Concepts of “clean girl” self-care and the “morning shed” have gained traction on the internet. It comes as no surprise that the market, especially from younger people looking to prevent premature wrinkles, continues to thrive. It doesn’t matter if Botox is in the realm of affordability because there are always TikTok Shop and Amazon alternatives. With heatless curls, mouth tape, chin straps, and overnight masks galore, the flawless face can be achieved at a price cheaper than ever before.
The maintenance of it all seems a tad insurmountable, especially to those who haven’t tapped into skin care beyond the bare necessities. In fact, it can be causing more damage than what is being publicized. Describing her own scar care line as a part of her skin care, Dr. Parcells referenced her tape being used against it’s intended purpose. She remarked, “There’s a trend where people are putting it all over the face, and you’re seeing them pull it off in the morning. But the problem with that is you could be clogging your pores, and you’re stripping your natural bacteria, which defend your skin from pathogens, and you’re doing this over and over.”
The morning shed became a benchmark in skin care on TikTok. The consumerism at the root of the trend— there is always one more thing to buy to make yourself more beautiful—entails a brand of beauty specific to young women. Rather than correcting or reversing, the goal is to prevent and preserve. In our search for perfection, all ages are commodified. Young women are starting their anti-aging regimens younger and younger, with trends like these serving as encouragement.
“You’re seeing much more inclusive beauty in advertisements. It doesn’t matter what your size, shape, or skin tone is, you can find someone who is a model—in a clothing magazine, a website, or on social media—whose look you want to emulate, but they still have natural features that you resemble,” said Dr. Parcells, describing how the industry’s saturation was a direct result of marketing tactics. When behemoth companies expand their brand to encompass a broader audience, the working class and average consumer believe they can achieve that same “look.”
Beauty, as dependent as it is on resources and trends, is dependent on consumers. Where self-care was widely known as a luxury for centuries, its accessibility turned it into a necessity. Skin care and various procedures have been commodified to the extreme, sold in the form of a lifestyle.