Self-care has long been a significant aspect of human life, with products and services generating billions of dollars. However, mass-marketing campaigns often focus on mental health, healing, and pulling together. In 2021, Google’s Year in Search data revealed that mental health, healing, and pulling together were key themes. Trust facilitates support for self-management of care, such as self-administration of injectable contraceptives or self-testing for HIV or COVID-19. Self-care has existed in various health arenas throughout history, and its definition has evolved over time.
The term “self-care” has become a cultural phenomenon, with its popularity being reflected on social media, wellness blogs, and marketing. It is defined as the ability of individuals, families, and communities to promote health, prevent disease, maintain health, and cope with illness. The top Google search for “self-care” is “self-care”, followed by breathing exercises, virtual meditation, relaxation, and peaceful playlists.
Despite its importance, self-care is often seen as illegitimate and undervalued, as it can immensely help someone’s physical and mental health. The $11 billion self-care industry is heavily influenced by tech, with our focus shifting away from the actual self, including our bodies and minds. New TikTok findings have found self-care content reaching 22.3 billion views, and Google Trends reports that the number of searches for “self-care” has nearly quadrupled since 2018, an all-time high.
📹 Self Care
Columbia University and The New York Public Library have launched a public health initiative—in partnership with the National …
Is self-care a new concept?
As a mental health therapist and educator, I have observed that self-care is a widely discussed concept in both the workplace and the classroom. However, it is becoming increasingly recognized beyond these contexts, with more people referring to it in a broader range of settings.
Is self-care trending?
The number of searches for “self-care” has nearly quadrupled since 2018, indicating a lifestyle shift towards holistic health and personal development. Global consumers are adopting a long-term approach to their health, integrating beneficial changes into their daily habits to achieve long-term happiness and health. This proactive approach is driving demand for dietary supplements, functional food, and drinks, with digestive health, immune health, and mental health being the top benefits. Probiotics are a relevant solution for consumers, with 71 of global supplement consumers claiming to be attracted to products containing probiotics.
Maintaining good mental health and emotional wellness is now considered an integral part of overall health, with 49 of global consumers measuring good health by assessing their mental wellbeing. Consumers seek a greater sense of happiness and enjoyment in their lives, and are actively looking for solutions to enhance their well-being through mental health. When asked about how they measure good health, 49 of consumers answer that they look at their mental wellbeing, reflecting the importance of a healthy body in a healthy mind.
Who popularized self-care?
Self-care, a term coined by the medical community in the 1950s, has evolved significantly since then, with its roots in the teachings of Audre Lorde. The self-care industry, which now accounts for an estimated $10 billion business, has seen a surge in representation following the Black Lives Matter protests. Beauty brands have shifted their social media presence to address racial injustice, highlighting the importance of self-preservation in community building.
Sabre Burroughs, cofounder of Newark Water Coalition, believes revisiting these teachings has helped her maintain her mental health. The self-care industry has also seen a rise in protests, with some students leading their first protests, highlighting the emotional impact of these protests on their mental health.
When did self-help become popular?
Since the 1960s, self-help books have gained cultural prominence, with both advocates and critics arguing for their importance in developing social concepts of disease and disseminating them through the general public. Some view buying such books as an exercise in self-education, while others argue that they are too prevalent and powerful to overlook. Self-help books have played a crucial role in developing social concepts of disease and allowing ordinary people to describe complex features of emotional and behavioral life.
They often involve first-person involvement and often a conversion experience, offering horizontal peer-support and validation, as well as advice from above. This approach contrasts with traditional psychology and psychotherapy, which tend to be written in an impersonal, objective mode.
Is self-care a buzzword?
Despite its prevalence, self-care is frequently misconstrued as a fleeting phenomenon or a mere trend. It is of the utmost importance for the maintenance of physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Some individuals may experience adverse reactions as a result of a lack of comprehension regarding the term.
What is the most popular form of self-care?
Americans are making significant progress in self-care, with 92 of them spending an average of six hours per week engaging in self-care activities. The most common self-care activities include sleep, listening to music, drinking water, relaxing, and walking. Additionally, 6 in 10 Americans feel they have enough time and money for the necessary self-care. However, self-care can be expensive, with an average monthly spending of $90. Exercise, walking, sleeping, watching comfort TV shows, and listening to music are the most popular self-care activities among Americans. Investing in one’s mental and physical health is crucial.
Is self-care a luxury?
Beth White, Sr. Director of Global People Partner at Flywire Masters Human Resources, shares a personal experience of a heart attack while cleaning up with her children. Her Apple Watch recorded 210 beats per minute, and she called her mom, who quickly rushed to help. The paramedics arrived at her home, where she was laying on the floor with a heart rate over 230, numb hands and arms, and incoherent speech. She asked for help, stating that she had kids.
She was placed on a stretcher and loaded into an ambulance, where they hooked her up to an EKG machine and started fluids while driving her to the hospital. As they drove away, Beth’s children hugged her mom, and two of her neighbors also came over to help. This incident highlights the importance of self-care and the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle for both mother and child.
What are the 7 pillars of self-care?
Self-care is crucial during the holiday season, and can be practiced through various methods such as exercise, eating well, meditation, and therapy. These practices fit into the seven pillars: mental, emotional, physical, environmental, spiritual, recreational, and social. A well-balanced routine should include each pillar, avoiding limiting oneself to just one or two.
Mental self-care involves cultivating a healthy mindset through mindfulness and curiosity, such as journaling, meditation, and taking breaks from screen time. Emotional self-care involves developing healthy coping strategies for daily stress, such as watching movies, listening to music, writing positive affirmations, seeking help when needed, and setting boundaries to protect oneself and one’s heart.
What are the 7 pillars of selfcare?
Self-care is crucial during the holiday season, and can be practiced through various methods such as exercise, eating well, meditation, and therapy. These practices fit into the seven pillars: mental, emotional, physical, environmental, spiritual, recreational, and social. A well-balanced routine should include each pillar, avoiding limiting oneself to just one or two.
