Self-Care: Is Social Media Selling Us a Lie?

Written by Alexandra Dawson

(IG’s Highlight Reel vs. IRL Reality)

It’s 2025, and somehow, my FYP is still flooded with That Girl content. (Or That Boy—or more accurately, That Person we all secretly feel we should be more like). You know the one—they have pixel perfect, flawless skin, a 13-step skincare routine, a candlelit 5 AM morning ritual, and a smoothie bowl so aesthetic it probably costs more than my entire grocery budget for the month.

Meanwhile, I’m just over here trying to drink enough water and remember where I left my phone charger.

But here’s the thing: self-care wasn’t originally about spending money just to participate. And it definitely shouldn’t require a trust fund, an aesthetic penthouse with floor-to-ceiling windows, or the energy of a toddler on espresso. Yet, if you doom-scroll long enough, social media will have you thinking that’s the bare minimum for wellness. Should it be?

It’s giving… unrealistic expectations—a curated fantasy that makes real-life self-care feel inadequate. And let’s be honest, we rarely talk about what self-care actually is online. Instead, we romanticize overconsumption, which—surprise, surprise—mostly benefits the brands selling the lifestyle under the guise of “self-care products.”

So which trends (if any) genuinely support our well-being, and which ones are just expensive, time-consuming flexes?

What Is Self-Care in 2025? Separating Real Wellness from Social Media Hype

At its core, self-care is literally just about doing what makes you feel okay—physically, mentally, and emotionally. That’s it. No $300 Rhode Skincare kits, no overpriced Lush bubble baths, no red light therapy mask needed.

According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), self-care is simply “doing what you need to take care of yourself.”

So then why does self-care now feel like a luxury lifestyle instead of a basic human need?

📊 A 2024 survey by the American Psychological Association found:

• 67% of Gen Z feels pressured to engage in self-care in expensive, hyper-specific ways.

• 72% believe self-care has been completely commercialized.

No shock there.

As @realitycheck_wellness put it in their viral TikTok: "Self-care isn’t about spending money you don’t have or waking up at 5 AM if your body needs rest. It’s about figuring out what actually makes you feel okay—and doing that."

So then we need to break down: what’s actually helpful, and what’s just capitalism in a cute wellness disguise?

The "Wellness Industry" Scam: Do You Need a Trust Fund for Self-Care?

(Spoiler: Nope. But social media really wants you to think so.)

💸 The Luxury Wellness Trap: Is Expensive Self-Care Worth It?

🚩 The Trend: $80 crystal-infused water bottles, 4K ionized water filtration systems, $50 skincare masks, viral 24K gold eye patches, and essential oil diffusers that cost more than my rent.

📉 Reality Check: a recent report found the following:

• 67% of Americans are financially stressed.

• For Gen Z, that number jumps to 82%.

But sure, let’s pretend an $80 water bottle will help cure our crippling anxiety and seasonal depression. 🙃

✅ What Actually Works (For Free or Cheap):

• Drinking water from literally any reusable bottle (mason jar, anyone? Plus it's a sustainability win!)

• DIY face masks (honey + oatmeal > Sephora haul)

• Opening a window for fresh air instead of spending $200 on a diffuser

🧑‍⚕️ As dermatologist Dr. Shereene Idriss says: "The skincare ingredients that actually work rarely cost more than $20. Everything else? Packaging and marketing."

The Truth About Boutique Fitness: Are Expensive Workouts a Scam?

Bougie Fitness vs. Free Movement

🚩 The Trend: $500 Alo Yoga + Lululemon hauls, $40 spin classes, $550 yoga memberships, and the infamous $2,000+ Peloton setup.

📉 Reality Check:

• The average Gen Z budget for non-essentials is $456/month.

• A single "That Girl" fitness routine could eat up half of that.

✅ Affordable Alternatives That Actually Work:

• Free YouTube workouts (MadFit, Yoga With Adriene, Blogilates—$0)

• Walking or running outdoors (nature = free endorphins)

• Planet Fitness ($10/month), Class Pass ($40/month), or community rec centers

• Bodyweight exercises (no equipment, no $$$ needed)

The 2-Hour Morning Routine Myth: Why Wellness Trends Ignore Real Life

(AKA: The Time Privilege No That No One Talks About)

🚩 The Trend: Cold plunges, 30-minute meditation, daily journaling or Morning Pages (for my Creatives out there), a workout, an intentionally planned outfit, a curated breakfast, a 10-step skincare routine, and a gratitude practice—all before 7 AM.

