If you’re anything like me, your Instagram feed knows you a little too well.
Mine is an endless parade of “cover” girls living their best lives—baking sourdough on picturesque homesteads, twirling through the streets of St. Tropez in linen dresses to a Mamma Mia soundtrack, and somehow looking dewy and refreshed while casually sharing the secret to reversing aging. Mixed in are hundreds of health hacks, wellness gadgets, skincare routines, supplements, and testimonials promising to fix everything from belly fat to brain fog.
At this point, the algorithm knows I’m a woman in my 50s, navigating menopause and trying to age gracefully. Every scroll feels like someone whispering, “If you haven’t tried this yet, it will change your life.”
Honestly? Keeping up with all of it would be a full-time job, with overtime.
One influencer recently shared her nightly “shed” routine—the ritual of peeling off everything she’d worn to bed. It included an overnight calming face mask, eye masks, red-light therapy… underwear (yes, really), a posture corrector, face bra, waist-toning belt, and a nose clip. It looked as if she was disrobing after visiting a nuclear waste site.
Meanwhile, there are nights when I’m congratulating myself for just washing my face and brushing my teeth.
So I decided to become my own little social experiment. Over the past year, I’ve tried several of the wellness trends that have completely taken over my feed. Some were surprisingly worthwhile. Others… not so much.
Here’s my honest review.
1. I Finally Went to the Dentist
This one isn’t glamorous, but it may have been the smartest thing I did. Confession: I hadn’t been to the dentist in… let’s just say long enough.
It started to feel a little hypocritical, reminding my kids to brush and floss while I was avoiding my own appointments. Miraculously, after several years of neglect, I walked away with just one cavity.
Sometimes the best wellness trend isn’t trendy at all.
2. Buccal Massage Instead of Botox
I’m not saying Botox is off the table forever. But Instagram convinced me to try the viral buccal facial massage—the one where the aesthetician massages the inside of your cheeks to sculpt your face naturally.
Did it feel strange? Absolutely.
Was it relaxing? Surprisingly, yes.
Did I walk out looking 20 years younger?
Not exactly… the esthetician explained it would take regular visits (like once a month) to see any life-altering results. But my face definitely felt less puffy, and I’ll happily choose a massage over needles whenever possible.
3. Trading Pilates for Hot Yoga
Last year, Pilates became my personality. I enjoyed it and stayed pretty consistent, but I wasn’t seeing the dramatic changes I secretly hoped for. So I switched things up and joined a new gym offering hot yoga.
It’s challenging without feeling punishing, helps with flexibility (which suddenly feels much more important after 50), and I always leave feeling mentally lighter.
4. Mouth Tape for Sleep
Sleep quality becomes a much bigger deal as we get older.
After realizing my snoring wasn’t just annoying my husband but actually a sign of pretty severe sleep apnea, I finally saw a doctor.
I’ve been experimenting with mouth tape alongside my treatment plan, and according to my husband, my nighttime soundtrack has improved.
No, it isn’t a cure for sleep apnea, but it has been an interesting addition to my sleep-habit improvement.
5. The Vibration Plate
This one keeps popping up on my feed. And I ordered one from Amazon, and it’s collecting dust.
Hopefully, I will be reporting life-changing results in several months after I finally unbox (and use) it.
6. Scheduled a Weekend Getaway
This may have been the best wellness decision of them all. As moms, we spend so much time planning everyone else’s vacations that we forget we need breaks too. Whether it’s a girls’ weekend, a quick mountain escape, or a one-night stay at a nice hotel, getting away resets me in ways no serum ever has.
7. Mini Trampoline Workouts
Who knew bouncing could count as exercise?
It’s low-impact, surprisingly fun, and somehow makes me feel like an eight-year-old again. I set this one up in my garage, where I put on my Bose wireless headphones and *jump* to my favorite EDM beats or whatever moves me. When I have my garage door up (which is most of the time), I can catch the neighbors staring and probably laughing hysterically. Bonus: it’s much kinder to my joints than running.
8. Korean Skincare
Instagram absolutely won this round. My bathroom counter now looks like a tiny Seoul beauty boutique.
Do I use every product every single night? Absolutely not. But slowing down enough to actually care for my skin—even if it’s just cleansing, moisturizing, and sunscreen—has probably made the biggest difference.
The Takeaway
Sometimes I remind myself that I’m doing great already as a mom of two teens in her early 50’s. In the 80’s, my age would have officially qualified me to be one of the Golden Girls, a popular 80’s sitcom featuring four ladies in their 50’s living their best life.
Social media can definitely make us feel like we’re constantly behind—as if everyone else has figured out the perfect routine for aging while we’re just trying to remember where we left our reading glasses.
For now, I will forego the face bra, red-light underwear, and 17-step nighttime ritual. I will focus on quality sleep, moving my body every day, and trying to laugh and enjoy the simple moments.
And maybe… just maybe… remember to floss.