Mental self-care involves cultivating a healthy mindset through mindfulness and curiosity, such as journaling, meditation, and taking breaks from screen time. Emotional self-care involves developing healthy coping strategies for daily stress, such as watching movies, listening to music, writing positive affirmations, seeking help when needed, and setting boundaries to protect oneself and one’s heart.
Why has self-care become so popular?
The practice of self-care, which encompasses activities such as relaxation and self-maintenance, has been demonstrated to have a considerable impact on stress and anxiety levels. The act of extending kindness towards oneself can foster a more positive self-perception.
What are the 3 C’s of self-care?
The three C’s of personal growth are Care, Consistency, and Compassion. Care involves not overloading oneself during the growth process, Consistency ensures consistency, and Compassion is a challenging process. These three C’s are essential for personal development, as it can be difficult and uncomfortable. It is crucial to have a set of skills or standards to keep us on track towards our goals and remind ourselves of what’s important during tough times. Remembering these C’s is essential for personal growth, as they hold fundamental truths that will benefit you on your journey and provide the optimum conditions for you to thrive.
📹 Let’s Talk “Self Care” Product Obsession
More about this video: In a world inundated with skincare routines, wellness products, and lifestyle gurus promoting the latest …
The problem with self care is that people don’t understand that self care is not a face mask or bath balls. Self care is about doing the hard things we don’t always want to do – such as exercising, saving money, learning new skills. This is taking care of yourself in the long run. Is buying things to upset your brain’s dopamine balance really taking care of yourself?
Selling people (usually women) products they weren’t even considering buying under the guise of “self-care” really has gotten out of control. Within the past year The Gap sent me an email with the title “new undies = self-care”. No, if the person doesn’t need new underwear and can’t afford to needlessly buy it, it’s the opposite of self-care. Avoiding being manipulated by ads is actually the epitome of self-care.
I used to believe that I needed all the skincare just to realize that the less I applied on my skin, the better it looked. I have 3 skincare products and stopped using foundation, all my skin issues are gone. I know what works for my skin, my hair and I just rebuy these stuff instead of spending on things to try.
This is one of the biggest scams targeted to women currently, and is also difficult to discuss because it overlaps with the way spending on things deemed “feminine” are as shamed (often considered both in personal finance circles and in society at large as frivolous) as they are also considered necessary in order to access resources as part of acceptance in “regular” society. So it’s a double-bind, and additionally can become deeply personal as individuals construct ritual around various practices, which although may reinforce programming to spend on items related to those practices, can still hold innate value for the individual (as you outlined with the bath example). Hopefully there can be continued nuanced conversations to mitigate the pressure exacerbated by social media and influencers, with large corporations ultimately benefiting the most.
Eyelash washing is for those with lash extensions. If you don’t have them, you can use any cleanser that doesn’t bother your eyes. But lash extensions are glued onto natural lashes, so to keep retention, special cleansers might be used (oil free products that don’t break down glue). It’s also smart to wash them as sweat, makeup, and dead skin can build up around the lashes which not only makes them dirty and can cause irritation or infections, but also break down glue bonds.
I really appreciate these articles of yours, as a youngish woman with a bad shopping addiction and a tendency to buy into the illusion that buying, consuming, or owning beautiful things and surrounding myself with products and designer items will make me happy or bring me closer to becoming the “best version of myself” aka my fantasy self. I really don’t want to keep living this way
I think my favorite “self care” practices are free or very low cost. Going for walks, writing, taking a nap, brewing some tea, perusal youtube, reading…and this is coming from a recovering shopaholic. Those things leave me feeling much more satisfied than a new product would, and for a longer period of time, too.
I’ve only recently realized how terrible hyper consumerism has become! I was never the type to buy a bunch of stuff (clothes, makeup, “self-care” products, ect.) growing up just because me nor my parents had that kind of money. But I always wanted to be like my friends who did buy the stuff or be like the people I saw on social media with all the “fun stuff”. I’m so happy my eyes have opened to how crazy having so much unnecessary items really is. Especially now that I have a good career and can buy random stuff if I wanted to BUT I will not. I really enjoy your articles Cara. Very educational and well thought out!
One problem is that we don’t all have lives we enjoy, nor the time, flexibility, and/or money to spend on things that would actually improve our quality of life, such as travel and other experiences. Over consuming products is the more accessible, next best thing, second to having an enjoyable life full of enrichment and a supportive social network 😂
when it comes to skincare, getting sleep, drinking water, exercising, and eating fruits and vegetables will help infinitely more than 200 expensive creams and elixirs. As a fresh out of college graduate allergic to lavender oil and other popular flower fragrances, I’ve decided to focus my money and time on taking care of myself with meal prep, extra rest where I can find it, long nature walks, and taking my thermos water bottles to work with me.
Your article could not have come at a better time. Well, maybe it could lol. I was in this self-care phase/obsession, buying everything I saw in self care shorts and perusal endless articles, blowing around $150 in a few days. Ironically this was at the point where I felt I had zero control of my life—but I can control when and how I apply body wash, and what scent lol. Instead of truly taking care of myself, I was just pampering my physical body, and my relationship with God was so strained. The point is, this article really made me put my priorities back into order. Every single bullet was something I needed to hear. I wish I could shake your hand or hug you. 😭🤗🥰
I decluttered my whole home because my cluttered apartment made me feel depressed and anxious. I donated a lot of stuff and gifted a bunch of self care products to my sister. Decluttering made me think about my spending habits. For a while now, I have one product that works for me. I no longer try to find that one product that will help me solve all of my problems. I also don‘t buy in bulk anymore, if something is empty, I‘m going to replace it. living a more intentional and minimalistic life really changed me for the better. Having a clutter free home gave me a piece of mind.
