How to Have a Glow Up

Co-authored by Melynda Choothesa

Last Updated: September 18, 2024 Fact Checked

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Having a glow up is an empowering transformation of who you are. This might look like changing your appearance, drinking more water, or achieving your goals. Whatever your glow up means to you, it’s all about becoming the best version of yourself and learning to practice self-care and acceptance! Look after your body inside and out by eating a well-balanced diet, working out regularly, and looking after your skin. Practice being confident and surrounding yourself with positive people to help you feel that glow!

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Changing Your Appearance

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1
Follow a skincare routine to help your skin glow. Your skin is one of the first things that people notice about you and having glowing skin will really help your transformation shine! Clean your face with water twice a day and use a toner, moisturizer, and exfoliator that is suitable for your skin type. Remember to take off your makeup each night before you go to sleep so that you wake up with fresh and smooth skin.^{[1]
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- If you have problems or concerns about your skin, visit a dermatologist for professional advice. Getting your skin to glow might be as simple as using a different product or getting more of a specific nutrient!
2
Stand up straight and tall to improve your posture. Your posture can make a huge difference in your appearance! Keep your back straight, your shoulders back, and your arms resting naturally by your sides. When you’re sitting down, keep your back at a right angle to your thighs and try to release any tension to prevent straining your muscles.^{[2]
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- If you experience any pain or are having trouble maintaining good posture, visit a doctor or a physiotherapist for professional advice.
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Wear clothes that emphasize your favorite features. Wearing clothes that flaunt your best features will help you to look and feel your best! Maybe you want to wear a color that makes your eyes pop or a pair of boots that draw attention to your long legs? Try out plenty of different clothes and experiment with different outfits to find a style you love. Don’t be afraid to try out statement pieces like a bright blazer, an elegant dress, or some new heels.^{[3]
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- Choose tighter fitting garments if you want to accentuate your figure.
- Vertical lines have a slimming effect while horizontal lines accentuate curves.
- Ultimately, wear clothes that make you feel happy and confident!
EXPERT TIP

Melynda Choothesa
Fashion Stylist
Melynda Choothesa is a Costume Designer, Wardrobe Stylist, and Art Director with over 10 years of fashion consulting experience. She has worked on creative direction for fashion shows, costume design, and personal wardrobe styling, both in Los Angeles, California and internationally for clients such as Akon, Kathy Ireland, and Aisha Tyler. She has an Associate of Arts in Fashion Design from Santa Monica College.

Melynda Choothesa
Fashion Stylist

Expert Trick: Change out your accessories to make your outfits shine. If you're going out, add jazzy, funky accessories to your outfits, like bold statement necklaces or a cheetah or snakeskin shoe. You can also experiment with sparkle on your shoes, big cocktail rings, a sophisticated hair barrette, or a statement bag.
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Experiment with makeup to see if you like how it makes you look. Whether makeup is totally foreign to you or you want to try out a new product, experimenting with makeup can make a huge difference to your appearance. There are plenty of free makeup tutorials available online, so use these to your advantage to try out different looks and learn about new products. Even if you decide that makeup isn’t for you, at least you have practiced a new skill and become more sure of who you are.^{[4]
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- Remember to care for your skin especially well if you use makeup regularly. Always moisturize and take off all of your makeup at the end of the day.
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Get a new hairstyle that you have always wanted to try. Maybe it’s bangs, balayage, or a bob? Take the plunge and get that cut or color you have always wanted! Look online for inspiration if you need it and print out pictures to take along with you to your hair appointment. Explain to your hairstylist the look you’re going for and listen to their advice about what cut and color would work best with your style.^{[5]
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- A new hairstyle is an easy way to quickly change your appearance dramatically!
Jen Atkin, Celebrity Hairstylist

A haircut can be transformative. "The most life-changing quick fix for boring, dull hair is a haircut."

