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Julie Gillis's avatar

"I personally find myself mesmerized by quick little snippets of somebody rubbing a serum in on Instagram or whatever. I don't know if the act of seeing someone else apply cream psychologically makes me imagine myself doing it (and then pushes me harder to buy the product)? I don’t know. I'm just curious about the psychology of that type of imagery."

I think it's mirror neurons which get you to feel that other person's experience, but also want it more in the consuming way, also in some ways then watching it is a dopamine thing which is very different than the work in DOING the thing. For me this always less about beauty and more about things like rehabbing an old home or fixing up chicken coops. I consume the media and feel it but never get to creating it for myself (different neurotransmitters?). Which is such a trap, to just watch and feel a tiny bit of the thing, like a ghost, rather than DOING the thing. But the scroll is addictive.

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Sara Petersen's avatar

yessss - i actually wrote about this a bit in momfluenced! (in relation to watching momfluencers cherish tender moments with their perfect children online lol)

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Susan Haven's avatar

For me, watching women put on their makeup while chatting about anything else, serious or fun, takes me back to watching my mom put on her face in the morning or before going out. That feeling of being mothered in a way, mixed with the initiation to womanhood, one day this will be you. Purchasing the product can be the proverbial mom-swiping-her -blush brush-over-your-nose feeling.

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Sara Petersen's avatar

oh wow yes i get that!

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Jessica DeFino's avatar

Ahh I always love talking to you about beauty! “Dull legs” will continue to haunt me 😩

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Sara Petersen's avatar

HARD SAME

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