I recently got into this whole “long nightime routine” trend, and personally for me it’s become more of a passion/hobby than a crutch. I enjoy spending a lot of time researching what actually works so i can understand how every product works and benefits me. Then when i do my routine i can really feel like it’s made me healthier or prettier (plus extensive understanding of it all means i can find the “bare minimum” drug store version of a lot of products and save money that way). For me personally it’s become an act of self care because i am putting the work in to find the (scentifically and financially) best product, so i can do the work of taking a super long multi step shower just so i can feel like a pretty princess afterwards. And for me feeling not only confident in how i look, but proud that it was my own hard work that did that feels amazing. So thats my more positive view on this trend, lmk if any of you agree ✨💕
Ok but forcing myself to go get a massage one to two times a month has been in life changing. It acts as meditation time, reset time AND KEEPS my old scholiosis back from being in agony all the time. It’s really really worth it and it all started because I said I was investing in self-care. It’s not part of my healthcare. For brain and body.
I’m glad that I came across this article. Consumerism wrapped in self care is definitely a problem. For me, when I find myself wanting to buy a $15 gratitude journal on Amazon, or I’m super excited about my latest Bath and Body Works haul that cost me $90, it’s two things going on. 1. I feel awful and I am just looking for a quick hit of dopamine to feel better. 2. Rather than undergo the tiresome emotional labor of self care and doing the work to better myself, I can have a shortcut, “I am taking good care of myself, I bought a gratefulness journal” “I am working on my self care I downloaded the calm app” the act of purchasing these self care things feels like I am actually doing the self care work. I may never use the gratitude journal or open the calm app, but I bought them so therefore I am working on it. In the end, the gratitude journal gets thrown out and the calm app gets deleted. And the cycle starts again the next time I feel awful. Thank you for posting this article, it gave me a lot to think about.
I’m glad self-care is getting attention, but it’s a superficial form of self-care. What we’re really doing when we’re doing elaborate skin rituals is not thinking. As in meditating. I also hear busy stressed moms say they don’t have time, energy, or money for self-care. I would argue that meditating after their kids go to bed is one of the best forms of self-care there is. And momma, if you don’t put your oxygen mask on first, you’re going to burn out and not be able to help anybody!
I think the problem is increased consumerism with complete (flagrant) disregard of societal and climatic effects. Increased purchasing leading to increased waste leading to passing same behaviors to those around and children. Just because you can, you don’t have to. Self care has evolved to marketing and really should have remained to how you take care of your future self. Do I buy skincare? Yes yet I don’t have doubles and only buy when the product finishes. I am taking care of myself today to help preserve my “beauty” and/or “look” for my future self…like eating healthier and challenging my brain to remain sharp. Great article!
I’m working my a off trying to save up money for university so I can move out and be at peace and stuff in 2 years. Yet I almost ended up spending $200 on korean skincare products because the reels about it were in my face. But I don’t even need all that, I’m only 19😂 Glad I didn’t spend it. I did as you said, I left the products there saved on amazon for some time and after few days I had no desire to buy it at all.
i love this, i feel like people don’t care about actual ‘self care’, they just want to go through with the whole skincare routine because in our society it’s so pressed on us that if you just get the last skincare product in your 7 step skincare routine, you’ll finally achieve ‘self care’. self care isn’t a destination, it’s a journey about finding things about yourself and what YOU enjoy. self care should be “i love to knit, and i’m feeling a bit stressed out, so my ‘self care saturday’ will involve knitting,” instead of putting a number of products on you to achieve something that is unachievable, because it’s pushed on us so much to believe that self care can be achieved through hyper consumption, when the complete opposite is true as you can only really love yourself by recognising that you are a beautiful and unique person, and your self care will be different to everyone’s else
I am chronically ill and for a while it has felt like both my physical and mental health was going downhill, control was slipping out of my hands… so I unconsciously turned to consumerism and self care products. I couldn’t control what was going on in my body, but at least I could choose which expensive moisturizer I put on my face… right? You’ve described my experience so well, and it took me some months to actually realize this is what I was doing to soothe myself, I guess. I am now trying to take care of myself in more productive, less consumerist ways hehe
honestly, lately for me, i love everything shower days. i love taking care of my body by exercising, cleaning, then cleaning myself and ending the night with a candle and a dessert. when i take showers, its the one time of the week or day where i can shut out the entire world and just listen to my favorite music and take care of myself. its like my form of therapy i swear, like im taking care of myself both physically AND mentally. but i do, however, agree that some of this self care stuff has been increasingly based on how good you look, and not how you feel by taking care of yourself. we all need to go back and understand that by calling it self-care, it would imply that you’re not doing it just to look attractive or have glowy, smooth skin, you’re doing it to make yourself feel good, and create that time and space to just let go.
Your approach is probably the best I’ve ever heard/seen. A lot of people covering the subject of overconsumption are always yelling and shaming. Not something someone really needs. but the way you approach and explain can definitely make people sit and think without feeling shamed or looked down on. LOVE IT! 😃👍🏼
Your point about searching and working for peace outside of ourselves instead of beginning inward is soooo important. I’ve never had an inclination to by “face rollers” or “bath bombs” but I’ve been getting into skincare more recently. This article makes me think of ways I am influenced to “think” about how certain products can be beneficial to me, rather than something I actually need or is prescribed to me. Learning not to overcomplicate things and stick to products that have worked great for me.
the only thing i use on my face is a dove bar, and a little coconut oil if it feels dry. my skin has never been so clear in my entire life. a word on the scalp massager/shampoo brush: for most people its basically useless, but my wife has psoriasis, and it is the only thing that has brought her relief. definitely recommend it for that.
Everything you mentions is on point. However, I think the self care movement also morphs over to the excessive travel people do to fill themselves with the constant utopia of a new place. Product consumption is not the only way that is hurting the planet and environment. Happiness, peace and self care/love is found within each day not constantly crossing oceans and mountains.
