These tips will ensure you do have the very best glow-up this year
New year, new me. Have you ever said that to yourself? Yes, I catch myself saying it over and over again. The new year starts with good intentions, and by mid-February, it's back to basics. Back to all the old habits and no improvement. Do you recognize this and are you really ready for a complete rebrand? Then I'm going to help you, because I know better than anyone how it feels to drown in goals and ultimately just let them go. Trust me: with these tips, you will truly have the best glow-up ever.
1. Put yourself first
Put yourself at the top of that priority list, really. This will be the starting signal for your transformation. Think of yourself as the main character in a 2000s romcom. She doesn't just sit on the couch and hope that true love magically appears at her doorstep, does she? No. She works for it by exercising, working, and truly facing life's challenges. Of course, it's busy with your job, school, friends, family, and/or children, but you really need to put that as number 2. A glow-up simply requires personal attention. How else are you going to find the time to exercise, sleep well, do fun things, and ‘reinvent’ yourself between your appointments? That's not going to happen. Blocking a spot for yourself in your agenda is really not an unnecessary luxury. And stop comparing yourself to others for a moment. It's about your journey, not that of some influencer in Barcelona.
2. Learn your color season
If there's one thing that can make or break your entire glow-up, it's your color season. You can lose as much weight and buy new clothes as you want... but if you don't wear the right colors, you still won't shine. Imagine you have a hair color that actually makes you look super pale, or that you always wear a red lipstick that highlights all the imperfections in your skin. These colors really determine a lot.
Here's how it works: a color season is a color palette that suits your features. You have colors that fit better with different types. Maybe you have a cool or warm undertone; not every color suits that. The natural color of your hair, your eyebrows, and whether you have a lot or little contrast also contribute to what flatters you.
@youstudiobymarina Replying to @rileymallymaven link is in myBl0 to book your complete virtual color analysis! 🔗 the 4 “home” seasons in color analysis— most people will have a home season and possibly a flow of that season! 🎨♥️✨ #coloranalysis
Once you know which colors make you shine, you can work with them. You'll see that a hair color that suits you makes your eyes speak. It warms your face and makes imperfections and dark circles less noticeable. This flatters your face enormously, and you'll really see it back.
3. Move more (and mainly do soft sports like Pilates and walking)
Everyone knows that moving is good for you, but you really don't have to become an athlete to have a glow-up. With a busy job, you don't have time (and honestly: no desire) to hang out in the gym every evening or early in the morning. You'd better look for a way to move that fits into your schedule. This helps if you want to lose weight, but especially to stay healthy. Moving ensures that your muscles and joints remain flexible. This makes the difference between being an old lady still dancing on the dance floor or someone wandering through the city with a walker.
Look for low-impact sports that are good for you and fun to do. Pilates and yoga are examples of sports that fit better into your life. The nice thing about these two is that you can easily do them at home on a yoga mat with YouTube videos. If you have the time, you can join a (group) class for the social aspect and expertise. These sports give you more toning and stability than just one hour of fitness a week. Not really into sports? Then go for a walk. Grab your earbuds, put on a cute workout set, and head out. In nature, through the city, or in your neighborhood – it doesn't matter where you do it or what exactly you do, as long as you keep moving your body. This ensures that you feel better in your skin. Whether you want to lose weight or not: movement is calming and therefore really healthy.
4. Journaling
This might not directly fit into your idea of a glow-up list, but it really helps on the path to self-development. Journaling can take many different forms, so there's something for everyone. You can use it as a diary to reflect on your life, write down positive affirmations, or outline your goals. Even if you only use it to capture fun memories, it's already valuable. The fact that you step away from that screen and start writing or drawing is good for your brain. You de-stimulate, train your brain, and work physically on improvement. It doesn't have to take hours: do it for a quarter of an hour while you drink your morning coffee. This way, you start the day fresh, fruity, and organized.
