SPEAKERS
SPEAKERS
SPEAKERS
Is your skincare routine helping or hurting? Social media is fueling overconsumption—here’s how to simplify and reclaim your skin (and wallet).
Link copied
The beauty industry is certainly making us buy and use more than we need, and social media has a big role in this. Here is more on skincare overconsumption, and how to break free from the cycle.
Some years back, skincare did what it was meant to do; cleanse, moisturize, and protect. A few products like a cleanser, moisturizer, and quality sunscreen were enough to have your skin healthy and glowing. But things have taken a drastic shift, and you won’t be surprised to see one person doing up to 15 steps of skin care. From cleansers, toners, serums, slugging balms, and barrier creams, it’s safe to say, some people are now overdoing it. So, what has led to the skincare overconsumption?
Insights from expert social media speakers show that skincare is no longer about caring for your skin; the beauty industry has mastered the tricks of making consumers feel like they need to do more. If you are currently using a cleanser and moisturizer, they will make you feel that you need to prevent wrinkles and under eye dark circles. Others will convince you that you can’t achieve a glass skin without multiple serums on your shelf.
One way the industry fuels overconsumption of beauty products is by adding new products to their line faster than you can finish the old ones. They will come up with enticing titles such as limited editions, making you feel that you really must grab the new product before it runs out. They will collaborate with influencers and do viral launches so well that you won’t resist.
Remember when one good foundation was enough? Now we have:
Do we actually need all these variations, or have brands made us believe we do?
The social media influencers market is valued at $21.1 billion globally, and shows no signs of slowing down. This comes as more brands, including beauty product giants, realize the benefits of using influencers to easily convince their target audience of the effectiveness of a product. Now, imagine your social media “idol” coming up on your timeline vouching for a certain serum and how it has helped them achieve clear skin in less than a month. Whereas, you have been struggling with acne for the longest; what would you stop you from ordering the product without questioning it?
Platforms like TikTok and Instagram, and insights from expert social media speakers, show that we’ve entered an era where trends go viral overnight. A single swipe introduces you to a new “must-have” serum or the latest dupe for a celebrity favorite, and suddenly, a product is sold out everywhere. Unboxing videos, shelves, and #empty content create the illusion that if you’re not constantly trying something new, you’re falling behind.
The fear of missing out (FOMO) is another culprit. When a product goes viral, with many paid actors claiming that it worked for them, you will eventually feel like if you don’t buy it, you are missing out on something big. That’s how you end up with a skincare product you don’t need or one that will turn your skin from bad to worse.
In the end, you are stuck with hoarded products while chasing the illusion of the perfect skin. Even worse, dupes are flooding the market, and it might take you forever to find the perfect product you are looking for, which again justifies the excuse of having several versions of the same product.
The dark side of skincare overconsumption is not just about the wasted money. The issue has led to the accumulation of waste, like microplastics from glitter and scrubs, which pollute oceans. Expired products get thrown away half-full, while unsold inventory ends up in landfills, feeding a wasteful cycle. Despite the eco-conscious movement, truly sustainable beauty products remain niche, often expensive, and difficult to access. The planet tends to suffer more.
Overuse of skincare can backfire: over-exfoliation, barrier damage, and irritation are common. Yet, people keep layering product after product. Studies show that emotional motivations like hope, validation, and control, are major drivers of beauty purchases more than logic. This emotional loop makes it difficult to stop overconsuming, even when results plateau. If one serum doesn’t work, we try another. Things are worse when your clear skin now starts breaking out, and you now have to seek products one after the other to clear the acne.
If a product is called optional, consumers hesitate. But when it’s framed as essential, skipping it feels irresponsible. Marketers incorporate buzzwords like “anti-aging,” “barrier repair,” and “glow-boosting” to reinforce urgency. You will no longer view the purchase as a luxury, but as an obligation, making skincare consumerism so potent.
The beauty industry thrives on making us feel incomplete. Flash sales, mini sizes sold as full products, and constant trend-chasing all ensure we keep buying.
Product samples are often too small to be useful and still sold to consumers. Tester products get discarded due to hygiene issues, generating even more waste. The big question is whether you are buying a product because you need it, or because you have been made to believe that you are not enough without it.
Overconsumption of beauty products isn’t inevitable. Here’s how to fight back:
These are the only secrets to creating a beauty culture where less truly is more.
So, how much skincare is too much? At its best, skincare is a ritual of care. But today, it often feels like a race we didn’t sign up for. Social media and marketing have blurred the line between routine and compulsion. Real beauty isn’t in a 15-step routine; it’s in knowing when enough is enough. Sometimes, three products are more than what you need to boost your confidence while saving those coins.
Contact us
After Dinner Speakers
Contents
