Instagram Told Me to Buy It

I love so-and-so product and I would recommend you try it, but I am not an influencer, especially when "influencer" is used as a placeholder for a medical professional. It’s like dentists claiming they are dermatologists or MBBS graduates saying they are surgeons. It might not be the perfect analogy, but you get the drift. Influencers who recommend products left, right center, regardless of their qualifications, are a menace.

I understand why someone would want to make that their whole proposition. It’s cheaper and more convenient than going to an actual certified doctor, and the products might work for at least some people. Its a shot in the dark but there's no dearth of targets.

But it plays with viewers' trust on a much deeper level than they realize. As a viewer myself, I can attest that these claims have misled me one too many times. In fact, I know of people who have added "Dr." in front of their names just to promote their new aesthetician clinic, which often offers useless treatments like the "oxygen facials." Apparently, as women age, their skin lacks "oxygen supply," which makes it look dull and damaged. So, women over 40 are supposed to regularly infuse oxygen into their faces to maintain that youthful radiance.

Sounds scientific.

Every time I open Instagram, I’m reminded of yet another essential amino acid that my body supposedly lacks, or some fundamental addition to my morning routine that will change my life forever. Some of these probably will change my life for the better, but I can't possibly do all of it and still have a job.

All I want from Instagram now is to put all these derma/fitness/wellness influencers in a room and have them come to a consensus on the best routine for my body and skin.

There is too much information online, and most of it comes from people who don't know any better. But it's their bread and butter, and there’s no point in criticizing anyone for their opinions. It’s our discretion that we need to hone. Less is more. For your skin, for your body.

But now my concern is: what if my skin is too used to "more", and less no longer works for me? What if I stop these routines and my skin or body loses its vitality? Now I’m confused, does my skin look healthy because of hyaluronic acid and snail mucin, or simply because I’m 25 years old?

It’s akin to solving problems before they even occur, possibly creating premature ones along the way. It’s consumerism through and through: buy a product that doesn’t work well, buy another product to fix the mess, then try another one. If it doesn’t work, the cycle continues. If it does, you're stuck using it for time immemorial.

Genius.

All this madness for products 90% of us didn't even need.

Quite a rational bit of insight from me, considering rationality doesn’t usually factor into my behaviour either. I can’t say that my last 9 purchases have been rational. Not at all. Last week I ordered a chemical cocktail in a serum bottle that targets everything from pigmentation (which I don’t have) to wrinkles and fine lines (again, I’m 25). So why did I order it?

Because I didn’t order the 20 other things that Instagram pushed on my feed, so ordering just this one thing felt like a money-saving move. It’s absurd when I think about it now. But you know what?

Receiving that tiny package and touching that frosted glass bottle made me happy. Maybe it suits my skin, maybe it doesn’t, but I bought it for the thrill of anticipation, and it has served its purpose. I didn’t buy it because I thought it would change my life or because a dentist told me it was the solution to all my skin concerns.

So, as long as that’s clear and spending money actually brings you joy, I say go for that oxygen facial.

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Today's craving - Pink dragon fruit.