5. Lymphatic drainage
And then a hack that fits into the ‘traditional glow-up list’: lymphatic drainage. That gua sha that's been sitting in the cupboard for months? You can take it out now. This is one of those hacks that helps with multiple things. Are you getting sick easily? Do you have a puffy face? Want a sharper jawline? Then manual lymphatic drainage works like a personal shopper: it does all the work for you. This massage technique stimulates the lymphatic system, which removes waste products, and helps drain excess fluid. As a result, you swell less. The extra fluid disappears, and your blood circulation and immune system are stimulated because your body removes waste products faster. Start with your face, but don't be afraid to include your body as well. This can be done with a gua sha or a brush. If you're consistent, you'll really see a difference after a while. You look more awake, feel better, and your confidence gets a boost when you look in the mirror.
@np.miranda One of the many things I do in the morning to help de-puff and start the day! Save this for your morning routine-your face will thank you #lymphaticdrainage #massage #tutorial #fyp
6. Change your posture and body language
Something that others immediately notice is when you walk through life more confidently. Of course, I understand that you can't just flip a switch and feel as confident as Bella Hadid in a mini skirt. That's why this advice: fake it till you make it. Really. Act as if you are confident, and the real feelings will follow naturally. Walk with a straight back, look around the room when you enter, greet people with a firm handshake, and smile. Your posture influences how others see you. If you dance with a big smile in the club without worrying about what others think, people see you as a secure person. Someone who knows who she is and isn't ashamed of it. That's attractive. On the other hand, if you stand in a corner with your arms crossed and look at the ground all evening, you radiate insecurity. People read that off you immediately. If you stop this, you'll notice that showing yourself isn't scary at all. You deserve to be seen, and everyone will see that. (And bonus: good posture is also very good for your health. Say goodbye to chronic back pain.)
7. Don't let your skincare depend on a lengthy routine
I used to think you needed a 16-step skincare routine to look good, but that's really not the case. You can have a hundred serums, but if you sleep on a dirty pillow, you'll still get pimples. Besides skincare, it's smart to invest in things that support your skin. Try sleeping on a 100% silk pillowcase and see what it does for your skin. It makes your skin soft, just like a silk bonnet does for your hair. Try a red-light mask (and not a cheap one, but one that really works with the technology developed by NASA), use a gua sha, and pay attention to what you eat. Because what you eat shows in how you look. Your skin won't glow if you only eat Big Macs.
8. Say positive affirmations
It may sound childish, but telling yourself what's going well in your life and what you want to achieve really works. Just like with a vision board, you consciously think about positive changes through affirmations. If you tell yourself every day that you are healthy, you will eventually live healthier. By repeating your goals, your brain gets used to the idea. It feels more realistic, which makes you unconsciously take more steps to make those dreams come true. Telling yourself that you are beautiful really works. At some point, your brain will believe it. And honestly: that's not a lie.
9. Ditch the fast food and eat ‘real’ food
Now, I'm really not against having McDonald's or a super sweet iced coffee at an aesthetic coffee shop every now and then, but for a glow-up, you need to take good care of yourself. That doesn't mean living on quick sugars and carbohydrates, but focusing on whole foods. These are products that contain a lot of nutrients and give you a feeling of fullness. Think of Greek yogurt, avocados, nuts, whole grain pasta, oatmeal, and sweet potatoes. These unprocessed foods form a good basis for your diet. That doesn't mean you can never buy a pack of pink cookies again, but a little more balance can never hurt.
@wrenjubilee So excited to see how I feel after 30 days ✨ #wholefoods #cleaneating #healthylifestyle #healthyliving #healthyeating
10. Becoming smarter and more beautiful is the goal
Does a glow-up only concern appearance? No, of course not. It's logical that you want to feel better in your skin, but self-improvement is also about personal development. Confidence goes hand in hand with deepening yourself and standing up for your opinion. Read a non-fiction book, learn life lessons through TED Talks, or watch a news broadcast. That's also a form of de-stimulation. Being engaged in something that actually makes you smarter, instead of doomscrolling for hours into the night.
Not really into textbooks, but want to keep your brain active? Then there are plenty of alternatives. Go coloring, play games, or read a fiction book. It all helps to relax – and you'll see that relaxation reflected in your body. Just trust me.
