Kayla Young
You’ve seen the hashtag all over TikTok (with almost 71 billion views!), and everyone that you know on the planet seems to be doing it in some aspect or another — the glow up.
And since it looks like the glow up trend is turning into a new culture of its own, you better get used to seeing people glow up all over the socials.
Indeed, you may have already tried to glow up, or have friends that have done it. Did they become a better person as a result, or were they left feeling like they had failed?
Well, don’t worry, because in this article I’m going to share with you how to glow up, so that you can rock your own world with confidence, and live your best life every day. And I’ll also talk about some of the pitfalls of the idea of the glow up, and what to watch out for.
Contents
How To Glow Up
If you see it on TikTok, then you probably think it’s new and innovative. But the glow up is really nothing new.
Prior to viral social media, glowing up was known as personal development, and it’s a subject that has always attracted those people who want to do, have, and be more of themselves.
The idea behind the glow up journey is that when you learn how to do it, you will be making the switch to become a better person overall. And by doing so, you’ll attract more positive things into your life that will not only make you feel better, but will also have you looking better as a result.
This is a great thing.
But.
Is There a Downside to the Glow Up Checklists?
Many see the social media glow up culture as destructive. It keeps adding more pressure on people to believe that they are never enough, and that you need to keep improving your image to make others like you.
This is why the glow up culture on TikTok and Instagram has become focused on physical looks, often showing teenage girls and young women who have had dramatic weight losses after a breakup.
And because so many young people are already self-conscious (it’s actually a natural part of adulting), it can affect their mental health, and force them to do ridiculous and extreme diets that can harm their bodies as well.
It can be challenging to escape this social media pressure.
If you only want to make yourself appear more beautiful so that you’ll get more likes and followers, which is the subconscious reason why many people use filters and make thirst trap videos, then this gives your ego a dopamine hit that will make you feel better in the moment.
But this rush will never last, which is why social media is so addictive. And if you are already struggling with issues like body dysmorphia or low self-esteem, then it might seem like there’s no way out.
This is not what glowing up is about.
If you really want to get into the true essence of the glow up, then you need to move past feeling pressured to compete with others. And you have to do it because you want to be a better person for yourself, with a healthy mind and body that will inspire others along the way.
Glow Up Challenge
There are a few key factors that you’ll need to incorporate into your lifestyle, in order to successfully glow up.
1. Glow Up Your Diet
If all you consume is junk food like pizza, French fries, soda, and candy, then you can’t expect to have a healthy body. Your body needs proper food like vegetables and fruits, which will provide the nutrition that it needs in order to function and feel alive.
Unfortunately, the diet landscape is a mess. What is healthy to eat? How can you know what works for your body? Who do you trust?
Pick your path – high carb low fat, high fat low carb, high protein low everything else, high breathing no food (maybe not that one). You have to find what works for your body.
One tip: It’s generally easier to tell what’s unhealthy rather than what’s healthy.
Stay away from unhealthy foods.
It’s generally easier to tell what’s unhealthy rather than what’s healthy.
2. Glow Up Your Relationships
If the people you hang out with are always negative and putting you down, then these are unhealthy and toxic relationships that will keep you feeling anxious and never good enough.
To help your confidence and mental health, you need friends that really love you and always want the best for you.
3. Glow Up Your Social Media Awareness
A big concern that some people have with glow up culture is the fact that even after you’ve changed something about yourself, there’s always going to be another new trend coming along that will convince you that you need to change once again to fit in.
And this societal social media pressure means that you can’t simply be happy if you’ve lost weight, conquered your acne breakouts, or whatever it is, because you still won’t feel good enough.
But if you really want to glow up in your life, it means taking full responsibility for yourself, and being the best person that you can be in this moment. By doing so, you can achieve the goals and dreams that you set for yourself, rather than playing the victim and complaining that not getting what you want is someone — or something — else’s fault.
So, let’s take a look at the glow up factors you can add to your life that will have you feeling better about yourself — and even looking better as a bonus.
4. Glow Up Your Self Care
There are many aspects of practicing self care that go beyond having a bubble bath, visiting a day spa, and getting your nails blinged out.
True self care should go beyond just wanting to look hot. Self care can help you to get your glow up by doing things that will enhance both your mind and body.
5. Glow Up Your Mental Health
Improve your metal glow by doing creative things that you enjoy, such as keeping a journal, drawing, cooking from scratch, or painting. Embrace your unique gifts and talents, which we are all born with, is key to a successful glow up.
So, for instance, anything you loved doing as a kid, but haven’t done in a while, is a unique talent or gift that you possess.
Doing something that you love not only enhances your mental health, but also gives you confidence because you’re automatically good at it.
Even writing in your journal can be considered an act of self care, because it will help you to uncover and process things about yourself that you may not even be aware of. This will also enhance your mental health, as well as give your creative muscle (your brain) a great workout, which will give you a brighter glow up from the inside out.
6. Glow Up Your Body
When you take proper care of your body, you will also want to keep it feeling nourished and strong. And that doesn’t mean spending hours on the treadmill at the gym or only eating carrots. That said, you should work to learn to look beautiful naturally.
