Treat culture describes the phenomenon of buying products in pursuit of a dopamine high.

Here’s how the beauty industry perpetuates it.

Perhaps you want to supplement your cleanser with a serum, or pair your new lipstick with a liner?

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Consumers, meanwhile, are stuck in another self-perpetuating cycle.

Many forms of self care like exercise or meditation dont require money to be spent.

And how long will you have to work to pay off the cost of that feeling?

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woman wearing protective glasses getting laser skin treatment by person in purple gloves

Black hair woman wearing a grey and white bra giving herself a deep cleansing session with a face brush and Gatineau skincare face wash lotion, after her shower. Studio skincare portrait over isolated background.

BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 02: Shay Mitchell attends the 2025 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Hosted By Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 02, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Daniele Venturelli/Getty Images)