The phrase ‘glow-up’ is constantly circulating on TikTok, with the hashtags having billions of views. Glow-ups can mean different things to different people, but one thing in common is wanting to show ourselves a little love and searching for that feel-good factor.
A glow-up is all about forming new habits and investing in ourselves to make us happier, healthier, and of course, glow from the inside out. The first step is making some lifestyle changes, which is where trends like ‘hot girl walks’ and the ‘75 soft challenge’ have come from. And the next step is more indulgent and about self care. This is all about introducing skincare, bodycare, haircare, and wellness changes that can make you feel like the best version of yourself too.
For glow-up ideas and product recommendations that will help you start your glow-up, scroll on…
Your Glow-Up Checklist
When you decide to embark on a glow-up journey, it’s important not to think of it as a makeover that’s focused on the aesthetics. What’s made the concept of glow-ups so popular is how good they make you feel because you’re building yourself up and doing things to make you feel your best, rather than just focusing on things to make you look your best.
Some of the top ways to glow up and things to build into your routine include…
1. Drink more water – Drinking at least two litres a day is highly recommended as you’ll be more hydrated, which has positive effects on your energy levels, detoxification, brain function, and skin health.
2. Eat more fruit and veg – Many fruits and vegetables can contribute to glowing skin like antioxidant-rich berries and greens. Plus, ensuring you’re eating well can help you feel healthier overall.
3. Do daily moderate exercise – The point of a glow-up isn’t to force yourself into the gym every day, it’s about taking the time to do things that are healthy and beneficial but enjoyable. So when it comes to daily exercise, just getting out of the house and going for a 30 minute walk is ideal. Not only will it help you build stamina, burn calories, and make your heart healthier, but it can also improve your mood, sleep, and energy levels.
4. Improve your sleep quality – Getting enough sleep every night is a glow-up essential, and the quality of your sleep is key too. A good night’s sleep allows your body to recover so you can feel refreshed and ready for the day ahead. You can get yourself a satin eyemask, to help block out light – great for sleep health, whilst also being kind to your skin. Another top tip is switching to satin or silk pillowcases as they’ll help protect and care for your skin and hair whilst you sleep.
5. Reduce screen time – A lot of glow-up recommendations include setting time aside to read more or journal. And all this comes down to spending less time on your phone doom-scrolling, and more time on you. You can do this by making time to read or listen to an audio book, or by journaling and reflecting.
Skincare, Body care and Haircare Glow-Up Tips
There are a few beauty essentials that you should absolutely add into your routine if you are setting off on your own glow-up journey…
1. Gua Sha
Taking the time to Gua Sha your face daily can work wonders for your complexion and face shape. If you feel puffy all the time the combination of this with drinking lots of water will make all the difference. Put aside 10 minutes during your evening skincare routine, you’ll need a gua sha, a face oil, and our guide on how to gua sha. Once you’ve done it a few times it will become part of your routine easily, it’s a great way to unwind and relax before bed too – so you can improve your sleep quality this way as well.
2. Ice Rolling
Similar to gua sha, ice rolling has many benefits including giving you a natural glow and reducing puffiness. Try adding ice rolling into your morning skincare routine – it’s a great way to wake yourself up, and it will make you feel so much fresher.
3. Stick to Your Skincare Routine
It’s easy to skip a double cleanse, or avoid all your brightening serums and creams if you’re feeling tired. But putting in the work and sticking to all your skincare steps is absolutely worth it. We recommend introducing an LED mask if you have specific skin concerns in mind like blemishes, uneven skin tone, and wrinkles. By just wearing one for a few minutes a day, you can transform your skin in a matter of weeks.
4. Treat Yourself to a Weekly Everything Shower
Rather than a daily adjustment to your routine, this is one way you can make yourself feel like you’ve had a full glow-up every week. We’ve mapped out a full everything shower routine, so you can start incorporating this into your glow-up plan. It’s a great way to both prioritise yourself and do more luxurious self-care tasks like using hair masks, body scrubs, and face masks on the reg.
5. Try Low Maintenance Beauty
One of our favourite glow up ideas is to add low maintenance beauty into your routine. We’re talking eyebrow and eyelash serums, lip stains, and fake tan. These are all quick fixes and treatments that are long lasting, meaning you’re ready to go in minutes with minimal effort. Simply apply overnight or in the morning whilst you’re getting ready, and count on a put-together look all day without hours of beautifying.