Start by taking baby steps, which will be easier to build on as each day goes by.
For example, you can start by adding one fresh smoothie to your diet every morning, or finding an activity that you really enjoy — anyone up for learning how to pole dance?
Oh, and don’t forget to get a good night’s sleep!
7. Glow Up Your Posture
It’s an easy one to forget, but a good, relaxed posture changes the way you present yourself to the world. We’re all on our phones and laptops all the time, and that means the neck is bent forward, constantly. Work to counteract that tendency.
The Posture subreddit is a great resource for tips and recommendations to improve your poise.
8. Glow Up Your Face
Achieving a glowing complexion is all about taking care of your skin from the inside out.
To start, make sure you’re drinking enough water — hydrate! And of course, a well-balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables is key. The greatest skin care routine in the world won’t mean much if you’re putting bad foods into your body.
Next, establish a consistent morning and night skincare routine based on your skin type that includes cleansing, exfoliating, and moisturizing.
Wash your face and remove your makeup!
Look for products that bring that natural glow using ingredients such as vitamin C and niacinamide. Incorporating a face oil or serum into your beauty routine can also add extra hydration and radiance to the skin.
Don’t forget to protect your skin from the sun with daily SPF.
With consistent effort, you’ll be on your way to a radiant, healthy-looking face in no time.
9. Glow Up Your Hair
Achieving healthy, radiant hair is all about maintaining a consistent hair care routine and using the right products.
Start by identifying your hair type and the specific needs it has, whether it’s moisture, protein or color protection. Use a gentle shampoo and conditioner that is specifically formulated for your hair type.
Incorporate a weekly hair mask or oil treatment to give your hair an extra boost of hydration and nourishment.
Trim your ends regularly to keep them from splitting, which can make your hair look dull.
To add shine and definition to your hair, use a hair oil or serum on damp or dry hair before styling.
10. Glow Up Your Style
Learn what styles look good on you, and what colors work with your skin and hair tones. This isn’t complicated, but there are a few subtleties. See this article on skin undertones to learn how they work, and how you can find colors that complement your skin, rather than clash with it.
Understand the basics of putting together outfits. This doesn’t always mean dressing up in an elegant black dress… it can also mean rocking cargo pants or simple black jeans. The key is that the outfit needs to look good on you.
The key is that the outfit needs to look good on you.
11. Glow Up Your Self Love
When you actually take good care of your body, it automatically makes you feel better about yourself. Yes, this really is a key. And when you truly feel love for the body that you possess, it won’t matter what everyone else is doing.
That’s because you won’t waste your time or energy trying to fit into someone else’s ideal of what you ‘should’ look like.
Of course, it’s normal to want to change your appearance from time to time, and you can take inspiration from trends that you see on social media. However, just because it’s trendy doesn’t mean that it’s right for you.
Changing up your look should be fun, not something you’re doing because you want to fit in.
When you truly feel love for yourself, you will possess loads of confidence, have no problem pushing against the boundaries of what you’re ‘supposed to do’, and find your own style to rock your glowed up self.
A successful glow up means that positive vibes will radiate from your cared for and happy body, which acts like a feedback loop that feeds your mind more loving thoughts.
12. Glow Up Your Self-Worth
Another added bonus to really feeling love for yourself is that you won’t put up with abusive relationships, whether they’re mental or physical. If you have high self esteem and know your worth, it is impossible to put up with toxic people that won’t reciprocate that.
And you’ll have the confidence to move on to find others who feel your positive energy, and want what’s best for you, and love you for who you are — perceived warts and all. You know why? Because they’ve already glowed up and love themselves, too!
How Will I Know My Glow Up Is Working?
When you wake up in the morning feeling refreshed, and happy that there’s a brand new day ahead of you, this is when you’ll know that your glow up is working.
And the positive vibes that you’ll be feeling will blow your mind. That’s because you’ll begin to attract happier and more loving people, and exciting opportunities into your life. This is what the law of attraction is based on.
You will notice that people compliment you on your energy, and how you make them feel. This will also raise your glow up levels, and make you feel even more beautiful and attractive as a result.
You will notice that people compliment you on your energy, and how you make them feel. This will also raise your glow up levels, and make you feel even more beautiful and attractive as a result.
Final Thoughts
If you want to jump on the glow up bandwagon, then this can be a good thing, but only if you put your mental and physical health first. It’s never too late to learn how to glow up, but you also shouldn’t feel obliged to glow up just because all of your friends seem to be doing it.
Don’t feel pressure to do something that you’d rather not. Understanding this is part of the glow up process, really!
As humans, no matter what your age is, it’s a natural thing to want to make ourselves better. However, social media can be full of toxic obsessions that will make you focus on what you don’t have, instead of what you do have.
We at Luxe Luminous believe that self love and self care are key factors in learning how to glow up successfully. And when you have these tools in your glow up kit, you will never feel pressured into becoming someone that you’re not.
The confidence that you will feel automatically means everyone else will be wondering how you get your glow on. So, what are you waiting for, now that you really know how to glow up?
