Self-care and Overconsumption
Source: Pexels
Self-care is popular among young people, but Gen Z takes it further than the others. From following a skincare routine with 10 steps to buying the new trendy product, the self-care industry knows how to get people to fall into consumption without them being aware.
Social media promotes self-care as if it were retail therapy. Society has mixed those two concepts, but self-care is not supposed to be driven by consumerism; it is supposed to be something more personal. Self-care is about reflecting on yourself, not about what is trendy at the moment.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) article “Caring for Your Mental Health,” self-care involves setting aside time for activities that promote overall well-being, boosting both physical and mental health. This is very different from retail therapy, which is about casually shopping to feel better after a bad or stressful day.
People enjoy doing their skincare because it is a mere relaxing moment at the end of the day. It also improves the skin, which is where people start with overconsumption since social media promotes any product, claiming it will solve all skin issues a person could have.
The industry advertises anything under the name of self-care, from face rollers to bath bombs. Each month, a new trendy product is a must-have.
Source: Pexels
According to “Self-care or Retail Therapy?” from USA Today, the wellness economy—including the personal care and beauty market—grew by 9% globally in 2023 compared to 2022 and is expected to reach $9 trillion by 2028. But is this surge driven by genuine well-being or mere consumerism? Since 2019, the self-care industry has expanded significantly, mainly due to the pandemic’s impact on people’s overall health awareness.
Self-care is vital and very individualistic, but the industry has made it less personal and more trendy.
Self-care is about well-being and mental health, and a personal routine is not about consuming. If done consciously, self-care helps to have a healthy life.