A lot of ppl hv a negative view on what’s considered self care now but, it’s truly helped me. Using these products ( exfoliants, cleansers, sunscreen) to help my outer appearance feel more clean has given me motivation to be more active, focusing on my physical health while also calming my mental health. With me being pleased physically it’s also helped me mentally due to insecurities. There’s no need to view this in a negative light many people do it because it’s trendy others do it because it relieves anxiety, at least it does for me.
omg… man this article showed up on my feed at the perfect time. I saw a podcaster I follow post her skincare routine with 7 different products, the least expensive of the products was in the 40$ range, and the most expensive one was a tiny tube for 168$! I seriously woke up this morning and was going to buy the products because I’m “25 and should be worried about aging” or whatever… but I saw your article first and it stopped me from buying anything unnecessary. I find I get the most compliments on my skin when I eat well, when I’m happy, and when I’ve been exercising outside and just enjoying life. So THANK YOU for this article!!! You just saved me a ton of money and from going into a loop of buying stuff to fill a deeper need!!
OMG this article is needed. I have largely controlled my impulses to get influenced by these “self care articles” but sometimes I do find myself wanting the shelves filled with good body washes and scrubs and all that stuff. And then I realise I am a middle class person and this “hoarding culture” is literally targeted at people like me.
Cara, after one turn 50 years of age lot of this self-care products means nothing and what matter most is great healthy body energy and something to entertain oneself that why I watch lots and lots of articles we only truly need water air to breath earth to walk on and veggies to eat oh maybe a great body lotion and skip everything else. Thanks for your articles.
I took an entire 4 days weekend to clean house and throw away unused expired everything. Let me tell you the amount of useless stuff I accumulate from Ross, TJmaxx, Homegoods…. is unbelievable. Must have been thousands worth of sfuff over the years. Im extremely mindful about what I pick up these days. Money is not object but the accumulation of things that cluster your home and watch them expire on the bathroom shelf, being wasteful is the problem.
The older I get, ‘self-care’ gets more meaning not connected to appearances/wealth/money or material goods. Currently, ‘self-care’ for me is for example being able to take a day off work to sleep in late, to have time to wander around and look around. Or having time to do a long walk with favourite music or podcast in my headphones. Time to craft something. What’s common? TIME. Nowadays, I see A LOT of young girls/women participating in sort of a race to overdo one another in terms of who does ‘self-care’ the best (or THE MOST) – and imho it stems heavily from ageism, fear of ageing, beauty standards, the whole coaching industry and own insecurities mixed with need to belong somewhere.
its all just a marketing ploy by companies giving free crap to influencers to sell (lv & gucci is no different). if i were a big company, i would be happy to keep this narrative going. after all, its capitialism. but because im aware of this, its so easy not to buy into the crap narrative, so im satisifed with myself.
This is especially true if you’re disabled/mentally ill or neurodivergent. Self care can be nice bubble baths and face masks, sure. It’s also stopping my adhd from making me buy too much, sorting out medication, forcing myself to leave the house and go for a walk/run even though I’m exhausted mentally because it keeps me functioning and doing 101 horrible little jobs that at the time feel like torture because future me will have a much better day because of it. Buying a new face roller isn’t going to enable me to get out of bed and function but batch cooking a bunch of breakfasts in advance sure will.
Self care has really made social media (IG) hard for me to take. Constant ads and product releases and just STUFF thrown in my face. The hyper consumption (at least in the US) makes me sad. I still consume but I try to be mindful and only buy what I will keep under most conditions (bc it’s just going to landfill if I return it). But so many people do not. The one time use things, the 50 face oils for ONE face, it’s just too much. It’s only getting worse with ever holiday season and sale.
Let me stop you right at the beginning. Those are not self care tools/products, but BEAUTY. And that is where the problem comes from that people confuse the two things… And unfortunately you did too through the whole article. Self care is about mindfullness, taking therapy, moving your body to recharge your mind and body. So it’s not the concept what’s wrong, but the capitalist misunderstanding direction that it took to beauty. A face mask is not self care.
If you have little to no knowledge on skin health than it is way to easy to get hooked on these gimmicky products. Skin care doesn’t and shouldn’t be so expensive. Want good skin change your diet to eat less processed fatty foods and eat more Whole Foods also take a zinc supplement daily and watch your skin clear up and for wrinkles get some NMN powder and an alcohol free moisturizer.
You definetly had some bars and have a good perspective. It’s just different people want different things and get inspired by the products. Is that “true self care” maybe not but it’s something that keeps a person going and I think that is the goal of self care marketing, giving people a sense of happiness with every use. I came across this article trying to do some research on the self care industry for my business. Thanks for the article lots and lots
am trying to remember now which of your articles it was that talked about the neuropsychology behind buying stuff (dopamine boost, etc), i’ll have to go rewatch to find it – but I think that especially comes into play when it comes to simply buying self-care products because it gives us this soothing sensation that we associate with taking proper care of ourselves. I also have a theory that spending money on take-out/other comfort foods and hygiene/pampering products is such a spending habit pitfall for a lot of otherwise financially-responsible people because we justify that self-soothing sensation of it by thinking “well hey, at least it’s not drugs/alcohol… I mean, I have to eat and I have to keep myself clean, right?” Like it’s easier to justify it to ourselves in that way… idk that’s my theory anyway
Engaging in self care and trying out new products is one of my favorite things to do in life. Personally as someone with major depression, learning to find joy in cleaning, grooming, and just generally taking care of myself has been very valuable and important. Self care to me doesn’t mean buying a bunch of tools and products, it means doing whatever things you can do to get your body in better condition.
