An Easily Influenced Girly’s Attempt at De-influencing

I’m writing this and I’m holding your hand – actually, I’m writing this and I’m holding my hand: You! do! not! need! to! purchase! every! recommended! product! you! see! online! 

Trust, as an easily influenced girly, I’m awfully susceptible to the marketing of a(nother) rhode lippie. But do we need it? No!

Ooh, it’s giving Chappell Roan’s “Femininomenon” (A Consumerist’s Version!).

Anyhow, I’ve tried just about everything under the sun and am here to share which products shouldn’t be put in our (digital!) carts.

An Owala / Stanley / Hydrojug: I promise you, the Hydroflask (yes, remember those?) you purchased in 2020 functions just as well as the Stanley x LoveShackFancy tumblers.

An influencer-made skincare line, but the influencer herself has used prescription medication to treat her acne: I apologize, Ms. Alix Earle, I don’t mean to call you out quite so aggressively – but, if a medication has cleared your skin (same here, girly!), maybe you shouldn’t guarantee similar results via your non-medicated, non-personalized line…

Single-use gadgets: A strawberry huller, a banana slicer, a carbonator, a candle warmer. I am not above retail therapy, but these unitaskers will not do it for you. Their novelty will dissipate, and they’ll soon collect dust in the back of a cupboard.  

There are very many other products I haven’t listed, but when purchasing recommended products you see online, I’d ask yourself two questions: Does X bring me joy, in the vein of Marie Kondo? Can I see myself using X on a regular basis?

Consume responsibly!