In the past few years, self-care has been excessively commodified as something we need to buy rather than a set of activities we should practice to make us feel better. From the perfect Sunday reset routine, 10-step skincare guide to cozy loungewear hauls—social media has turned self-care into aesthetically packaged lifestyles with the likes of “IT GIRL Era” “Soft Girl Aesthetic“, “Pink Pilates Princess” and whatever the fu*k is trending right now.
But if we take a step back, does buying another candle or restocking our 10-step skincare routine really make us feel rested? Or has self-care become just another form of overconsumption—another thing to check off our endless self-care to-do lists and another aesthetic we are compelled to maintain?
In 2025, it’s time to reimagine self-care as something deeper—something that doesn’t rely on trends, purchases, or social media validation.
Because true self-care isn’t about more. It’s about being content with having enough! Enough possessions, clothes, planners, makeup, skincare… you name it.
Here is a mini-guide towards a responsible buying year to help you with intentional acts over impulse buys:
1. Limit social media apps which are drivers of overconsumption in today’s age.
As a creator myself who sees the irony in this post delivered to you through social media, I can’t help but notice the loss of individuality our generation is facing & the correlation with social media use.
Through infinite scrolling, we are force-fed content from the latest trending lip gloss, the most popular scent of the season, the night lamp that’s a “must-have” and to the sweater colour we “absolutely need” for fall.
We don’t even get to choose the things we want anymore, we are just told this is what’s in and this is what we should buy!
SOLUTION – Curate your feed, limit social media time, practice intentional browsing (set a timer for doom scrolling since you’re gonna do it anyways) and turn off notifications.
The following video essay is a great analysis of how being chronically online and conforming to fit into a niche aesthetic has eroded people’s personal style in today’s digital age era.
2. Redefine self-care beyond shopping.
Rather than impulse buying products marketed as “self-care,” focus on things that truly bring you happiness and relaxation, like physical activity, a warm bath, or even a hobby you enjoy.
Yes, hobbies are indeed back in popularity or did they ever really go away?
SOLUTION – Invest in what truly enhances your well-being, not what’s trending. Focus on experiences that refresh you—like taking a walk, journaling, or cooking a nourishing meal.
3. Avoid dopamine-fleeting impulse buys.
Sales can create the illusion of saving money, but in reality, they often lead to unnecessary spending.
Sales are always marketed as “Save your money” but at the end of the day, money is moving from your account to that of the business. When you buy you’re always the one losing money!
SOLUTION – Avoid impulse buying by keeping a wishlist and waiting before making any purchase. If you still want the item after a few weeks, then consider purchasing it.
4. Educate yourself about marketing phrases intended to make you act.
“Makeover“, “Holy grails“, “Must-haves“, “Must-needs“, “Perfect Routine” are marketing terms intended to trigger emotional responses that lead to more buying.
Companies want to trigger Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) & make you feel like you need to have that product in your life, even if it’s just another trendy item that doesn’t really add value.
SOLUTION – If you have a tendency to buy things influenced by social media (nothing wrong with that really), just make sure to avoid falling for marketing schemes that drive overconsumption.
5. Work on your sense of self, self-concept & self-image.
When I was the most confident in myself, I was the least resistant to ads, the latest trends and the new “holy grails” I was being influenced to buy.
SOLUTION – Invest in yourself, your community & your surroundings–more details in the coming weeks!
6. Track your spending.
I was always so afraid of money and in general just any conversations around finance because I was so bad at managing money. But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized that the only way to analyze my consumer behaviour is to track my income, spending and savings–which is not fun, and in fact rather tedious & boring. BUT the rewards are absolutely worth it!
SOLUTION – You deserve a life of financial freedom & you should focus on your financial wellness despite it being boring!
Notion template freebie!
Considering how hard it is to track your spending especially if you have a negative relationship with money (like me!) it can be overwhelming to create a system that helps you track money. So, I’ve created a notion template you can use to track your spending. It’s completely free and I hope you can use this to kickstart your responsible buying year! Good luck!