Since we are talking about “self care”, have you even thought in making a article about those resellers that sell “self defense” keychains (yeah, the ones with kubaton, kitty knuckles, pepper spray, lip balm bag and the infamous pompom)? And let’s talk how expensive they’re that even filming a article can cost $10 and most of these “self defense” stuff cannot be used by someone without the proper training or are illegal according to the country.
while it’s true to be aware of the quantity you consume, there are worse things you could be purchasing than skin care. that being said, obviously self-care is way more than just buying things to make yourself feel good. skin care products can help you feel better, but don’t forget to take care of yourself in other ways
Im pretty sure those influencers don’t even use all those products behind the camera…neither did they bought those with their own money..all are mostly sponsorships, pr deals and modern advertisements. No way someone is slapping themselves with 20 products in one shower session, all they are doing is playing a big commercial for all those products.
I am trying to do my little rituals every day – first thing after waking up is making tea, eat something small (fruit, veg) and then sit and write for a while – just one page, few mins, anything that comes to the mind. it is suprisingly calming and it sets my day on the right vibe. Similarly before sleeping – write everything that should be done, unfinished business that would otherwise bugs me terribly. it help me falling asleep easier. as I have pet, taking him for longer walk to the forest is so calming and, well, self-care-ish. 😂 if I can do these three during the day, I am gold. on the other hand, self-care in skincare, haircare etc meaning is also important to me. moisturizers, UV protection, good hair products – the little skin/haircare rituals, using henna for my hair (just straight henna, no colouring), the process of using them, it really calms my mind in whole other way. but it is probably something else than the obsession with new products that you were talking about in the vid. 🧐🌼
People will do anything but eat healthy food, stay hydrated and learn to actually unwind instead of stimulating yourself on your phone all day(I’m struggling myself with that. Also knowing what your skin needs will save you a ton of money on beauty products. You need a cleanser, toner, moisturizer and sunscreen. Find those things for a affordable price and you’re ok. Some people might not even need all of those things. You might just need to cleans and moisturize. We always want some fancy potion in a bottle that will give us quick results and depend too much on products.
I feel like this type of product-based self care often emerges in a culture that values work and hustle a bit too much, leaving people stripped for time or energy to do actual selfcare like exercise, preparing healthy meals, taking care of your mental health ect. It’s much faster and less effort to just buy something.
Okay, I love self care but it got to the point where the products shown are useless and make no absolute difference to the skin if not worse. My self care started with DIY and now I’m into breaking down ingredients and what they do or if they’re better alternatives. It got the point where people started asking me to help shop for their own self care routine and I love every second. So much better than unnecessary surgery.
Yeah, the obsession is real. I always questioned some articles and amount of products people have. I think that since many connect self care to taking care of skin or hair so much $$$ is spend on products, which not proven to work 100% all the time. The worst is that, with such “influencers” younger generation gets the idea that spending a lot is better, having a lot is better, instead of going to the root of problems we carry inside. I think hyper consumption is related to quick dopamine reaction to cover all of this up. But unfortunately it won’t work as a long term strategy, unless the root of the problem is taken out. As always, great thoughts. So glad you share them with others!
After being a compulsive spender for years and always being broke I developed certain rules for myself 1. Only purchase another ítem of the same category if the one I had is empty and if it made me absolutely happy. 2. If I like something that is non essential (make up, clothing, etc) I give myself a week to think about the purchase and do my research about the item. If after said time I am still thinking about the ítem, it actually is what I thought it was/serves the purposes I intended it to have, it is still available and it does not get in the way of essential purchases (food, medicine and the sorts) then I give myself permission to buy it without remorse. This has helped me to reduce impulse/as seen on social media purchases and I am on my way to pay out all my credit cards (I actually finished paying one out this month) and having a lighter more easy life y n which I don’t have to stress that much with my bills at the end of the month and I have less stuff/clutter around me.
Oh man… once I understood that giving in to every single buying impulse of mine and attaching my well-being almost exclusively to material things was NOT self care, everything changed. I really used to be that person with a bathroom cabinet full of skin care products that I saw some influencer talking abt, the amazon list full of the new self care/optimization items buzzfeed would suggest… and guess what? my mental health didnt improve, if anything it got worse with my bank account. Once I realized that I was just replacing one destructive habit with another one, I could actually start improving and feeling some control. And now I look back and I clearly see how even something so important like self care can be co-opted and distorted by capitalism
I research the heck out of skin and makeup products, before deciding I don’t really need them, lol! I also think a lot of this self-care obsession feels narcissistic and leads into the anti-aging stuff all over Tiktok. Like yeah mankind has always wanted to stay young looking but it’s out of hand right now. my kind of self-care is accepting my grey hair and Accepting my wrinkles because, to quote Brandi Carlisle, they tell my story! Self care is being less critical and not focusing on all the things I need to change about myself to fit someone else’s standard. It’s also about money. I also just try to exercise and eat right and enjoy my life without spending too many dimes.
I will say as a male I do slightly feed into self-care in the sense I moisturize my face & body more than I used to several years ago, but it’s never outside of normal post-shower moisturization (or using lotion after using hand sanitizer a ton of times as I work in a hospital) and not some crazy purchasing spree for some things that are supposed to make me a better person.
I buy one sugar scrub at a time until it’s out.. I buy like three face masks. That’s all I get for the whole month. My skincare routine is 3 steps. I don’t use foundation. The over consumption on this app is fucking insane. People basically having literal STORES in their house. I go to Target to buy myself ONE face mask, and they are all gone because some selfish ass person decided to buy the whole lot. What the hell, people?! 😭
These aren’t really “self care” it’s more like spa day or something. There are 4 categories of self care my therapist and I talk about this as someone who is extremely impaird by my anxiety and genuinely need self care to alter my ways of thinking and process trauma. Basically this is just another abused therapy word and now self care could literally be buying a new expensive thing when that could actually do the opposite. Ahhhh. Stop LOOKING for reasons to buy stuff I hate how tik tok makes the AVERAGE CONSUMERS sell each other stuff.