Part 2

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Making Lifestyle Changes

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Drink¹⁄₂ US gal (1.9 L) of water every day to stay hydrated. Glowing up happens from the inside out and water is the key to helping you look and feel your best every day. Buy a reusable drink bottle and keep it filled up with fresh water at all times. Carry it with you wherever you go to remind yourself to stay hydrated!^{[6]
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- ¹⁄₂ US gal (1.9 L) of water is just an approximate figure, as the ideal amount of water differs from person to person. Drink the amount of water that helps you to feel your best and visit a doctor or a dietitian if you have any concerns.
- If you aren’t the biggest fan of plain water, you can always make infused water using your favorite produce to give it a bit more flavor. Try strawberries, cucumber, oranges, or mint!
- Remembering to drink more water can be difficult when you first start. Try setting a reminder on your phone or putting a note on the fridge. Alternatively, you can also download smartphone apps that track your water intake and give you friendly reminders.
2
Brush your teeth regularly to help your smile look its best. A bright, happy smile is a massive part of the glow up transformation! Brush your teeth every morning and night, and remember to floss your teeth each day too. Visit a dentist once a year for an annual checkup to keep your teeth healthy and strong!^{[7]
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- You can also use teeth-whitening products to help your smile dazzle.
3
Eat a well-balanced diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables. How you fuel your body can make a huge difference to your glow up. Each 5-9 servings of fruit and vegetables per day, and plenty of lean protein, whole-grains, and healthy fats. Remember that everything in moderation is the best way to go, so limit your intake of processed foods but treat yourself occasionally too.^{[8]
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- Visit a doctor or a dietician if you have any concerns about your diet.
- Avoid skipping meals or following fad diets, as these practices won’t help you to look and feel your best.
4
Exercise regularly to keep yourself healthy. Exercise helps you to look and feel your best, in both your body and mind! Find a type of exercise that you enjoy, such as swimming, running, or yoga. Aim to exercise 3-5 times per week, unless you have been instructed otherwise by a health professional. You can also exercise with friends if that makes it more fun!^{[9]
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- You don’t have to join a gym unless you want to. There are plenty of ways to exercise in your own home.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Becoming Confident and Setting Goals

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1
Say positive affirmations every day to help build good self-esteem. A huge part of your glow up is learning to believe in yourself! Write down recurrent, negative thoughts and then write positive, logical affirmations as a counter-argument. Practice saying these positive affirmations aloud every day. Although it may feel difficult or silly at the beginning, with enough time and practice it should become easier to believe the positive affirmations.^{[10]
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- Some popular positive affirmations include, “I deserve to be happy,”, “I am an intelligent and hard-working person,” and “I am capable of reaching my goals,”.
2
Surround yourself with positive people that support you. The attitude of the people who you are close to can influence you greatly. Seek family and friends that have a positive attitude and are supportive of who you are! You can also be positive and supportive to those around you, helping them glow too!^{[11]
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- If you are having trouble finding positive and supportive people, try making a few new friends. Join a club or group with people that have similar interests, use social media, or simply reach out and talk to new people that you normally wouldn't. You have nothing to lose!
3
Use positive self-talk and practice being assertive to help your confidence grow. Glowing up is all about having the confidence to shine and to be your best self. Even if you don’t feel confident right away, simply fake it till you make it and nobody will be able to tell the difference! Use positive self-talk to bring yourself up instead of down, challenge negative thoughts about yourself, and practice being assertive in your day-to-day life. It can also help to surround yourself with confident people, as their confidence can rub off on you!^{[12]
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- If you are having trouble with your confidence or self-esteem, talking to a mental health professional like a counselor or psychologist can really help.
4
Set achievable goals and challenge yourself to accomplish them. Maybe you have financial, career, or personal goals that you have been wanting to achieve? Sit down and write a list of your goals. Then break each goal up into smaller, actionable steps that you can get started on. Keep your goals realistic and celebrate your successes!^{[13]
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- Remember that your goals can be as big or as little as you like. As long as you are realistic about how you will achieve them, that’s all that matters!

Have a Transformational Glow Up with this Expert Series

Are you ready for the biggest glow up of your life? It's time to care of yourself, build your confidence, and become the best version of yourself that you can be! Read these expert articles to supercharge your glow up.

1

Have a Glow Up

2

Make Yourself More Attractive

3

Get Glowing Skin in Just One Week

4

Do a Full Body Makeover

5

Look Naturally Beautiful

6

Be Confident in Your Looks

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Tips

Remember that your glow up is about you and not anyone else. All that matters is that you are happy with who you are and if others happen to notice your transformation, then that's a great bonus!

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It’s not going to happen overnight. If you keep doing this, it’ll show in your attitude and your appearance.

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