From The Straits Times    |

Why a happy face is a young face

Try this thought experiment. You bump into a stranger on the street. You look up – and in that split second – are forced to make a call on her character. Now, is she cold and crabby or cheerful and confident? Given no other insight into her psyche, odds are you’ll probably peg the person as a “party pooper” sort if you happened to catch her with a frown across her face.

But here’s the kicker. What if that stranger’s “sad smiley” was the result of saggy skin around the eyes and mouth – and not a real reflection of her personality?

Enter Dior’s incredibly intriguing Capture Totale Multi-Perfection Creme ($235), an anti-ageing moisturiser which promises to boost your skin’s ability to resist the effects of gravity so you look – and feel – happier.

What’s the link between gravity and gloominess? “Over time, downward gravitational forces cause skin sagging that mimics negative expressions such as sadness and stress,” explains neuroscientist Dr Arnaud Aubert at the press preview in Tokyo. “This distortion of your facial features can send the ‘wrong’ social signals about your true age and emotional state.”

So, a happy face is a youthful face – or is it the other way around? Dior researchers suggest that the beauty benefits of this cream may create a positive feedback loop. “You’re the first observer of your own face in the mirror, so visible improvement in your skin condition will also boost your confidence,” adds Dr Arnaud. “This increase in self-confidence may make you go about life in a more energetic and enthusiastic way, which in turn positively influences your interaction with your peers and so on and so forth.” So there you go. Makes sense, yes?

Defying gravity: How this cream actually works

Now for the whys and wherefores. How on earth does this psychotherapy in a pot, so to speak, address the “gravity” of the situation? Through the power of flowers from one of the famed Dior Gardens dotted across the globe, naturally. “We’ve added a new Madagascan longoza flower extract that stimulates specific dermal stem cells responsible for producing skin collagen and elastin,” explains Edouard Mauvais-Jarvis, scientific communications director at Parfums Christian Dior. “The regeneration of collagen and elastin increases your skin’s resistance to gravity and lends your complexion the springy texture of young skin.”

That botanical boost takes care of long-term lifting, but there’s also instant gratification in the form of a form-fitting seaweed “stocking” for your face – apt for a French brand best known for its fabulous frocks. (Dior couture for your complexion, anyone?)

“A new polymer complex evaporates immediately upon application for a second-skin effect,” says Brigitte Noe, galenic innovation and development director for LVMH Research. “This firms up key anchor points on your face such as the cheekbones, chin and corners of the mouth.” Fun fact: Brigette tells me the Eureka moment for this algae-derived complex came to a Dior researcher when he noticed a particular seaweed’s astonishing ability to scrunch up in the sun.

One more thing. The Multi-Perfection Creme is now offered in three textures: Universal, the Goldilocks of the lot with its not-too-heavy, not-too-light finish; Rich, a buttery balm that feels fantastic on dry skin; and Light (my fave!), which boasts a wobbly jelly consistency that should sit well with women accustomed to the airiness of K-beauty gels.

Why the diversification? Simple: To add pleasure to your routine. “These addictive textures were developed with different climates and personal preferences in mind,” Brigette says. “If applying it is an enjoyable undertaking, you’ll use it every day and its effectiveness over the long term will be that much greater.” As someone who’s an unabashed lover of luxury, Dior’s devotion to decadence sounds perfectly on point to me!

Right, then. An “addictive” lifting cream trio that aims to quite literally lift your mood? I’ll take one of each, please!

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