when I used to have tiktok, I used to see these articles and feel insecure. I felt like they were somehow cleaner than me and that I was unhygienic because I didn’t have a million products. now that I’m off of realize it’s overconsumption. Obviously you still need shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, bodywash/soap, and maybe if you wanna throw in another part to the routine, that’s fine too. these are things we still need to have proper hygiene. but one thing i DID do for self-care without spending tons of extra money, but the amount I’d typically have to spend anyway.. I decided if I’m gonna spend money on THESE essentials, that I wanna feel good about them too. I chose stuff with natural ingredients instead of tons of chemicals, opted for bamboo instead of plastic, etc.. and I did it all within the typical range of spending. instead of spending extra, I’d say if you’re still unhappy with your hygiene and products, self care could also be looking into products that make you happier while also being the essentials. and it doesn’t hurt to add an extra step or two to the routine, but going all out when you can’t afford it isn’t the solution. On top of that, these products that you often see in these “self care” articles often have harmful chemicals in them. Look up “Endocrine Disruptors”, or the website “EWG” which shows you safety ratings of the products you use. it’s not the quantity of products that’s better, but the quality for the same amount of money spent. some healthy and FREE ways to practice self-care: -learn to cook food that tastes amazing while having healthier fresher ingredients -GET A PHYSICAL PASSWORD BOOK!
So, the eyelash washing. I got curious about it so I looked into it. These products are meant for washing eyelash extensions, the perma kind. You have to wash them often to avoid getting makeup and skin build up that could lead to eye infections. They aren’t meant for just washing normal eyelashes that are natural.
A lot of comments are really missing the mark. Yes, I am working towards bigger financial goals for the sake of my safety and peace of mind in the future, but I ALSO need an uplifting silly little treat NOW (and regularly): a bath bomb, a cinnamon latte, a snack, a pretty little trinket. Saving for the retirement is not what I mean then I’m in a need of self-care – it’s a hard and very long term goal. exercise can be uplifting; it is not easy or relaxing, it’s one more task that requires energy I usually don’t have between 9 to 12 hour shifts on my feet and taking care of my elderly relatives
I think the fact that self-care has become so prominent is a good thing but it’s not being practiced in the right way. Serums and potions aren’t the only way as is shown in tiktoks/social media. Alot of time it’s tje boring stuff – paying down/off debt, sorting bills, buying something you need for work like shoes etc. It’s not glam but you need to build self care block by block by doing the basics so to speak
I’m a massage therapist. The self care I suggest to clients rarely involves purchasing tools/products. Holistic and mobility enhancing techniques make self care a personal choice thats more about them doing something for themselves instead of expecting change from a trend or packaging. Nothing against a fun buy, I like jade rollers 😂
I think the real problem that people can’t seem to grasp is that buying self-care products is not wrong, but social media constantly bombards users with influencers using products, aesthetic articles, commercials, etc. This leads people to purchase things without realizing that they might be becoming obsessed with an exaggerated notion of “self-care,” which is essentially just unchecked consumption. And it’s not the fault of the individuals; they are led to believe that self-care involves having dozens of new skincare products and buying more to keep up with trends. Social media acts like salespeople who have access to all your desires, thoughts, fears, preferences, and concerns, and they use that information to sell products all the time (since most people use their phones from the moment they wake up until they go to bed).
I might regret it later when I’m older, but I don’t buy any beauty products anymore! lol I know that’s not the meat of the article, but years ago I got caught up in self care/beauty products/regimens and I spent so much money that I’d feel guilty if I didn’t use them all correctly or if my skin didn’t look like it “should”have. My sense of identity shouldn’t be rooted in how I look or what I buy.
I remember trying in high-school to fit in and used some morning face wash to help reduce acne, turns out anything but water irritated my skin so it left me with more issues. Now as an adult with thicker skin, I use an exfoliating scrub about once a month or less just when I want to relax, feel nice, and have my boyfriend tell me I look shiny and glow lol. Keeping it simple and as a treat seems to work the best.
Selfcare is taking care of your life. It’s not indulgences. Selfcare is getting up earlier to walk to work instead of driving so you will be more active and feel better. Selfcare is not getting the 2nd burger that week because you noticed that the 1st one made you feel tired and sluggish. Selfcare is setting up a retirement fund. Selfcare is realizing that caring for yourself is oftentimes contrary to the “indulge in everything, yay capitalism” trend that’s being shoved down our throats.
the thing is, skin is a large organ and everything we have going on inside will show on the outside… miracle skincare products are in my opinion overrated. if you really want to do something for your skin, drink and eat clean and eat vitamins.. and thats 1000% better than buying 20 skin products that wont improve your skin anyway, just waste of your money
This is why I never trust people who say they love a product and how it worked for them then they have a huge collection of skincare that they also use? Like, do you have a different moisturizer for every day? I struggled with my acne and I do have a 5 step routine, my products rarely changed unless there’s a change in the weather or an issue (like a pimple). Having multiple products and constantly swapping them makes it hard for you to know which actually works and which breaks you out.
It’s called SELF CARE when you actually really need that product to make your life more convenient/make yourself feel better ❤ I like to watch those SELF CARE article on tiktok until I got brainwashed and bought some stuffs that I actually don’t need (wasted now hmm）. Hope everyone can think properly before you buy ❤
Although I believe is self care! Body and soul, mental health all the things. I do as much free things as possible excersing, praying, fasting, laughing, relaxing sleeping, spending time with family and friends. I do love some product however, I stick to my staples and try not to overdue it. A good body wash, exfoliate face mask, and moisturizer will do it every time!
Amazon has a choke hold on me and I am terrible with spending the $5 and $10, but I’m thankfully no longer falling down the self care rabbit hole. Find those products that truly help you decompress and stick to them. $5 Dr. Teals melatonin lavender bubble bath epsom salt after a hard day of work, the lights dimmed, a good book, the face mask I already own, and a nice cup of tea get me there.
