Skincare ASMR Soothed My Anxiety And Helped Clear My Acne
Anxiety and acne have been my biggest bullies for years. They have both traveled with me through the awkward puberty stage, college, and well into adulthood. I’ve separately tried various skincare products and methods to soothe my anxiety, yet nothing seems to work. My internal mental battle consistently manifested itself externally. Having an anxious day fuels my acne, and having acne fuels my anxiety. Eventually, I became fed up and did what any millennial would do—scrolled on social media and tried to filter my problems.
As I scrolled my way into the "Beauty TikTok" hashtag, I found myself becoming overwhelmed by the amount of perfectly pore-less skin beauty gurus I felt I could never amount to. Just as I began to wallow in self-pity, I came across ASMR skincare videos.
The sounds of freshly opened face masks, moisturizers rubbing into the skin, and subtle mouth motions placed me in a deeply relaxed state. I was immediately eager to learn more.
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Autonomous sensory meridian response, or ASMR, is a tingly sensation and often sedative response that begins on the scalp and moves throughout the body. A selection of visuals and audio such as whispering, gentle mouth movements, or sounds from various objects typically encourage a sedative state. The feeling is similar to the one you get while relaxing on the beach while listening to the sounds of the ocean. Another example of a sedative state is the euphoria when someone is gently playing with your hair.
In recent years, ASMR has been gaining attraction, and for great reason. Although experts are beginning to scratch the surface on ASMR and its capabilities, the results are promising. According to a 2018 study, researchers found ASMR can reduce heart rate and promote calmness. A second study also notes ASMR helped their clinical patients sleep, reduce anxiety, relax, and feel comforted. These studies ultimately give us hope that ASMR is more than just a feeling.
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I began incorporating ASMR Beauty TikTok videos into my, well, beauty routine. Every night I would relax to the sweet sounds of skincare products. I immediately began to experience the tingly feelings. The sedative sensations promoted me to a mentally relaxed state.
Soon my racing thoughts slowed down, and I could feel my body from within. I began to notice tense muscles and target anxious areas in my body. I implemented breathwork to combat these areas, and it was the remedy my anxiety needed. Tensing my body with each inhale and releasing with every exhale.
I was finally cleansing my mind and body from the toxins that had been holding me back for years.
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The combination of breathwork and gentle ASMR movements gave me an internal detox that transcended externally. Relaxing my anxious thoughts lowered my stress levels over time. My skin slowly began to transform, but I needed a little extra help with proper products. When I would use ASMR for relaxation purposes, I would take notes on the best skincare solutions for my skin type. Soon, I began implementing face masks, moisturizers, and sunscreens for my anxiety-induced acne.
As time went on, my skin became clear, and so did my consciousness.
While ASMR isn’t a cure for anxiety, it provided me with the all-around clarity I needed. The truth is, there is no “one cure-all method” for mental health. Mental health is a daily commitment to ourselves. It's not about always striving to be the “best version of ourselves,” but the most accepting version of ourselves. We must accept that we're allowed to go through the ups and downs of life.
Most importantly, we must accept that we're deserving of the grace that comes with growth. Practice kindness during your mental evolution and become an observer of yourself in your darkest moments. The light within you will shine again.
Featured image by Getty Images
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UnPrisonedhas returned for its highly anticipated second season, delving deeper into the complex dynamics of the Alexander family.
The series premiere comes a year after its debut season garnered rave reviews from fans and critics and earned record-breaking ratings for Hulu's Onyx Collective brand. UnPrisoned's success can be attributed to its raw, relatable themes and comedic appeal.
Inspired by creator Tracy McMillan's life, the show follows Paige (Kerry Washington), a therapist and single mother whose life takes an unexpected turn when her father, Edwin (Delroy Lindo) --who was released from prison-- moves in with her and her teenage son, Finn (Faly Rakotohavana).
Throughout UnPrisoned's first season, viewers witnessed how Edwin's incarceration deeply affected Paige's life and relationships. In the series, Paige unpacks her trauma through interactions with her inner child and her online followers. Meanwhile, Edwin is overcoming specific struggles with his own past that led to his life of crime, including a dysfunctional upbringing and his mother's arrest. As the Alexanders attempt to reconcile, new challenges arise.
This new season promises to further explore their unconventional family dynamic. Here are several compelling reasons why season two of UnPrisoned should be on everyone's watchlist.
The Alexander Family Life Is Still In Shambles
UnPrisoned's second season resumes where the series left off, with Paige grappling with the fallout from her troubled therapy practice and Edwin navigating life independently after moving out. Meanwhile, Finn faces his own challenges. The teenager is battling anxiety and seeking information about his father—a topic Paige avoids discussing.
The Alexander Family Are Attending Therapy To Resolve Their Underlying Issues
Amid the chaos in their lives, the Alexander family decides to mend their bond by confronting their past traumas. They seek professional help and attend therapy sessions with a “family radical healing coach,” played by John Stamos, a new cast member. This collective effort aims to unravel the complexities of their shared history and strengthen their relationships.
