Okay so… I didn’t plan a glow up.
Like, nobody wakes up one random Tuesday and goes, “You know what? Today I become that person.”
At least I didn’t.
Mine started after I caught my reflection in a gas station bathroom mirror somewhere in the middle of nowhere (classic, I know). I looked tired. Not just “I need sleep” tired. More like… life is buffering tired.
And that’s when I first Googled “glow up guide” like it was going to magically fix everything.
Spoiler: it didn’t.
But also… it kinda did.
💭 The Thing No One Tells You About a Glow Up
Everyone thinks a glow up is about looking hot in photos. Clear skin. Better outfits. Maybe suddenly knowing how to do eyeliner without looking like you fought a raccoon.
But honestly? That’s like… 20% of it.
The rest?
It’s weird.
It’s you sitting on your floor at 11:47 PM thinking, “Why do I feel off even when nothing’s technically wrong?”
Yeah. That part.
🧴 Beauty Glow Up Tips (aka My Trial-and-Error Era)
So I started with the obvious stuff. Skincare. Hair. Clothes.
Because that’s what you do when you don’t know where to start—you fix what you can see.
And wow, I made mistakes.
Like the time I used three different serums at once because some influencer said “layering is key.” My skin said absolutely not. I looked like a confused tomato for two days.
Here’s what I actually learned:
✨ Keep it stupid simple
Cleanser. Moisturizer. Sunscreen. Done.
Anything beyond that? Add it slowly unless you enjoy chaos.
✨ Hair matters more than you think
Not in a “perfect curls” way. Just… clean, brushed, intentional.
I once went out with semi-dry hair and somehow felt like I had my life together. Weird.
✨ Clothes = mood
You don’t need a whole new wardrobe.
Just stop wearing that one shirt you know makes you feel like a potato.
You know the one.
🧠 The Mental Glow Up (This One Sneaks Up On You)
This part hit me out of nowhere.
I was doing all the “right” beauty glow up tips, but I still felt… meh.
Then one day my friend literally said,
“Maybe it’s not your face. Maybe it’s your thoughts.”
Rude. But also… accurate.
Things I started doing (that felt dumb at first):
- Talking to myself nicer (like… way nicer)
- Journaling random thoughts (half of them made zero sense)
- Taking breaks without feeling guilty (still working on this tbh)
And slowly—like, annoyingly slowly—things shifted.
I didn’t wake up glowing.
But I stopped feeling like I was constantly behind in life.
Which is honestly… huge.
🛁 Self-Care Routine That Doesn’t Feel Like a Chore
Okay real talk—self-care used to feel like homework.
Like, “light a candle, drink water, meditate”
Meanwhile I’m just trying to survive Monday.
So I changed the rules.
My version of a self-care routine:
- Sitting in silence for 5 minutes doing absolutely nothing
- Rewatching comfort shows (yes, again)
- Ordering food instead of cooking when I’m exhausted
- Going for a walk but stopping halfway because… vibes
Is it aesthetic? Not really.
Does it work? Weirdly, yes.
😂 The Awkward Middle Phase (Nobody Warned Me)
This part deserves its own section.
Because OH MY GOD.
You know when you’re trying to improve yourself but you’re not quite “there” yet?
Yeah. That.
I remember trying to be all confident and put-together at a coffee shop and then immediately spilling my drink. Full main-character moment… except it was embarrassing.
I should probably be embarrassed, but honestly?
That’s one of my favorite memories now.
Because it meant I was trying.
🧍♀️ Confidence Boost (It’s Not What You Think)
Confidence isn’t walking into a room like you own it.
It’s more like… walking in and not caring if you don’t.
That shift? Game changer.
Things that quietly boosted my confidence:
- Saying “no” without explaining myself (still scary btw)
- Not overthinking texts (or at least trying not to… okay I still do sometimes)
- Wearing something slightly out of my comfort zone
Also—this might sound random—but watching old interviews of Zendaya helped. She just has this calm, unbothered energy like… she’s not trying too hard, and that’s the point.
🍕 Random Glow Up Moments That Count (Yes, These Too)
Not every glow up moment is dramatic.
Sometimes it’s:
- Drinking enough water for 3 days straight (rare achievement unlocked)
- Cleaning your room after ignoring it for a week
- Laughing at something dumb and realizing you feel… okay
Those moments matter more than the big ones.
🌍 Things That Weirdly Helped My Glow Up
Okay this list is random but stay with me:
- Reading personal blogs like Cup of Jo (felt like talking to a friend)
- Watching comfort shows like Friends for the 100th time
- Walking without music sometimes (scary but kinda peaceful??)
🧩 The Truth About a Glow Up Guide
Here’s the thing nobody packages nicely:
There’s no perfect glow up guide.
It’s not a checklist.
It’s definitely not whatever those “before and after” posts are selling.
You slowly become someone you recognize again.
Or maybe someone new.
But in a good way.
💬 A Conversation I Had With Myself (Yes, Really)
“Why do you even want a glow up?”
“Because I don’t feel like me.”
“So… become someone else?”
“…no. I think I just want to feel okay again.”
That hit harder than expected.
🧠 Final-ish Thoughts (But Not Really Final)
I still have days where I feel like I’ve made zero progress.
Like… I’ll have a great week and then suddenly I’m back to eating snacks at midnight questioning everything.
But now? It doesn’t feel like failure.
It just feels like… part of it.