Need to Know
12 : 02 : 20

UK – This Works is promoting the bedroom as a sanctuary of relaxation and intimacy with a range of self-care products that promote sensual touch.

Created as an antidote to digital connectivity, the products and supporting campaign for its Love Sleep range encourage people to switch off in order to turn on, focusing on self-care in relation to skin-to-skin touch and sensual exploration.

Recognising that both men and women experience deeper sleep after sexual intimacy, This Works has introduced a collection of products including a pillow spray, a seduction candle and a roll-on balm to encourage relaxation, created with ingredients such as ylang ylang and patchouli. As part of This Works’ campaign to promote the Love Sleep range, it undertook a national survey, and found that more than half of Britons admit that a device – whether it be a smartphone or tv screen – is the last thing they see before they close their eyes at night, yet the same number would like to enjoy more sex than they now have.

As we uncover in our interview with artist Lucy McRae, there is growing space to encourage touch between humans, in light of the pleassurable oxytocin hormone that's released in such moments.

UK – Faace is a range of low-maintenance and affordable face masks, created to improve skin affected by periods, tiredness, sweat and other life stressors.

With three main products – Period Faace, Sweaty Faace and Tired Faace – were created to target ‘skin disrupted by life', resulting in one-step skincare that tackle dryness, shine or lacklustre appearance. In a nod towards the backlash against complex, multi-step skincare routines, the brand’s website notes: ‘We live in a straight-talking ‘it is what it is’ society but somewhere along the way skincare got complicated.’

With marketing similar to lifestyle brands, the brand is working to create a sense of community around skincare, using Instagram for open skincare discussions with Generation Z and Millennial consumers. Faace has also created a range of accessories, including socks and hair grips labelled with its three Faace types, available to buy in bundles according to skin needs and users’ personalities.

By catering for women’s skin concerns, Faace is tapping into the themes of Lifestage Brands – personal care companies helping to alleviate the biological inconveniences of being a woman, whether in adolescence or menopause.

According to a new poll by The Longevity Project and Morning Consult, 53% of Americans view longer lifespans as a plus for the economy.

Notably, respondents say older workers are considered a major asset to American society, with an overwhelming majority agreeing that older workers are good mentors (84%), help companies serve older customers (80%), and are more mature in their dealings with co-workers and display stronger organisational citizenship (77%). Most respondents also believe that work quality improves with age (66%).

The report also outlines that Americans are looking forward to the benefits of longer lives – especially the opportunity to spend more time with family. In total, 52% of respondents believe that more time with their family will have a positive impact on their lives, while 41% cite new experiences as a positive result of living longer. Some 63% recognise generational shifts, believing they’re likely to live longer than their parents.

As we uncover in our macrotrend The Flat Age Society, ideas about age are increasingly being redefined as society recognises that age isn’t just a number – it’s flat.