📉 Reality Check: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics

• 33% of Gen Z works multiple jobs.

• The average Gen Z worker spends 9.6 hours a day on work (not counting the commuting- something that more than 50% of remote workers will soon be required to do as RTO policies become enforced.

Who, exactly, has two hours for self-care before work? I’m curious, and I’d love to know.

✅ Sustainable Self-Care That Actually Fits Your Schedule:

• 5-minute mindfulness while brushing your teeth (my teeth have never been so clean)

• Voice notes instead of full journaling, you simply record mini voice notes of your thoughts

• Setting an intention while commuting ("Today, I’m prioritizing rest." Yay! You’re done)

• Easy-prep breakfasts (overnight oats or yogurt cups > gourmet smoothie bowls)

As @strugglingwellness put it: “Some days, my self-care is just drinking water and taking my meds. And that’s enough.”

The Meal Prep Obsession: Why Over-Complicated Wellness Isn’t Realistic

🚩 The Trend: Full-day meal prep marathons, Costco hauls, Erewhon-inspired smoothie bowls, fridge aesthetics straight out of The Home Edit, and the pressure to make everything from scratch. Because apparently, “wellness” means spending your entire Sunday chopping, blending, and perfectly stacking mason jar salads.

📉 Reality Check:

• 23.5 million Americans live in food deserts, meaning fresh produce isn’t even accessible for many.

• The average person has just 37 minutes per day to cook—not enough for an elaborate meal prep routine.

• And while I love my second hand air fryer, it’s not magically keeping up with Tik-Tok’s meal prep standards.

✅ Simple, Budget-Friendly Meal Prep That Actually Works:

• Stick to super easy meal formulas (grain + protein + veggie + fat = done)

• 5-ingredient meals (less chopping, more eating)

• Buy frozen or canned fruits & veggies (cheaper, lasts longer, same nutrients)

• Stock up on dry goods & shelf-stable staples (affordable, accessible, and still nutritious)

Wellness shouldn’t feel like a full-time job. If your version of self-care is tossing together a five-minute meal and calling it a day? That’s valid. You don’t need a perfectly curated fridge to nourish your body.

The Space & Energy Gatekeeping in Wellness: Do You Really Need a Home Spa?

(AKA: Why Tik-Tok’s MH and Wellness Trends Ignore Small Spaces and Real Budgets)

🚩 The Trend: Designer bathtubs the size of a small pool, meditation rooms, balcony cold plunge tanks, and home saunas—because apparently, self-care only happens in a luxury-retreat inspired setting.

📉 Reality Check:

• The average Gen Z renter has just 215 sq. ft. per person, and 68% share housing.

• Most of us are lucky if we have a decent bathroom—and we’re ecstatic if we don’t have to share it with our roommates, let alone having a luxury spa setup.

• The idea that self-care requires a spa-like environment makes wellness feel inaccessible for anyone without a six-figure income.

✅ Practical, Space-Saving Wellness That Actually Works:

• Shower meditations (dim the lights, add a candle, play a calming playlist—same spa vibes for fewer dollar signs)

• Desk-side stretching instead of a full yoga studio

• Noise-canceling headphones + guided meditation for instant relaxation

• Using community spaces (parks, libraries, school study spaces, rec centers) for mental resets

We forget that we don’t need a dedicated aesthetic self-care room to take care of ourselves. Wellness is what we make it, not what it looks like.

The "That Girl" Myth: Why High-Energy Wellness Isn’t for Everyone

(Because not everyone wakes up early with main character energy)

🚩 The Trend: High-energy, always-on routines (5 AM workouts, no "lazy" days, 75 Hard mentality, hustle culture vibes). It’s giving "your productivity determines your worth" — and that’s just ✨ not it. ✨

📉 Reality Check:

• 27% of Gen Z has a diagnosed disability or chronic condition that can affect energy levels.