The process of unraveling each character's internal conflicts and their potential impact on future relationships may clash with Paige's textbook therapy approach. While Paige is used to being in the therapist's seat in both career and family, this forces her into the unfamiliar role of a patient during therapy sessions. This shift would compel her to look in the mirror and try a radically different approach.
The Alexander Family Learned A Big Lesson During A Therapy Session
In therapy, the Alexanders are tasked with addressing their individual traumas to salvage their remaining relationships. One of the family therapist’s eccentric suggestions was an exercise involving a family wrestling match. During this session, Paige faces tough questions about her refusal to share information about Finn's father.
While it's unclear whether this scene is reality or fantasy, the image of the family duking it out in the ring certainly makes for hilarious yet compelling television.
Paige Tries Dating Again Following Failed Relationships
Amid her life's chaos, Paige decides to step back into the dating field. However, her many attempts have left her with mixed results. The dating apps have turned out to be a fail, and an outing with her ex Mal (Marque Richardson), who is also her father's parole officer, doesn’t go quite as expected after he brings an unexpected guest – his new girlfriend.
The situation takes an awkward turn when Mal's new partner learns why the former couple split, partly due to Paige's self-sabotage.
UnPrisoned Is A Perfect Balance Of Comedy And Drama
As a dramedy, UnPrisoned takes a comedic approach to its heavy subjects. The show takes us on a ride with Paige's dating misadventures and navigating a friendship with her ex.
Other lighthearted moments include Edwin's attempts at CPR based on online videos and, of course, the antics of the Alexander family's unconventional new healing coach.
The second season of UnPrisoned is now available on Hulu.
UnPrisoned | Season 2 Trailer | Hulu
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Blair Underwood Initially Turned Down 'Sex And The City' Because 'It Was About How Samantha Was Fascinated By Dating A Black Man’
Actor and heartthrob Blair Underwood is opening up about why he turned down Sex and the City the first time he was offered a role. Many fans of the HBO series may recall Blair's time on the show in which his character was dating Miranda (Cynthia Nixon). However, he was previously offered another role where his character would date Samantha (Kim Cattrall).
During his interview with AV Club, the Set It Off star revealed that he was uncomfortable with the initial offer due to the character's fascination with him being a Black man.
“I actually did say ‘no’ the first time,” he said. “The first time they had offered the role, to be honest with you, it was about how Samantha was fascinated by dating a Black man and wanted to know if, uh, all of the rumors were true about our anatomy! And I said, ‘Listen, I’m honored, thank you, but I just don’t want to play a character based on race, on curiosity about a Black man.'”
But that didn't stop them from reaching out again. This time he was offered to play Dr. Robert Leeds, the love interest to Miranda and he decided to go for it. "So they were nice enough to call about a year later, and I said, 'Well, is it gonna be about race?' And they said, 'No, no, no, we’re not even gonna mention race!' And I think it really did only come up maybe once," he recalled.
"It did five episodes, and I think Samantha mentioned it once, saying something about 'a Black doctor' that Miranda was dating. And that’s really been a consistent thing in my career: not wanting to be boxed as 'the Black guy.'
"I’ve had that conversation with many producers along the way, and they were so great. They said, 'No, he’s just a doctor who Miranda meets in the elevator, and they have a nice little fling.' And it was amazing."
Blair has had a wide-ranging career playing everything from a lawyer on L.A. Law to playing Madame CJ Walker's husband on Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madame CJ Walker. And during his interview, he revealed another role that he initially turned down, Set It Off. The movie, which is considered a classic in Black culture, stars Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett Smith, Vivica A. Fox, and Kimberly Elise. Blair's character, Keith, played a banker and love interest to Jada's character, Stony.
He explained why he said no at first and eventually accepted the offer. "I had initially said “no” to that. Because I was playing this historic, iconic African-American historical figure in Jackie Robinson, and the time, y’know, there was Boyz N The Hood, and Menace II Society was out there, and I’d finished playing this noble Negro… [Laughs]," he said.
"And I’m reading the script, and there’s a scene where Jada Pinkett’s character—Jada Pinkett-Smith now—was going to sell her body so she could make some money to send her brother to college. And I remember, honestly, I threw the script across the room. I was, like, “I don’t want to do this. I want to do something uplifting for the Black culture and Black characters, and I don’t know if I want to see this.”
After a conversation with the movie's director F. Gary Gray and the actor's manager encouraging him to finish reading the script, Blair had a change of heart. What he first thought about the movie turned out to be totally different.
"So I finished the script, and I saw that the character they were asking me to play was really the love story in the midst of all of this turmoil of all of these characters, the four ladies: Queen Latifah, Vivica Fox, Kimberly Elise, and Jada," he explained.
"It was so well-written, it was such a great platform for them. And to be able to play the love story and the storyline that gave Jada’s character a leg up and a way out of this world, something to hope for, to wish for, someone to love her… I said, 'You know what? I’d like to be a part of that.'
"And I’m so glad I did, because that film resonates to this day. People all the time come up to me and say that they love that movie. So I’m glad that I did it."