Singer Halsey is singing the praises of breast milk, not only as a source of nutrition for her child but also as an important ingredient for skin care. The mom of one sat down with Nylon magazine to discuss everything from her makeup routine, life raising a little one, and how her skin care routine has changed since welcoming her baby in 2021.
So what's the secret ingredient?
Halsey shared with the magazine that she's become more aware of the ingredients she puts on her face.
Since she welcomed her son in July 2021, whom she shares with her partner, Alev Aydin, Halsey's skin care routine has changed.
The secret ingredient to better skin, according to Halsey, is breast milk.
"I've always been really conscious about what goes on my skin, but when your baby is kissing you or snuggled up against you, you become hyper-cognizant of what's on your face," Halsey explained to Nylon.
She then shared a favorite product containing "colostrum," the first breast milk that comes just after a baby is born.
Halsey 'got into' colostrum skin care after she welcomed her son.
Plus, since breastfeeding, Halsey understood more about how breast milk can benefit the skin.
"I started breastfeeding, and I figured out that breast milk is the best skincare ingredient ever because it's so full of antioxidants and good fats and stuff that speed up the healing process," she shared.
According to experts, skin care with colostrum listed as an ingredient isn't sourced from humans.
Dr. Adam Matson, a neonatologist and pediatric researcher at Connecticut Children's Medical Center who spoke to USA Today, explains there may be some benefits to using colostrum, whether it's in a skin care product on the shelf or if it came directly from the human source.
"Breast milk is a wonderful substance that contains a lot of different bioactive substances (such as) immune cells, antibodies, antibacterial components… (and) anti-inflammatory (molecules called) cytokines," Matson said.
In beauty products, however, colostrum is sourced from cows.
Dr. Anthony Rossi, a dermatologist who spoke to Coveteur, said there aren't many evidence-based studies showing its effectiveness.
"While this substance will provide proteins, nutrients and antioxidants to newborns, what it will do to your epidermal and dermal barriers requires further investigation," Rossi told the magazine.
For Halsey, though, finding a skin care routine that works for her is more than just vanity.
The 28-year-old singer told Nylon that beauty and well-being "go hand in hand" as she moves through the different stages of her life.
"I find when my mental health is better, I'm looking in the mirror less and when my mental health is worse, I'm looking in the mirror more because I'm looking for external validation when I can't find it inwards," she explained.
"It's almost like when you're feeling insecure or unworthy, you break out the magnifying mirror and you want to feed into it and make it worse. So I try to reject that."
