Skincare Sounds: The Most Relaxing Music For Your Skincare Routine

Long story, short

• Stress is a major skin enemy: it increases the body’s inflammatory response, compromising the skin barrier, triggering rosacea and breakouts, and reducing glow — so actively reducing stress during your skincare routine is a genuine skin benefit.
• Relaxing music physiologically synchronises your breathing rate and heart rate to the beat, lowers blood pressure, reduces cortisol (the stress hormone), and puts you in a ‘flow state’ — helping you get the most from your skincare ritual.
• Hip-hop, pop, and ambient music dominate relaxing playlists. Taylor Swift is the most-featured artist across 1,390 relaxing Spotify playlists; the most relaxing song overall is Ariana Grande’s ‘Moonlight’ (96 playlists), and SZA’s ‘Kill Bill’ tops the skincare-specific playlist charts.
• The ideal music tempo for relaxation is 60–80 bpm — close to our resting heart rate. Songs with repetitive melodies, limited melodic range, and emotionally engaging lyrics are the most effective at helping us unwind.

Candles lit. Hair tied back. Favourite playlist on… and relax. Sound familiar?

Carving out time at the end of the day to take your makeup off and do your skincare routine has always been a great way to unwind. But, did you also know that taking the time to properly relax and de-stress can really benefit your skin condition and supercharge your skincare?

A study from the National Library of Medicine explains that stress increases the body’s inflammatory response. So, by minimising stress, you can improve the health of your skin barrier, help to plump your complexion and even help reduce things like rosacea and breakouts. Another skin benefit of feeling relaxed is you’re more likely to have a better sleep, which can also contribute to healthier and more glowing skin.

One of the best ways to calm the senses and recharge the mind is to listen to music — whether it’s a chilled-out instrumental playlist or an eclectic mix of your favourite pop artists — so we headed to Spotify to uncover the most relaxing artists and songs in the world. (There are over 2,000 playlists for skincare alone, so it’s clear lots of us are already using music to make our skincare routines as relaxing as possible.)

The Music That Could Benefit Your Skin

We worked with a data scientist to analyse songs in different Spotify playlists, from collections curated around ‘relaxing’ and ‘wellness,’ to playlists that were specifically created to accompany skincare routines.

In total, we looked at 1.4 million songs across playlists containing the following key words:

• Skincare

• Calm

• Calming

• Relaxing

• Self-care

• Unwind

• Wellness

We calculated the total number of times each musician and song were included, then ranked them to discover which artists and tracks help us to unwind the most.

"Listening to ‘relaxing’ music helps us to regulate our emotions. It can also reduce heart rate, lower blood pressure and reduce cortisol, the stress hormone."

- Dr Michael Bonshor, Music Psychology, University of Sheffield

We also collaborated with Dr Michael Bonshor, a University Teacher in Music Psychology at the UK’s University of Sheffield, to explain the results and give some expert insight into why these songs provide the perfect chilled-out backing track for applying skincare like serums, retinol and moisturisers.

Dr Michael Bonshor sets the scene by saying:

“‘Relaxing’ music can have a profound effect on how we feel — physically and psychologically. The neurological pathways which process sound affect the brain’s limbic system, which is responsible for emotional responses, memory and behaviour, so listening to ‘relaxing’ music helps us to regulate our emotions. It can also reduce heart rate, lower blood pressure and reduce cortisol, the stress hormone.”

Which musicians appear on the most relaxing playlists in the world?

It’s the pop princess, Taylor Swift, who features on relaxing playlists more than any other artist on Spotify – 1,390 playlists in total. Famous for hit songs such as ‘Love Story,’ ‘Anti-Hero’ and ‘Shake It Off,’ there’s no denying she is one of the most famous musicians in the world right now, with 12 of her albums reaching number one in the charts — more than any other female artist.

Taylor Swift features on more relaxing playlists than any other artist on Spotify.

So why does Swift help so many of us to feel relaxed? Dr Bonshor says that “tempo is the most significant factor in determining whether a song is relaxing or not — approximately 60–80 beats per minute is the most common as this is similar to our resting heart rate during relaxation.”