I am huge into self care. Such as taking long showers, using different things on my hair and skin, and vitamins every single day. I focus on the ingredients and what they will do to benefit my body. I often find a lot of nice skincare products at the Dollar Tree. I don’t feel bad about those purchases. You can find a ton of great name brand products there. I love ulta and trying new products but I only buy the skincare on sale. I don’t believe you need extremely expensive products, just good ingredients. I am 28, and I look the same as when I graduated high school about 10 years ago. Even my dermatologist said I did not have a single wrinkle on my face or signs of aging. People often think I look younger than I am, and my classmates have aged a lot. I do stay out of the sun a lot and use sunscreen. But for the most part, I use products with scientifically proven ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, cermides, peptides, niacinamides, and some retinol, but I have very sensitive skin. I love squalene, green tea, bamboo, and Japanese and Korean skincare. I am heavily invested in plant extracts and natural ingredients. I belive self care is a form of self love. While it shouldn’t be based on price, there are some amazing advancements in the skincare industry. I love to use light therapy at home with affordable devices. You can now do Hair Removal and home. It is extremely effective and some devices like mine has a resurfacing feature on it. It just depends how much you have to invest and what’s important to you.
also, this idea of self care seems to be targeted towards neurotypicals who can afford the time and money to do a 20+ step routine everyday. a lot of it makes me as an autistic woman in particular feel guilty for not having the capacity (mentally and physically) to do this as a form of self care all the time, when self care to me means other things.
I only use spf 15 face lotion and i seriously wonder if any other products even do anything? When you take a step back and look at all the products in the store and remember that there are billions of other stores and even more products is just… mindblowing. And to think it will all end up in a landfill. The problem isnt us. The problem is consumerism pushed in advertising and corporate greed.
I hate how capitalism steals everything! While I was in a psychiatric day clinic, I learned about self care and it was BEFORE capitalism made it into this trendy consumer thing. It’s about introspection, about looking on the inside and listening to your body and seeing what you need right now to feel better. Do you need to drink some water? Do you need a calmer environment? Do you have a good sleep cycle? Do you exercise or need to go on a walk? Do you need to talk to a friend or see a doctor? Selfcare contains so much and very few of it costs money and is sold on amazon. Most of these products shown in the article stress me out, because it’s work. It’s work to scrub your whole body and gua cha your face (which we wouldn’t do if society didn’t focus on beauty and youth so much) and I’d rather lie in my bathtub, listen to music and relax than to sit there and shave my legs and do all the labour to look the way society orders us to. The way capitalism sells it’s form of self care is just an extension of the beauty industry. No one would put three serums on their face because it feels good. No, they want the promised result. If you wanted a good tactile sensation, you’d gently stroke yourself with your hands or hair (which is a great thing to do tbh). If it was about the “good feeling”, you wouldn’t need the newest and most expensive ingredients that promise a wrinkle free skin. Women and feminine people won’t be free until the beauty industry loses it’s insane amount of power.
Hey! I agree with the over all point of the article but! I feel called out unnecessarily so i need respond 😂! The girl washing her lashes it isn’t just “lash conditioning” she’s wearing lash extensions! Which is a semi-permanent beauty treatment where false lashes are added to your natural lashes. In order to keep them and your eyes clean you have to wash them, usually with an eye safe lash shampoo and the little brush to make sure you remove all the dirt! Crusty lashes are gross and you could get an infection (potentially) if you don’t clean them. I know this isn’t the beauty side of YouTube but I thought I would shed light on what’s actually happening. It’s an unnecessary beauty treatment, so it’s unnecessary self care that way but I personally wear them cuz I like how they make me look 😂
I saw this article and was like, “omg no I love self care how could they make a article like this?!” but after perusal, you make some amazing points, and i love your emphasis on the consumerism aspect. I love all things sustainability, and it’s really nice to learn more about how we can participate in being better inhabitants of such a beautiful planet 💚
I think shopping habits must have ethics like being minimalism, zero waste, eco friendly, and cost saving thats something i’m trying to do and its actually making me happier im also following beauty websites with these ethics and i find them comforting and relaxing more than other websites that make me feel ugly if i dont have like 1000 beauty products
The only self care that matters is cleaning you, your space, and doing something extra/ cosmetic to feel good! If that’s makeup, a face mask, or even just clipping your nails- you don’t need any type of product to do that for you and much less a line of them for every night and morning 💀 that’s just consumerism, I use the same face masks i got for Christmas last year and when I need a pick me up I’ll paint my nails or curl my hair- but if you see a cute new thing that has your interest and you have the funds, it’s not gonan hurt to once in a while but something new to feel good! Just don’t waste it if you do! Make sure it’s something you will use all of or just get a single use/ the small version to try it. You don’t have to stop buying new things but you also don’t need to constantly buy new things ALL THE TIME just to stay clean/ on trend. Consistency is all that really matters, taking a shower/ bath regularly and brushing your teeth is qll you need to stay clean and healthy!!! It doesn’t matter what products you use 9/10 times, as long as you haven’t noticed anything bad occuring after using a product you’re probably fine 🤷 ie some ppl experience hair loss from certain shampoo but not everyone, and some have allergies to certain soaps, it’s all about what’s best for YOU and what works for your favorite influencer probably won’t work for you. 💞
My skin and hair are healthiest when I use the absolute minimum products necessary to keep me hygienic and sunburn-free. I like “self-care”, but I consider it more of a treat-my-self sensory thing, and the money I spend on it reflects my understanding that it is not actually helping me in any way besides being a fun treat.
My “luxury” self care is taking a bath with bath bombs my husband buys me for Christmas and/or $4 bag of epsom salt I get a few times a year. Oh and my bath pillow. I buy one every 18 months. I usually set up the iPad and watch a movie. If I’m feeling really bougie, I may use a body scrub. 😂😂😂 Ya. I don’t buy into that “have to have it all” mentality. I want a 2 step skin care: wash, moisturize. I want fast, simple, easy. I don’t have all day to waste. I got a new blow dryer for the first time in 9 years. I don’t have energy to waste on all that bs.
