Is Your Self-Care Just Skin Deep? Kylie Jenner’s Spray Tan Controversy
Is Your Self-Care Just Skin Deep? Kylie Jenner’s Spray Tan Controversy
Kylie Jenner says a spray tan cures her depression. Is surface-level self-care a genius hack or just peak celebrity privilege? We break down the glow-up debate.
The Glow-Up Cure: Is Your Self-Care Just Skin Deep?
We have all been there. You wake up feeling sluggish, the world looks a little gray, and you feel like you are stuck in a rut. Then, you put on a face mask, get a fresh manicure, or, as Kylie Jenner recently suggested, get a professional spray tan. Suddenly, the clouds part. According to the beauty mogul, she sometimes thinks she is depressed until a bronzed glow makes her realize she was just pale.
While it makes for a funny soundbite, it raises a massive question about how we view mental wellness in the age of influencers. Are we confusing a temporary boost in confidence with actual mental health recovery? Or is there a genuine psychological benefit to these surface level rituals?
The Case for the Surface Level
Let us be honest. Sometimes, the physical act of taking care of yourself can be the first step toward feeling better. When you look in the mirror and see a version of yourself that looks healthy and vibrant, it can trigger a small dopamine hit. It is a form of faking it until you make it. For many, a spray tan or a haircut represents a break from the monotony of a low mood. It is a ritual that signals a fresh start. If a bit of bronzer can pull someone out of a funk, perhaps there is value in the vanity.
The Danger of Trivializing the Struggle
On the flip side, there is something deeply uncomfortable about equating clinical depression with being a bit pale. For millions of people, depression is a debilitating condition that cannot be fixed by a trip to the salon. Suggesting that a tan is the cure feels like peak celebrity privilege. It implies that if you are still unhappy, you simply have not spent enough money on your appearance yet. This mindset can be damaging because it focuses on external validation rather than internal healing.
Finding the Middle Ground
Self-care should be a holistic practice. There is nothing wrong with enjoying the confidence boost that comes with a new look. However, we have to be careful not to use these aesthetic fixes as a rug to sweep real issues under. A spray tan might change your reflection, but it will not change your brain chemistry.
We can embrace the joy of a good glow-up without dismissing the depth of mental health. Let us enjoy our bronzer, but let us also keep the conversation honest. You can be tan and still need therapy, and that is perfectly okay.
