Neuraé Skincare Review: I Tested the New Mood-Boosting Skincare

Cosmopolitan

02-06-2025

Does fragrance belong in skincare? You'll get a different response depending on who you're talking to. But if you ask Neuraé, a new skincare line from the makers of luxe French brand Sisley Paris, the answer is a resounding yes. For those with sensitive skin, don't roll your eyes just yet. The brand spent over 10 years researching the neurological connection between our skin, emotions, and scent, and what they discovered led them to create formulas that not only nourish your face but also help improve your mood at the same time for better overall well-being.
After testing out the full lineup of products—which consists of three creams, a serum, a face oil, and roll-on emotion boosters—for three months, I can confirm that Neuraé is really onto something. My skin has never looked healthier or felt so soft. But even more, my mindset has improved too. Those are just two reasons why this neuroscience-backed line earned the title of Best New Skincare Brand in our 2025 Holy Grail Awards.
If you're a little confused (or skeptical) about how the brain-skin connection works, you're not alone...and you came to the right place. Below, you'll learn the science behind Neuraé—including how they developed their proprietary ingredients, textures, and scents, based on their neuroscience findings—as well as a full, honest review of the brand.
Here's a little ~lore~ for ya: Scientists at Sisley Paris Laboratories had this crazy hunch that more than just external factors—like your environment, the sun, age, pollution, diet, etc.—can affect your skin. They hypothesized that to achieve and maintain a clearer, happier complexion, you need to look internally at your well-being and emotions. In fact, they suspected that your emotions are key to the health of your skin because they directly link the interior (your brain) with the exterior (your skin).
After over a decade (!!) of research into neuroscience and skincare, Neuraé was born. The brain-skin connection is a main pillar of the brand, so to really amplify each product's mood-boosting abilities Neuraé developed a special technology comprised of neuroactive ingredients, fragrances, and textures.
What makes them ~neuroactive~? First off, the ingredients. Sure, there are the obvious hydrators (glycerin and meadowfoam seed oils), but the formulas also include innovative elements that encourage your skin to only accept positive neurological messages and ignore negative ones. Red indigo extract works to reduce signs of mental and physical fatigue, while eperua (a type of flowering plant) soothes your complexion and mind so you look and feel more relaxed. Good vibes only, okay?
There's also a combo of essential oils to add some aromatherapy. Studies have long reported scents' abilities to evoke an emotional response. Depending on what you use, you'll feel calmer or more joyful when you catch a whiff of the scent. Finally, the textures of the serum, oil, and creams were expertly designed to feel extra comforting, not just in a spa-like way, but also in an "I'm-happier-than-I've-felt-all-day" kinda way. Depending on the format, each respective formula is silky, never greasy, and extra plush.
From the moment I was introduced to Neuraé, the brand's ethos totally made sense to me. I consider my skincare a form of therapy, and taking a few moments to smooth on my favorite serums and moisturizers feels like a nervous system reset. The thought of using formulas scientifically designed to improve my mood and skin at the same time? Sign me up.
It's worth noting that since every product does contain essential oils, it could be a bit irritating for some people with very sensitive skin. For me, I didn't experience any itching, redness, or inflammation (likely because the formulas are also loaded with hydrators and soothers that help quell any potential irritation). In fact, I really fell in love with each product, especially...
I'm the type of person who uses whatever serum I have on hand, then once the bottle is empty, it's onto the next. (Life of a beauty editor, lol.) This is one of those rare serums that I immediately restocked after using every last drop—which is something I haven't done in close to five years.
Like I mentioned above, I already treat my skincare routine like a calming ritual. However, Harmonie enhances my "me time" and allows me to start—and end—my days on the best note possible. I pretty much fell in love with it upon first application. The lush, velvety texture wraps my skin in moisture without feeling greasy, almost like how it feels when you cozy up in your softest blanket. It beautifully sinks into my skin while leaving behind a radiant, post-facial-level glow.
IMO, though, it's the scent that truly makes this product feel magical. The woodsy palo santo aroma creates a meditative experience every time I use this. I take extra time to breathe in the grounding fragrance—there's something about it that reassures me I can handle anything that comes my way.
A sister product to the serum, the Harmonie Oil isn't like any oil I've ever patted into my face. This is as silky and lightweight as oils come—it feels completely weightless on skin, even though it's chock full of emollients, including phytosqualane, meadowfoam oil, moringa oil, castor oil, and camellia oil. But despite the long laundry list of skin hydrators, the hero neuroactive ingredient offers far-reaching neurological and skin benefits: Resurrection concentrate.
This concentrate comes from the desert-dwelling resurrection plant, which is accustomed to extra dry climates. When used in skincare, the ingredient floods skin with moisture and helps boost your skin barrier. But extra cool: It can also help reduce your cortisol levels, which are prone to spiking whenever you're stressed and can increase oil production and cause breakouts. Anytime I'm feeling extra stressed or super dry, I dab three drops of this onto my face and give myself a light facial massage. As it sinks into my skin, I swear I can feel all my worries melting away. Is it a placebo effect? The science says no, but frankly, I wouldn't even care if it were. It feels soooo damn good... for my skin and my mind.
So Neuraé created three delicious creams: Joie, which focuses on increasing bliss and radiance; Energie, which offers an energetic boost while firming skin; and Serenite, which is meant to soothe and smooth. Out of all the formulas, I find myself regularly using Joie the most because 1. there's no such thing as too much luminosity in my book, and 2. who doesn't want to constantly feel blissed out?
The lightweight emulsion-cream has a texture comparable to soft butter. A small dollop diffuses right into my face with minimal effort and leaves behind an immediate glow. I'm talking the kind of glow that convinces you to ditch foundation altogether. The scent of this is crisp and refreshing, too, with a lively sparkling citrus aroma that automatically makes me smile.
These tiny little rollerballs technically aren't skincare, but they fit right in with the rest of the brand's lineup. Consider them anytime, anywhere, mood-boosting fragrance oils that help you recalibrate when you're feeling off. (Kourtney Kardashian is even a fan, according to a photo dump on IG!) I keep Serenite on my bedside table to help me unwind at the end of the day. The soothing scent reminds me of a high-end spa, and catching a whiff signals to my brain that it's time to wind down.
As a skincare obsessive who has always been interested in how our mind affects our overall well-being, I completely geeked out at the idea of Neuraé. The products and the results I experienced far exceeded all expectations, too. Using these highly researched and thoughtfully designed formulas has truly made a difference in my skin and mindset. People always tell me I exude positive energy. However, I like to think my aura—and complexion—shines brighter with the help of Neuraé.
The products are by no means cheap. Aside from the Emotion Boosters, everything else is pushing $200. That said, this is one of the very few skincare brands that I find to be completely worth the money. Your mental health and skincare are two things always worth investing in. Neuraé works to strengthen both, which makes the price tag 100 percent worth it in my book.
Check out all of the 2025 Holy Grail Beauty winners here!
Mary Honkus is a contributor for Cosmopolitan with over seven years of experience researching, writing, and editing beauty stories, including a full rundown on the strawberry perfume trend and ranking the best Huda Beauty products. She's an authority in all beauty categories, but an expert when it comes to skincare—her skin can handle pretty much anything, so she's constantly testing the latest and greatest formulas. For this story, she tested Neuraé for months, comparing the innovative formulas to other newly launched skincare brands for Cosmo's Holy Grail Beauty Awards, and analyzing how the products improved her skin as well as her well-being.