When Does Makeup Boost Confidence and When Does It Not?

Everyday cosmetic routines may influence more than appearance; they may also shape mood, self-perception, and well-being. Researchers are increasingly examining how the sensory experience of using skincare, makeup, and fragrance, along with the time devoted to self-care, may affect self-confidence and factors associated with stress and sleep. Although cosmetics are not treatments for depression or anxiety, the way individuals experience and use them may have psychological effects.These effects may arise from several aspects of the cosmetic experience, including fragrance, texture, and the sensation of a product on the skin, as well as the act of looking in the mirror and setting aside time for personal care.Together, these elements may shape how individuals feel about themselves and influence their emotional experience, although the extent of these effects and evidence supporting them vary.In a 2024 review, researchers examined the sensory aspects of cosmetic products. They concluded that texture, scent, method of application, feel on the skin, and context may influence mood, emotions, self-perception, and confidence, in addition to the products’ physical effects.Fragrance and Self-PerceptionThe sense of smell is closely linked to emotion and memory, helping to explain why a scent can evoke memories or alter mood within seconds. A small study published in Behavioural Brain Research in 2024 examined whether a pleasant fragrance could influence how women perceived facial appearance.The 22 participants viewed images of their own faces and those of other women while being exposed to either the scent of a shower gel or clean air. When exposed to fragrance, they rated their faces as more attractive and self-confident. Brain activity recordings also revealed changes in the processing of the images. These findings suggest that fragrance may influence how faces, including one’s own, are perceived.Researchers are also studying the relationship between smell and well-being through aromachology. A 2026 systematic review in Current Behavioral Neuroscience Reports examined the effects of inhaling essential oils on mood, stress, cognition, and other physiologic responses. The authors found changes in several psychological and physiologic measures, although most evidence came from aromatherapy studies and cannot be directly extrapolated to everyday perfume use.This research has contributed to the development of neuroperfumery, a field that combines neuroscience, psychology, and perfumery, to investigate how so-called functional fragrances may influence emotions, memory, and perception. The field is still developing, and these potential effects require further study.Skin Care Rituals and Well-BeingTouch and repetitive movements may also contribute to relaxation. The experience involves the product itself, contact with the skin, repeated movements, and time devoted to personal care.A 2026 study published in Scientific Reports analyzed a nighttime facial care routine combining cosmetics with 10 minutes of self-massage. The study included 60 women aged 25-45 years who had sleep problems. After 4 weeks, participants who followed the routine reported improvements in sleep quality and anxiety. On rest days, they also slept an average of 22.5 minutes longer and recorded 11.15 additional minutes of deep sleep.The study did not establish which component of the intervention accounted for the findings because it combined cosmetic use with self-massage. It also did not establish that massage directly affects specific brain structures or lowers cortisol levels. Nevertheless, these findings suggest that a pleasant, repetitive nighttime routine may contribute to relaxation.Another approach to studying the relationship between skin care and well-being is the SkinCARE Questionnaire, developed and validated in 2026 using responses from 1184 participants. The questionnaire measured how skin-related problems affected psychological well-being and examined associations with perceived stress and sleep quality.The Clinical Role of CosmeticsThe relationship between appearance and psychological well-being has been extensively studied in people with visible skin conditions. Acne, alopecia, dermatitis, scars, pigmentation disorders, and inflammatory conditions, such as psoriasis and vitiligo, can affect self-perception and social interactions.In these settings, cosmetics and makeup can serve purposes beyond aesthetics. By concealing lesions or visible skin changes, they may help patients manage the psychosocial effects of their condition. A 2025 review of 15 studies on cosmetic camouflage across dermatologic conditions found improvements in quality of life, although the authors also identified methodological limitations.Studies conducted in Spain further illustrated the psychological burden associated with skin diseases. The MEASURE-AD trial, published in 2025 and conducted among Spanish adults with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis, found substantial impairment in sleep, mental health, and quality of life. On the scales used, 35.6% of the patients had symptoms of anxiety and 31.4% had symptoms of depression. These scores do not necessarily indicate a clinical diagnosis.The APOLO study, conducted at 12 centers in Spain and published in 2025, also found that dermatitis was associated with poorer quality of life in relation to disease severity, itching, and pain, as well as impaired sleep and work productivity. In alopecia areata, a 2025 Spanish validation study of the Spanish Alopecia Areata-Life Impact Questionnaire involving 85 patients found that 36% reported reduced quality of life, 60% had symptoms of anxiety, and 29% had symptoms of depression.For some patients, improving the appearance of a lesion may offer benefits beyond aesthetics. Being able to go out in public without feeling that a scar or an area of altered pigmentation will draw immediate attention may help patients feel more comfortable in social situations.Makeup: Self-Care or an Emotional Crutch?Makeup plays a particularly interesting role in the relationship between appearance and well-being. Some studies associate its use with a more positive self-image, although this does not mean that makeup is beneficial in all situations.A randomized controlled trial published in Dermatology and Therapy in 2024 examined the effects of makeup application in women who did not use makeup regularly. Researchers reported an average 8.3-point reduction in depressive symptom scores on the Zung scale, a 25% increase in self-image perception scores, and a 55% decrease in salivary cortisol levels after the first makeup application. However, these findings do not establish that makeup can treat depression.Makeup may influence self-perception and certain indicators associated with stress, but its psychological effects depend, in part, on how it is experienced. Using makeup because it is enjoyable, forms part of a pleasant routine, or helps someone feel more comfortable in certain situations differs from feeling unable to leave home or socialize without repeatedly correcting perceived flaws.Social Media and Constant ComparisonThis distinction is particularly important in an environment dominated by social media and idealized images. A 2025 review and meta-analysis published in Body Image, which included 83 studies and more than 55,000 participants, found a significant association between a greater tendency to compare oneself with others on social media and greater concern about body image.Therefore, the relationship between cosmetics and well-being depends on more than the product itself or its effects on the skin. The role that they play in an individual’s life also matters. The same routine may provide an enjoyable moment for self-care or become a source of distress when linked to insecurity, fear, constant comparison, or the perceived need to conceal flaws.Cosmetics do not treat anxiety, nor does perfume resolve mental health problems. However, research suggests that their sensory properties and the rituals surrounding their use may influence psychological experiences, including sensory perception, self-image, and the emotional experience of the entire ritual of personal care.This story was translated from El Médico Interactivo on Univadis, part of the Medscape Professional Network.