These items always annoyed me on how they prey upon people, especially those with mental health issues (such as anxiety or depression) and/or physical insecurities, it reminds of the whole self-defense phase where companies prey on vulnerable people (usually women) by selling them junk that can be even worse than not having it at all
I love skincare, but a lot of the time I feel like it’s more about the aesthetic of self-care rather than anything actually to do with self-love. Like we’re trying to convince ourselves that constantly buying products, and supporting an industry that banks on the fact you will be insecure – and thus a customer – for life, is what’s good for us. Now I don’t agree with ditching skincare as a whole (especially since that leads to a whole lot of non-scientific ‘chemicals are bad! dihydrogen monoxide? that sounds poisonous; I only use NATURAL ingredients’). I mean you should at least wear sunscreen and maybe a treatment serum for a skin condition if it impacts your self-confidence, but I do get the desire to disengage from the consumerist culture around skincare. I think it can be self-care as long as you don’t spend too much money on it and make it about the prestige of owning some $50 eye cream or some shit, because then it becomes more about how you appear to others rather than your relationship to yourself. Then again, skincare is part of the beauty industry for a reason. Jordan Theresa made a great article talking about how beauty standards have been moving towards (at least the semblance of) ‘natural beauty’ and biological advantage over the heavy makeup of the mid-2010s, and I think skincare plays into that idea that you shouldn’t need makeup and you should ‘just be yourself!’, while at the same time altering your ‘nature’ and thus not really being any more ‘natural’ than makeup.
As someone who is pulled into the self care consumerism, I agree that social media has made self care associated with new items and massive shopping hauls. I also feel like inflation has caused the inaffordability of vacations and larger luxuries so people are spending more money for way more small things. Also with the eyelash washing, she has lashes done and you need to clean them with lash wash! 😂
The thing is that this „self care” they‘re showing us online is not real if you need all the products they show. These things give us FOMO, like we can only truly care for ourselves if we have those things. A huge part that has to be incorporated into self care is realizing that you‘re enough, that you can eat, drink, bathe in, clothe yourself in, read, consume,…… NORMAL things. It doesn‘t (actually shouldn‘t) have to be the things that all of the other people show you to get next. You‘ll always be on the hunt for the next big thing and this causes anxiety again, this costs money again. True self care is looking on the inside. WHat do you you really need, what do you really wish for that will be making you feel better. Also, one of the best things to care for yourself is literally to go offline from Insta, Tiktok etc and discover who you are as a person without these things to distract you from your own mind
Some of these things can be part of a self care routine but it’s more the time spent on yourself that factors in I think. I love taking care of my body because it’s a meditative form of self love and yes I love cold eye patches in the morning,but ultimately it’s things like brushing and flossing, dry brushing before a shower, and massaging my face (i like regular kitchen evoo). I do like to splurge on some muscle relaxing bath salts to make my hot baths all that much better but you don’t need tons.
This is so odd to think about as I was always a wild child, I never cared much for skin products. I do have acne but it’s much easier to deal with when I don’t use like twenty products. Sometimes all people need is some oil, (not kitchen oil, for those idiots??) water and soap, and sunscreen. Although, face masks can be useful if not overused! Hair is a different breed.. And I do have curly hair, so… 😭
If your self care is applying oil and lotions on your skin thats fine. If your self care is getting a starbucks thats fine. If your self care is detaching from people for that day thats fine. The point of self care is to take care of yourself, how that looks to you is your choice. My self care isn’t all this but I make my versions of it.
Just FYI, I don’t know if anyone else has commented, but the girl washing her eyelashes, that’s because she has eyelashes extensions, and you MUST cleanse them to keep your eyes safe and healthy. I’m a holistic esthetician. This was an awesome article and I am SHOCKED at the amount of products people have. I’m also an ex pharmacy tech so I have a little medical background for about 12 years. It’s so unhealthy to be using so many cleansing products on our bodies. We’re disrupting our microbiome and creating more bacteria in the name of trying to be clean and self care. I promote mental health through skincare using reiki in my treatments. I don’t push products, and I don’t care if my clients use drugstore brands, and if you want to change products, I encourage my clients to use what they have first, unless it’s causing harm. The line I use is organic and sustainable, locally made, and is formulated so I can customize products and you don’t need to buy twelve different products. There are a bunch of us out here trying to change the norm, not many, but a good amount. Thanks for calling it out! I am one of those people that have suffered from depression, and have found relief in learning to take care of myself through skin care. The power of touch, relaxation, and just getting to chat with someone who doesn’t know anyone in your personal life, is so huge. That’s self care to me.
hi, Cara. I’m a Brazilian perusal all your articles and I love how you have been changing my life, seriously. I’m an English teacher here in Brazil and I also work with translation. Let me know if you’re interested in having English and Portuguese subtitles in your articles. You’re awesome and working with you is a dream!
3:38 hiii just wanted to share that the washing of the lashes is for extensions. When wearing extensions its recommended to just brush them and keep them dry, but many people also debate that they should be cleaned nevertheless. The lashes use a special soap so it doesnt irritate your eyes! Now if someone does this even without extensions, then I’d agree that that’s sorta unnecessary but each to their own~
Self-care requires no or minimal spending. Being mindful of your emotions, know when to switch off, take time to sleep and eat healthy meals. Exercise sometimes. Spend time with other people who love and uplift you. Those are true self-care. The only hefty ‘self-care’ investment I’ve made is noise-cancelling headphones and the AirPods. Help with inducing peace for me.
I’ve always been into skincare and didn’t really see it as self care until tik tok came along and made it seem that way. But it hasn’t sat right with me that skincare is a trend. Makeup or fashion isn’t a trend it’s just something ppl like doing, but the amount of skincare products and promos getting shoved in our faces is because of these trends. Would be interested to see a article talking about that! How is skincare something ppl really like doing or they’re following a trend that will die out?