Oh, For the Love of Self Care!

Has self-care has become a status symbol instead of a meaningful experience?

BY: Hadiza Mshelia

From a monthly mani-pedi to trips to the hair salon to the sheet face masks that we spend a couple bucks on at Rite Aid or CVS, self-care is a relaxation technique for many young women, including myself. But there is a question that we all want to know the answer to: is it becoming a waste of time and money?

It seems like it might be, the more expensive each of these products get, the more they become a sign of status rather than a simple hobby. Some even see doing their makeup as self-care, which can become costly, especially when influencers such as Alix Earle (@alixearle on Tiktok) and Monet McMichael (@monetmcmichael on Tiktok) show off the brands they have, most of which are high end such as NARS, Charlotte Tilbury, Giorgio Armani, and Fenty Beauty.

Another example, the coveted Rare Beauty Blush by singer Selena Gomez which costs $25, and always sells out quickly. That’s not saying splurging is never worth it—I bought the Rare Beauty Blush in the bright red shade, Grateful, and I love it so much! But it’s also possible to find a similar one with the same features for $10. People can find dupes, or replicas of the exact same product, for half the price — but that means giving up the status symbol of the more expensive product, especially if it’s created by a famous celebrity or a luxury brand.

Even getting our nails done feels like a luxury! On average, gel manicures cost $45 to $50 and charge as much as $10 per design on one fingernail! Crazy right? To me personally, that is a fair price to spend once a month or every other month—though there is a current controversy surrounding UV gels and their health risks. An alternative is press on nails, which you can find on Amazon for around $8. Some people find that press on nails are less time consuming and save them a considerable amount of money.

Even facial masks can run you from a couple of dollars all the way up to hundreds, depending on where you got them from. There are options from CVS or Sephora or even high-end brands such as La Mer or Charlotte Tilbury. I have collected dozens of sheet masks from CVS over this past school year, and I have to say I enjoyed them not only because of the low prices but how they hydrate and take excellent care of my skin, despite being incredibly low maintenance. One of my favorite brands of face masks to pick up at CVS is LAPSCOS because they have so many options specifically created for whatever skin issues you’re having. These masks have made my skin retain more moisture and brightened my complexion, I highly recommend trying them out!

It seems that owning self-care products and cosmetics has been becoming less of a pastime and more of a privilege and a status of wealth. That needs to change. At the same time, that doesn’t mean that all self care is bad. Ways to participate in self care without needing to spend a large amount of money include simply going for a walk outside, especially in this beautiful weather, cleaning and organizing your room, or writing in your journal! It’s important to remember that self care is the best care, with or without money!