As a neurodivergent individual, it’s safe to say that my relationship with beauty holds different considerations and nuances. Coined by Judy Singer in the late-’90s, the term encompasses a wide range of neurological disabilities such as autism and Tourette’s. Bearing this in mind, it stands to reason that the needs of neurodivergent people vary greatly; a fact that is still largely disregarded by beauty conglomerates and brands.
“A key characteristic of my condition is that my mental and emotional bandwidth would often get drained in situations that wouldn’t faze most people,” explains Husnah Jamaludin, committee board member at the Disabled People’s Association. “So, I try to have everyday routines that take out most of the thinking beforehand.”
Indeed, a consistent skincare and make-up regimen poses a different set of challenges for neurodivergent folk. For instance, Ann Khoo, a TedxKL 2015 speaker, Tourette’s syndrome advocate and strategic planning director at 2X, has to make specific accommodations for her heightened sensory processing. “It makes me sensitive to heat and humidity, which means I’m prone to flare-ups, especially eczema,” she states. “To deal with this, I seek out beauty products that are gentle but effective. Since some of my motor tics involve touching or rubbing my face, I focus on keeping my skin well-moisturised with sensitive-skin-friendly formulations.”
Other factors that the neurominority is often conscious of include textures, fragrances and noise. With few brands being aware of such concessions and representation for the neurodivergent community remaining scarce, it boils down to the individuals themselves to experiment and explore until they discover something they are comfortable with.
Beauty, on your own terms
In the case of Simranjit Kaur, a part-time TikTok content creator, being diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder later in life and consequently discovering a beauty regimen that worked for her provided a path forward by way of answers. “After I got diagnosed, I understood my symptoms a little bit better. From there, I realised it’s not about how many steps you do, but it’s how you feel at the end of it. If I feel the same way after five steps instead of 10, why not just do five?” Simranjit laughs.
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Khoo shares similar sentiments. “These days, it’s all about balancing those needs with the intricacies of living with Tourette’s. It’s become an integrated part of my routine—beauty, wellness and self-care are a part of that balance, evolving naturally with me,” she says.
It is a line of thought that has been hard-earned over years of trial and error alongside the adapting of techniques and products to meet specific needs. Reaching this mindset can often be a challenge on its own, with certain treatments developed for the neurodivergent community being focused on teaching neurotypical behaviour.
“Being autistic with hyper-acute senses, I eventually gleaned that I needed a comfortable and fuss-free skincare and make-up routine above all else,” muses Dawn-Joy Leong, PhD, a researcher and visual artist. “One specific thing I do is to alternate serum and moisturiser for my nighttime routine instead of reaching for the thicker, richer formulas that are often touted as necessary for rejuvenating your complexion. I found that I couldn’t sleep if there was a heavy or greasy complexion on my face, so I had to modify my routine accordingly.”
No one-size-fits-all
It is, however, important to note that due to the diversity of neurodivergence, a single person isn’t enough to represent their specific disability. My approach might share many commonalities with the interviewees within this story, but there are also areas where we differ. This is why comprehensive representation instead of framing neurodivergence as inspiration fodder is so important.
The way forward is a space that is less dominated by the most conventionally appealing voices and micro-trends, and being more focused on providing a wide range of inclusive products and encouraging experimentation. Part of it also involves changing the way beauty mavens speak about it, such as refraining from—and condemning—ableist judgements surrounding beauty routines. After all, if grooming plays a huge role in everyday life, there is no reason for exclusionary practices.
To that, Khoo adds: “For me, beauty isn’t about trends; it’s about listening to what I need. As someone who is neurodivergent, I’ve learnt to be patient with my complexion and body changes. Age, weather and sensitivities all play a role and that’s okay.”
Vogue Singapore’s December ‘Gratification’ issue is now out on newsstands and available online.
