#WellnessOrWaste

By | Torri Paveloi

Self-wellness products have always been a popular gift for others around the holiday

season. Whether it is skin care products, anti-aging treatments, or new and exciting tools to lift, sculpt, and shape your face, it seems like every year there is more on the market to try, buy, and love that you can't imagine your life without it. Which poses a very important question I ask myself all the time: are these products worth it, or are they leading to overbuying and overconsumption, and will eventually end up in our landfills or around other parts of the world? Like many things on TikTok, sell-wellness products and routines have completely taken over, where some influencers will have upwards of fifteen steps in their nighttime routine. Mouth tape, heatless curlers, jaw straps, eye masks, retinol creams, bonnets, and lip scrubs are examples of products influencers “cannot live without,” and encourage all of their viewers to implement these steps into their nightly routines as well.

The catch is that almost 90% of the time, there is a link to buy a product seen in the

video, and even if you don’t purchase the product by just watching and engaging with their post, the influencer gets paid. Subliminal marketing like this happens all the time over social media, and it seems like every other video now is a walking advertisement for products to make us look, feel, and act like our absolute best. While there are many products I use and love, I think the overconsumption and constant need to get the new product on the market is becoming exhausting.

The beauty and self-wellness industry was built on the idea that there is always something you can fix about your appearance or yourself. Whether it be to cover acne, fine lines, reverse aging, etc., we are taught from a very young age that we should buy more to feel and look our best. And while a lot of products help consumers feel more confident and beautiful in their skin, that isn’t what life is all about.

It is important to remember that no matter how many products you use or routines you follow, you are still you. And while self-wellness products are extremely beneficial, you don’t need to purchase everything you see or are told to buy. Next time you think about adding a new product to your daily routine or purchasing the new facial steamer you absolutely cannot live without, think about how much use you will be getting out of this product, and above all, remember that sometimes the simpler is for the better.