The tempo of Swift’s music is faster, at an average of 108 bpm, but he says “when we are relaxing, we tend to tune into the stronger emphasis on the first and third beats of the bar, so we experience the music as a slower, repeated two-beat pattern. This means the Taylor Swift catalogue has a relaxing ‘pulse’, and our bodies naturally synchronise with this.”

"When we are relaxing, we tend to tune into the stronger emphasis on the first and third beats of the bar, so we experience the music as a slower, repeated two-beat pattern."

- Dr Michael Bonshor, Music Psychology, University of Sheffield

Second on the list, featuring on 1,229 relaxing playlists, is Little Symphony. A band that specialises in ambient music, there’s no surprise that Little Symphony ranks so highly on the list of the world’s most relaxing musicians. The Canadian band has a unique approach, blending the sounds of Canada’s nature with music to create a calming atmosphere.

Third place goes to Lana Del Rey, who specialises in alternative pop and has been added to 758 playlists for unwinding and recharging. Her music features melancholic tones with a retro feel, and many people find her music relaxing. Dr Bonshor explains this is mostly down to the lyrics: “They’re often romantic, reflective and either nostalgic or wistful – all of which are incredibly soothing to listen to.”

Four more pop artists can be seen in the top 25 list: Ariana Grande is in sixth place on 565 playlists and Harry Styles rounds off the top 10, appearing on 377 relaxing playlists. Billie Eilish is in 15th position, thanks to her electropop style, and Olivia Rodrigo appears in 23rd place on 201 playlists.

Top 25 Most Relaxing Musicians

Here are the top musicians ranked by how often they feature on a relaxing playlist.

Artist	Genre	Features
1. Taylor Swift	Pop	1390
2. Little Symphony	Ambient	1229
3. Lana Del Rey	Pop/Alt-Pop	758
4. SZA	R&B	733
5. The Weeknd	Hip Hop	585
6. Ariana Grande	Pop	565
7. Spa Music & Meditation Collective	Ambient	474
8. Drake	Hip Hop	433
9. Miracle Tones	Ambient	418
10. Harry Styles	Pop	377
11. Frank Ocean	Hip Hop	366
12. Kali Uchis	R&B	363
13. Wellness	Ambient	346
14. Calm Soundscapes	Ambient	336
15. Billie Eilish	Electropop	304
16. Comet 1993	Indie Rock	294
17. Tyler, The Creator	Hip Hop	285
18. Doja Cat	Hip Hop	278
19. Peder B. Helland	Ambient	256
20. Daniel Caesar	R&B	218
21. Mac Miller	Hip Hop	204
22. Steve Lacy	R&B	204
23. Olivia Rodrigo	Pop	201
24. Dr. Arnd Stein	Dance	194
25. Kendrick Lamar	Hip Hop	188

Which musical genre is the most relaxing for your skincare routine?

Pop artists feature in the list six times, as does ambient music — but perhaps surprisingly, it’s hip-hop that takes the top spot, appearing seven times in total.

According to our study, The Weeknd, in fifth place, is the hip-hop artist that relaxes us the most, clocking up 585 appearances on relaxing playlists. Drake is eighth, Frank Ocean is 11th, while Tyler, the Creator and Doja Cat are the 17th and 18th most relaxing musicians, respectively. Mac Miller comes in 21st place and Kendrick Lamar in 25th.

Why have so many people added hip-hop to their relaxing playlists? Dr Bonshor explains: “Hip-hop songs typically sit around 80 bpm. Repetition also contributes to the relaxing properties of a song and hip-hop is famous for having a repetitive, cyclical beat that many fans of the genre deem more important than the lyrics. Repetitive melodies, lyrics and steady rhythmic patterns, that we can quickly tune into and remember, make for a soothing listening experience.”

Repetition also contributes to the relaxing properties of a song and hip-hop is famous for having a repetitive, cyclical beat.

- Dr Michael Bonshor, Music Psychology, University of Sheffield

Ambient music comes a close second with its six placements, and is often used by spas to help create a relaxing atmosphere. It can also really help you pace your skincare routine by following the rhythm of the music to avoid rushing. This means you can inhale and exhale your way through your double cleanse and enjoy the whole process to come out feeling completely zen.

