What is Underconsumption Core? Understanding the TikTok Trend and Practical Tips for Saving Money, Reducing Waste, and Using What You Have
I am sure you have seen the recent TikTok trending “underconsumption core” topic. It focuses on a lifestyle that intentionally limits the consumption of mainly material goods. Branching off of minimalist ideology, it is the idea of buying less, avoiding frivolous spending, and prioritizing sustainability. Videos show women who own minimal makeup, only a couple of pairs of shoes, and only have a shampoo/soap bar or two in their shower. But as many things on social media often do, underconsumption-core quickly became more about the aesthetic than anything else.
Underconsumption should not fit in a box or subscribe to a certain aesthetic. It should not be a trend or a competition for who can make do with the least. This is not about seeing who is the most low maintenance, which can be a very toxic way of thinking.
The term itself stems from economics, meaning originally “the purchase of goods and services at a level lower than that of their supply.” according to Google. It is a simple supply and demand concept for businesses and industries on a large scale, and here we now have seen it being translated into a personal colloquium online.
For the individual, underconsumption means purchasing and making do with less. ‘Less’ is of course subjective, perhaps less than what might be considered the average rate of consumption, less than one had previously been used to consuming, etc. This is fantastic, especially when looking at any of the data about the fast fashion industry and sustainability. With just shoes, hundreds of millions of pairs are getting sent to the landfill each year in the US alone.
Making the effort to use what you have and only buy what is needed is a fantastic and necessary change for most. Consuming less means wasting less, which is always a good thing.
However, the conversation around this particular trend can seem a bit tone-deaf for some. The trend is celebrating intentional scarcity as a choice, but for many people, a life with less is not something to celebrate or post about, it is their harsh reality.
The trendy lifestyle of the more fortunate almost feels like a glorification of the sacrifices many had to grow up making and continue to have to make in the present. It’s a bit of a paradox, underconsumption becoming a trend. It is commodifying the act of buying less, commodification being the exact opposite of what underconsumption is all about. It can certainly come off as a fetishization of poverty, and poverty is not an aesthetic and is far from glamorous.
It can also seem jarring to see these videos if you are someone far in the other direction with your buying and consuming habits. It can leave you thinking that this trend and conversation comes with a certain look, a beige-and-white minimalistic one or a tree-hugging granola girl one. It can be discouraging to see these videos and compare them to yourself, it can leave you feeling like you have no idea of where to even start with all this underconsumption stuff. Like anything, consuming less is a practice, not something to throw -core on the end of, no matter where you are, or what your apartment looks like, it is about being mindful of your habits and making small changes.
The most important thing with implementing these small changes and habits is to use what you have. Do not go crazy with tossing out all those lotions and hair products that are collecting dust under your sink, this is the opposite of a proper solution. Here are some simple methods of repurposing what you have:
That conditioner that does not work on your hair? Use it as shaving cream.
That toner that made you break out? Use it on your underarms, to kill bacteria and brighten. (But always do a patch test first!)
That cleanser you hated? Use it to wash your makeup brushes.
That concealer that’s too light for you? Use it as an eyeshadow primer.
That retinol that was too strong? Use it on your hands, handcare is important and often overlooked.
That highlight that was unflattering? Try it on your body the next time you are heading to a formal event, your collarbone, shoulders, etc. It can give you that glow-from-the-inside-out look.
And Remember to get every last drop - So many products these days have horrible ineffective packaging that leaves tons of product left stuck at the bottom. Something like the Beauty Spatty helps you get every last drop, saving you money and saving you unnecessary waste as well.
These are just a few ideas, the possibilities are endless. It is best to remember that some of the best mindfulness habits are not glamorous or trendy and that for some, having less is not a choice at all. Just because someone else's house on the internet looks different than yours, does not mean there is reason to panic, start with simple manageable steps to practice more sustainable consumption.
See more on this trend here:
# Underconsumption core on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/discover/underconsumption-core :
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