• 21% experience depression, making 24/7 high-energy wellness routines feel super unattainable.

• Some days, just existing is enough. Self-care isn’t about performance—it’s about what actually helps.

✅ Sustainable Self-Care That Works for All Energy Levels:

• Recognizing rest as a form of self-care (Remember bed rotting is still valid, even if it’s not trending anymore)

• Gentle movement on low-energy days (walking to the mailbox totally counts)

• Adjusting your routines and expectations based on your needs—not what TikTok’s algorithm says is right.

As @chronicallyhealing puts it: "My self-care isn’t Pinterest-worthy. Some days, it’s just meds, hydration, and rest. And that’s okay." Real self-care isn’t about keeping up. It’s about keeping yourself well.

Why Inaccessible Self-Care Still Goes Viral

(How Social Media Promotes Health Through Expensive Wellness Trends)

We all know overconsumption is a problem. We can literally see the wealth inequality. But still we find ourselves doom-scrolling, wishing we could achieve that level of self-care.

📉 Reality Check:

• Algorithms prioritize aesthetics over accessibility.

• High-production, expensive self-care content gets 3.8x more engagement than practical wellness tips.

• Can’t forget about Brands! They profit when self-care feels like a luxury and that means they make more money $$$.

Ironically, the people most stressed—the ones who actually need self-care the most—are often the ones who can’t access it or afford it.

The Path Forward: Making Self-Care Actually Work

📉 Reality Check: Real self-care? It doesn’t make companies money—and it's really boring on camera.

✅ The Self-Care That Actually Matters:

• Taking a nap when you’re exhausted

• Setting boundaries

• Saying no when you need to

• Drinking water (from literally any cup)

• Opening a window for sunlight

None of this is overly aesthetic, but it’s what actually helps. 👀 Ready to shake up the algorithm? Or just curious about exploring some real self-care inspo? Check out:

✨ @FeelingsFoundCo – tangible tools for emotional exploration (AKA we help you name what you feel so that you can name what you need and feel better)

✨ @AccessibleWellness – self-care without expensive gadgets

✨ @BudgetWellness – affordable swaps for luxury trends

✨ @RealisticCare – normalizing "boring" self-care

📢 My Personal Hot Take? The most radical self-care is fighting for systemic change—better wages, affordable and accessible healthcare and housing, holding businesses accountable, and reasonable work hours—so self-care isn’t a luxury in the first place.

🧑‍⚕️ As psychologist Dr. Jessica Jackson puts it: "The best self-care isn’t a face mask. It’s meeting your basic needs and treating yourself like someone worth caring for."

TL;DR: Real Self-Care Isn’t Aesthetic—It’s What Actually Makes You Feel Okay

Forget the $500 morning routine. Your 5-minute daily stroll outside without your phone, blasting music when you are stuck in traffic, taking a few deep breaths before getting back to life is 100% valid. It’s enough. And if all the social media “self-care” content makes you feel worse? Mute it. Unfollow it. Because at the end of the day, wellness isn’t about being "perfect"—it’s about doing what actually makes you feel okay.

Sources: 

• American Psychological Association. (2024). Stress in America: The State of Self-Care. 
• Financial Health Network. (2023). Financial Health Pulse: 2023 U.S. Trends Report.
• Idriss, S. (2024). Skincare Myths Debunked. Dermatology Times, 45(3), 28-32.
• Morgan Stanley Research. (2024). Gen Z Financial Behaviors Report.
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2024). Multiple Jobholding in the United States.
• United States Department of Agriculture. (2024). Food Access Research Atlas.
• Zillow Research. (2024). Housing Trends Among Gen Z.
• Trust for Public Land. (2023). Park Access in America.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Disability and Health Data System.
• Nielsen. (2024). Influencer Marketing Impact Report.
• Jackson, J. (2024). Beyond the Bubble Bath: Redefining Self-Care for Mental Health. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 79(4), 412-425.
• Instagram Trends Reports (2025).
• Instagram Social Media App FYP: For You Page (2025).
• TikTok Trends Reports (2025).
• TikTok Social Media App FYP: For You Page (2025).