin. Given the right product, there really shouldn't be anything stopping you from giving oils a go. It is important to do your own research as your skin is unique, however, trialling an oil and being aware of any reactions before continuing use is an important step to figuring out what is best for your skin. You should never be scared of trying oils through fear of oily, greasy skin! You may very well be holding yourself back from hydrated and nourished skin.

I was kindly gifted the Cell Renewal Night Repair Oil, and the Rejuvenating Serum both from the Uplift Collection. I was excited to incorporate an oil into my routine having heard the potential benefits but not having done so myself for a good while. I had already heard amazing things about the Rejuvenating Serum so was particularly thrilled to be receiving this one. Over the course of a month, I used both products every day and these were my findings...

As I mentioned earlier, I was a little bit worried about incorporating an oil into my carefully crafted skincare routine for fear of blocking my pores and making my skin greasier than I wanted it to be. But, in the name of putting my skin on the line for product reviews, I dove head-first into the Cell Renewal Night Repair Oil without fear.

The first aspect that struck me about this product was the smell... I immediately fell in love with the clary sage aroma whilst massaging into my skin. It was stronger than I expected and definitely lingered after application. For a night oil, I think you can get away with a scented skincare item, with no perfume to contend with, it's nice to have some clean smelling aspect to your routine. My partner did make a rather hilarious comment that I smelt like Italian herbs and spices, but I can live with that for the addictive and aromatic scent.

The oil itself glides onto the skin with ease, it feels like a dream come true and definitely a product that would work amazingly with a Gua Sha routine. It felt very luxurious and did sink into the skin with relatively fast pace, however, elements of my skin did feel greasy as time went on. If you enjoy feeling like a moisturised glazed donut before resting for the night, this would definitely be a product you'd keep grabbing.

The Psychodermatological aspect of the skincare brand really became clear whilst applying this oil. I don't know what to say other than wow! Applying the product felt better than therapy... of course not really, but a close second. I felt uplifted and relaxed, the application felt like a complete mental health, self-care routine in itself; the oiliness of the product meant I was paying more attention to my skin and where I was applying. I felt as if I was more in touch with myself afterwards... I was forced to slow down and really appreciate myself and my skin. Something I didn't really think a skincare product could make me do.

The best part? After continued use for the month... I did not breakout! A huge win for me.

I decided to use the Rejuvenating Serum in my morning routine, to give each product a chance to show me what they were doing throughout the day. Reading the ingredients list I found that this product contains hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and neroli; all ingredients that contribute to healthier more hydrated skin. So I swapped out my hydrating serums to give this a real try.

If you read my Seabody Review, you'll know that I've been trying to wear less makeup throughout the week in order to improve my relationship with my skin. This serum was a fabulous addition to a no-makeup day, it left my skin looking radiant, glowy, and definitely hydrated.

The fresh-faced glow seemed to last throughout the day which was a massive plus for me as I find that I usually leave the house feeling like my skin looks great, only to get to my destination looking a bit worse-for-wear. This glow was definitely longer lasting.

The formulation is very lightweight and the product sinks into the skin super fast, so be mindful if you're applying to the face in one stage. I found over the month that two pumps worked best for me when I made my way around my face in stages.

On the days that I gave in and wore makeup, the serum had no effect on the quality of my base. The hyaluronic acid and niacinamide ensured my skin was perfectly prepped, creating a blank, hydrated, glowing canvas to place my makeup. I was thoroughly impressed with the results.

In terms of the Psychodermatological aspect of this product, I think I felt it less than the Night Oil. But maybe that is my own fault for trying the oil first... it was hard to beat! It was definitely a nice application and I was impressed with the quality of results throughout my time using, however, it didn't seem to be particularly different to other hyaluronic acid based serums in terms of texture when applying. There was also no noticeable smell to add to the experience of the product.

Since finishing the month of reviewing, I am finding that I reach for this product on the days I'm heading into the office with no makeup, so it may have become one of my most-used products. I will definitely be purchasing again when the time comes.