What are the world’s most relaxing songs to listen to while doing your skincare?

If you’re looking for the ultimate playlist to accompany your home spa evening or DIY facial routine, we can also reveal the specific songs that appear the most on relaxing playlists.

Featuring on a total of 96 different playlists, ‘Moonlight’ by Ariana Grande is the song chosen most for relaxation playlists. Dr Bonshor says: “Ariana Grande’s ‘Moonlight’ has 102 beats per minute if we listen for the 4 beats in a bar. However, if we focus on the stronger first and third beats in the bar, we ‘feel’ the music pace as two slow beats in every bar, giving us a restful 51 bpm.”

Ariana Grande’s ‘Moonlight’ has 102 beats per minute if we listen for the 4 beats in a bar. However, if we focus on the stronger first and third beats in the bar, we ‘feel’ it as a restful 51 bpm.

Dr Michael Bonshor, Music Psychology, University of Sheffield

‘Good Days’ by SZA appears on 86 relaxing playlists, making it the second-most relaxing song. The track is very nostalgic and the lyrics centre around soul searching as well as former love and finding joy in a carefree lifestyle — all conveyed through SZA’s dreamy vocals.

In fact, SZA appears on the list three times; this R&B artist also claims the fourth spot with ‘Kill Bill’ and again in 19th position with ‘Normal Girl’ (49 playlists). Dr Bonshor says SZA’s effect on listeners is likely interpreted as soothing due to the classic hip-hop trope of repetition, plus a limited melodic range.

Frank Ocean’s ‘Pink + White’ claims third prize, appearing on 76 playlists. Frank Ocean features again in 11th position with ‘Lost,’ praised for combining a classic R&B style with a pop tempo of 123 bpm — meaning you can chill out whilst having a little boogie mid-Vitamin C application.

Many of the top 25 most relaxing songs are by modern-day artists. The Weeknd is 7th with ‘Die For You,’ Taylor Swift’s ‘Cardigan’ is 10th, and ‘POV’ by Ariana Grande is 12th. Norah Jones is the only artist from the early noughties to make an appearance, with ‘Sunrise’ ranking as the eighth most relaxing song on 57 playlists. Dr Bonshor says: “The repetitive melody evident in ‘Sunrise,’ paired with soothing lyrics and steady rhythmic patterns, makes it a tune you can easily lean into.”

The repetitive melody evident in Norah Jones’ ‘Sunrise,’ paired with soothing lyrics and steady rhythmic patterns, makes it a tune you can easily lean into.

Dr Michael Bonshor, Music Psychology, University of Sheffield

Top 25 Most Relaxing Songs

Here are the top songs ranked by how often they feature on a relaxing playlist:

Song	Artist	Features
1. Moonlight	Ariana Grande	96
2. Good Days	SZA	86
3. Pink + White	Frank Ocean	76
4. Kill Bill	SZA	75
5. Telepathía	Kali Uchis	73
6. See You Again (feat. Kali Uchis)	Tyler, The Creator	61
7. Die For You	The Weeknd	58
8. Sunrise	Norah Jones	57
9. Breathe	DTO	56
10. Cardigan	Taylor Swift	53
11. Lost	Frank Ocean	53
12. pov	Ariana Grande	51
13. Say Yes to Heaven	Lana Del Rey	51
14. Space Song	Beach House	51
15. Daylight	Harry Styles	50
16. Stargirl Interlude	The Weeknd	50
17. August	Taylor Swift	49
18. Get You (feat. Kali Uchis)	Daniel Caesar	49
19. Normal Girl	SZA	49
20. Apocalypse	Cigarettes After Sex	48
21. Memories	Maroon 5	48
22. After the Storm (feat. Tyler, The Creator & Bootsy Collins)	Kali Uchis	47
23. Self Care	Mac Miller	46
24. As It Was	Harry Styles	44
25. Peace	Hushfall	44

What are the best songs to listen to during your skincare routine?

We also used the data to create the ultimate relaxing skincare playlist. It features the top 20 songs added most frequently to skincare-specific playlists and will be the perfect backing track for your skincare regimen – from acids to skin treatments and masks.

