I Tried Every Viral Instagram Trend So You Don’t Have To

Instagram trends come and go at lightning speed. One minute it’s all about whipped coffee, and the next you’re supposed to be wearing ballet flats with tube socks while holding a Stanley cup. It’s exhausting to keep up, but for the sake of content (and maybe curiosity), I decided to dive headfirst into the chaotic world of Instagram trends. Over the past few weeks, I tried everything from bizarre beauty hacks to over-the-top lifestyle routines. Here’s what really happened when I lived life like an Instagram trend machine.

The skincare fridge and 10-step routine

Let’s start with the skincare trend that had Instagram in a chokehold: the mini skincare fridge. It’s cute, sure, and there’s something oddly satisfying about opening a tiny fridge full of pastel-colored serums and face masks. But does cold skincare actually do anything? After a week of using chilled eye creams and jade rollers, I can confirm it feels amazing—but that’s about it. The 10-step Korean skincare routine also made an appearance, and while my skin looked glowier than usual, it was a lot to keep up with. Who really has the time or budget to use five different serums every night?

Cloud bread and other aesthetic food fails

Instagram food trends are a minefield. Some of them look better than they taste, and others just flat-out don’t work. Cloud bread, for example, was everywhere a few months ago. It’s pastel, puffy, and looks like something out of a fairytale. But eating it? That’s another story. It tastes like slightly sweet foam. Pretty to photograph, not so great to chew. I also tried the baked feta pasta, the green goddess salad, and those viral tortilla wrap hacks. Most were fine, but none of them changed my life. If anything, they taught me that not every pretty plate is worth the prep.

The 5am morning routine

According to Instagram, waking up at 5am, journaling, doing yoga, drinking lemon water, and walking 10,000 steps before 8am is the key to success. So I gave it a shot. For a full week, I set my alarm for 5am and tried to become “that girl.” The first day felt weirdly empowering. By the end of the week, I was a sleep-deprived zombie. While the extra time in the morning was nice, forcing myself into a hyper-productive routine for the sake of aesthetic content was draining. I learned that morning routines should work for your life, not just look good on camera.

The clean girl makeup look

Minimal makeup with glossy lips, brushed-up brows, and dewy skin? Sounds great in theory. In practice, it’s more effort than it looks. The clean girl aesthetic is all about looking effortlessly polished, but the “effortless” part is a lie. Between blending the right shades, layering serums and highlighters, and trying to tame my hair into a slick bun without looking like I just got out of the shower, I spent way more time getting ready than usual. The final result looked great on camera, but the upkeep is high. If you’re naturally glowy and have good skin, this trend might work. If not, expect to spend some serious time trying to fake it.

Trying to live an aesthetic life

One of the biggest Instagram trends isn’t a single challenge or product—it’s the aesthetic lifestyle. Everything has to be perfectly styled, from your morning coffee to your outfit to your living room. I tried it all. I made matcha with a bamboo whisk, rearranged my books by color, and even bought candles I’ll never light just to improve my “vibe.” The result? My life looked better on camera, but behind the scenes, it felt fake. Constantly thinking about how everything would look in a post sucked the fun out of the moment.

What I actually learned

After weeks of chasing Instagram trends, I realized something important. Most of them are more about how things look than how they feel. They promise a better life, a better self, but often it’s just smoke and mirrors. There’s nothing wrong with trying new things or having fun with trends, but when you start shaping your entire life around what’s going viral, it gets exhausting.

Some trends were fun and gave me a boost. Others felt like a performance. And in the end, the most valuable thing I gained wasn’t clearer skin or prettier meals—it was a better understanding of what actually works for me. Trends come and go, but being real? That never goes out of style.