Remember when self-care just meant a lunchtime swim, a walk around the block or a Sunday afternoon yoga class? These inexpensive (or totally cost-free) moments were practiced with the intention of winding down to avoid becoming stressed or overwhelmed. Fast-forward to 2023 and ‘self-care‘ has become a go-to excuse for us to overindulge and often overspend, particularly when it comes to beauty.
That $200 face mask? Add to cart, it’s self-care. Another $50 shampoo? Self-care, it’s coming home with us. Oh, and how could we forget about that $300 multi-wick candle that we’ve seen appear in every TikToker’s ‘home reset’ video? SELF-CARE goddamn it, our hands are tied!
Can you blame us? The brief endorphin hit we receive when we tap our card or receive a package is unlike anything else. Thrilling.
If it makes us feel good, what’s the harm?
Well, according to psychologist Jenny Yip, self-care has evolved and she’s questioning whether it’s as good for us as we’re leading ourselves to believe. Uh oh.
“Treat culture is a form of self-care dialled up 100 per cent, without regard to anything else, including our budgets,” she told Well + Good.
“In the last few years, we have reinforced the idea of self-care in our society, and a lot of people are taking the idea to an unrealistic degree. Whether it’s to feel good about themselves or to avoid uncomfortable emotions, we’ve fallen under this lie that we will be happier if we have this or that.”
With beauty products specifically, they are often directly linked to our self-confidence. We’re led to believe that if we have clearer skin, fuller eyebrows, longer lashes or hairless legs, that we will ultimately feel better about ourselves.
“It deludes us into thinking that beauty can buy happiness, fulfillment, social standing and tells us that beauty is empowerment. Meanwhile, to obtain beauty, we have to sacrifice our actual sources of capital—money, time, energy, headspace,” said author of The Unpublishable, Jessica DeFino.
When is ‘treat culture’ ok and how do we know when to reign it in?
As a general rule, beauty products are a ‘nice to have’ and not a necessity (as much as you may feel like you’ll perish without your brow pencil). So, if you’re spending beyond your means in order to keep up with your beauty wishlist, it’s time to consider cooling it.
Beauty products should be used because they make you happy and not because you feel like you’re not good enough without them. Fact.
Main image credit: @filomena_makeup
What do you think about this? Do you ever overspend on beauty products?
Always! I can’t help myself.
Alot of my money goes on beauty products, but I can stay within my budget.
Everything is going up and up. will maybe have to cut down a bit??
When you are buying things you know you don’t really need and end up hoarding. Sometimes it is just purely packaging. I just envision what happens after I have used up the product and whether the packaging is reuseable as a type of home decor. Otherwise, no thank you. Definitely not in this economy.
Yes I have had to look at my spending but I do love a nice treatment and it does make me feel good.
It definitely makes me feel good! I also love watching makeup tutorials, I find them so relaxing
yes I love beauty treatments and do feel great afterwards
I am more of a budget buyer, usually stock up when there are good sales.
I have a mood disorder and a symptom of it is we can be prone to overspend. Luckily I can sometimes control it because I would have no money otherwise. I tend to spend more when in an elevated mood.
It is good to be aware of the problem so you can manage it-Good on You
Did you happen to resolve this?
https://www.myiclubonline.onl/
Good points made.
I have overspent on beauty products and treatments and have had to reign in my spending
Yes I certainly do.
I have always been a minimalist so I only tend to buy when I have run out of something. I like to try new products but even then I am mindful of the family budget.
That’s what I am trying to do S-P
I try to follow a similar regime S-P. Just replace what I need and not spend for the sake of it
I usually wait for sale time to buy anything, but I’ve got a hoard of things bought in beauty bags, &c – I’ve stopped doing that now.
I must admit that I cannot resist the beauty bags. Love them
When I am going up to Priceline for one or two items I usually buy more 😊
I am addicted to beauty lol
yeh it’s a bit like that – especially when it has such good side effects!
I’ve only bought the basics for over a year now because I’m trying to use up the dozens and dozens of products in my stash.
For me hairless legs is not just self-care it’s a necessity. Who wants to cuddle up to spiky legs.
you are so funny! 😀
Love trying new things. But always go back to things my skin,hair love. Not spending any more much at all
It’s so nice to treat yourself and I feel like the last few years have been tough on a lot of people. If I can treat myself and feel good with a $40 skincare product rather than a $400 weekend away then it was worth it
so true!
Totally agree
When there’s a tantalizing offer by a fave skincare line throwing in a ‘health’ offer like a free beauty gut powder, who can resist that!? It’s so good for me! 🙂
I end up with way more than I need at any one time!
A lot of it’s marketing to suck you in
I like shopping, I enjoy using the products I buy and I love it when I USE IT ALL UP.
Me too. I hate wasting, but also love to get onto the next new product
I do believe realistic skin care is good for your well being .It is not about beauty being important but the inner you
I like using beauty products because they make me happy.But i always careful of my spending.
This is why I have more lipsticks than I can possibly use before I die. However, I do stay within budget.
I am slowly going through my backlog of beauty products – probably more skin care than cosmetics.
I definitely agree, I always want to look and feel my best and there’s always new and more creative products coming out that i just have to try
It does make me feel good.
i always spend my money on make up
its like an adrenaline rush
im out of money when i see a new product
i go out to find one product and come back with so meny
I spend a lot of money on beauty products, but they do make me feel good 🙂
I think it is lovely to splurge every now and again if budget allows but if you cannot afford it just be happy to be you
I have had to cut back as I love new products and trying different moisturizers
I have just done a clean up of my online purchases… yes, I need to reign in 🙁
That said, I think the products I purchase are things I use that I get on sale and are moderately priced.