SZA occupies the top two spots with ‘Kill Bill’ (48 playlists) and ‘Good Days’ (47 playlists). Kali Uchis claims the third and fourth spots with ‘Moonlight’ and ‘Telepathía,’ and features a third time in 19th with ‘After The Storm.’ Taylor Swift is the only other artist to feature three times — ‘August’ (5th), ‘Cardigan’ (8th), and ‘Cruel Summer’ (16th).

Many other pop songs are among the most popular tracks to play whilst hydrating skin — including ‘As It Was’ by Harry Styles and ‘What Was I Made For?’ by Billie Eilish.

Top 20 Songs Featured On Skincare Playlists

Song	Artist	Features
1. Kill Bill	SZA	48
2. Good Days	SZA	47
3. Moonlight	Kali Uchis	46
4. Telepathía	Kali Uchis	42
5. August	Taylor Swift	40
6. Say Yes to Heaven	Lana Del Rey	38
7. Kiss Me More (feat. SZA)	Doja Cat	36
8. Cardigan	Taylor Swift	34
9. Pink + White	Frank Ocean	32
10. As It Was	Harry Styles	30
11. See You Again (feat. Kali Uchis)	Tyler, The Creator	30
12. What Was I Made For? [From "Barbie"]	Billie Eilish	30
13. Stargirl Interlude	The Weeknd	28
14. Woman	Doja Cat	28
15. Boy’s a Liar Pt. 2	PinkPantheress	26
16. Cruel Summer	Taylor Swift	26
17. Positions	Ariana Grande	26
18. pov	Ariana Grande	26
19. After the Storm (feat. Tyler, The Creator & Bootsy Collins)	Kali Uchis	24
20. Bad Habit	Steve Lacy	24

Why does music make us feel so relaxed?

Dr Bonshor lists three main reasons explaining why the music in this study has a calming impact:

1. We are neurologically and physiologically ‘programmed’ to respond to the speed and rhythm of music. When we listen to music, our breathing rate and heart rate naturally synchronise with the music, so when relaxing music is played, it slows down our breathing and heart rate, lowers our blood pressure, and reduces our stress responses. This makes us feel physically relaxed.

2. Enjoying music is a ‘flow activity’ which can help us to get ‘into the zone’ and switch off from everything else around us. This happens when we are totally immersed in the music to the extent that we lose track of time, lose our self-consciousness, and forget about our everyday concerns.

3. Emotionally engaging with music can distract listeners from their problems. Being able to select the music creates a feeling of having control over something in our lives. Listening to music that we enjoy creates positive emotions, which also help us to relax.

Methodology

We scraped Spotify’s API for songs, artists and playlist names, for all playlists that include the keywords:

• Skincare
• Calm
• Calming
• Relaxing
• Self-care
• Unwind
• Wellness

We then analysed the data from the 1.4 million songs pulled from the API scrape and sorted from highest to lowest to reveal the most popular artists.

All scientific insights are supplied by Dr Michael Bonshor: https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/music/people/academic-staff/michael-bonshor

Footnotes

1. Krout, R. E. (2007). Music listening to facilitate relaxation and promote wellness. The arts in Psychotherapy, 34(2), 134-141.

2. Krout, R. E. (2007). Music listening to facilitate relaxation and promote wellness. The arts in Psychotherapy, 34(2), 134-141.

3. Tan, Y. Z., et al. (2015). The effect of relaxing music on heart rate and heart rate variability during ECG GATED-myocardial perfusion scintigraphy. Complementary therapies in clinical practice, 21(2), 137-140.

4. Krout, R. E. (2007). Music listening to facilitate relaxation and promote wellness. The arts in Psychotherapy, 34(2), 134-141.

5. Bernardi, L., Porta, C., & Sleight, P. (2006). Cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and respiratory changes induced by different types of music in musicians and non-musicians. Heart, 92(4), 445-452.

6. Csikszentmihalyi, M. (2000). The contribution of flow to positive psychology.

7. Mitchell, L. A., & MacDonald, R. A. (2006). An experimental investigation of the effects of preferred and relaxing music listening on pain perception. Journal of music therapy, 43(4), 295-316.