At some point, we’ve probably all searched “how to glow up” online and gotten caught up in the self-help spiral.
Social media tells us that to be happy and healthy, we must wake up at 4:00 a.m., chug green smoothies, and go to Pilates daily.
While there’s nothing wrong with doing those things if they fit your schedule and make you feel fulfilled, some don’t have the time or resources for a picture-perfect daily routine.
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If you’re wondering how to glow up without blowing your budget or setting unrealistic goals, this guide has everything you need.
You can make many lifestyle changes to elevate your routine—I’m sharing 22 easy and practical ways to glow up from the inside out!
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How to Glow Up: 22 Ways to Elevate Daily Life
1. Stay Hydrated
Proper hydration is one of the fastest and easiest ways to glow up since water affects everything from your brain to your digestion and maintains healthy skin.
According to the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, drinking the appropriate amount of water (about nine cups daily for adult women) is essential to help your body function at its best.
I try to be conscious of my daily water intake, but I often fall short between work, travel, and social events.
I suggest buying a motivational water bottle to keep nearby and regularly refilling it throughout the day.
Not only will a reusable bottle ensure you’re drinking enough water, but it’s also environmentally friendly.
2. Stop Scrolling
Like many, I’m guilty of mindlessly scrolling through social media for hours—this year, I’ve set an intention to be more intentional about how often I’m on my phone and how I’m spending my screen time.
This has translated to dedicating less time to time-sucking apps like Instagram and TikTok.
I love these apps as much as the next person, but they can be mentally and emotionally draining, even if you aren’t conscious of it in the moment.
Try to limit your daily social media time, and I promise you won’t want to look back.
3. Consider Taking Vitamins and Probiotics
Vitamins and probiotic supplements are a fantastic way to glow from the inside out.
Getting all your daily nutrients from diet alone can be challenging, so I always take a multivitamin.
If you hate traditional vitamins that taste like dirt (I don’t blame you), check out options like Ritual. You can get 25% off with my code 25WTFAB!
Probiotic supplements have also massively impacted my overall health—I recommend trying Seed, my favorite daily probiotic.
4. Wear SPF
As a California gal, I know firsthand the importance of daily SPF protection from harmful UV rays.
I love spending time outside, going on walks, and enjoying my backyard, so I always apply sunscreen to my face, neck, and other areas of my body that will be exposed to the sun.
Even if it seems like a cloudy day outside, sun rays can still damage your skin without you even realizing it.
Using SPF daily lowers your risk of skin cancer and protects your complexion from signs of sun damage, like fine lines and wrinkles.
Many top-notch sunscreen products on the market don’t smell horrible or leave a white cast, so there’s no excuse not to wear sun protection!
5. Create Your Perfect Skincare Routine
Without investing in your daily skincare routine, you can’t achieve a complete glow-up.
First, identify your skin type—does it get oily throughout the day? Is it prone to extreme dryness? Are you prone to acne breakouts?
If you’re unsure of your skin type, consider visiting a dermatologist for their professional opinion on the right products to achieve healthy, glowing skin.
Once you know what you’re working with, you can begin shopping for products to help you achieve your best skin.
Your daily routine will be unique to your goals and needs, but there are several products everyone can benefit from incorporating into their lineup.
Cleansers are the best way to remove dirt and grime, creating a blank canvas for other products to work their magic. I suggest using a toner to balance the skin before applying a gentle exfoliator.
After exfoliation, use a serum that targets specific concerns like hyperpigmentation or acne scars—I like retinol products because they boost radiance, giving me a natural glow.
A daily moisturizer or face lotion is vital in any skincare routine, and you can finish with an eye treatment to combat dark circles and fine lines.
6. Begin Therapy
Glowing up is about more than outward appearance—it also encourages self-improvement in emotional and mental health.
Honestly, I think everyone could benefit from going to therapy at least once. There are many misconceptions about seeking therapy, so the thought of going for the first time can be daunting.
The experience can be uncomfortable, but it presents a fantastic opportunity for self-reflection and growth.
Whether you struggle with feelings of anxiety or depression or want someone unbiased to discuss life with, therapy is an incredible tool for becoming the best version of yourself.
Nowadays, there are many online therapy companies, so you don’t have to leave your house for quality, professional mental care services.
7. Practice Gratitude Journaling
Sometimes, letting negativity overtake your thoughts and perspective on the world is easy. One of my favorite ways to combat this is by regularly gratitude journaling.
Gratitude journals contain introspective prompts to get you in a positive mindset.
Writing in a gratitude journal for five minutes daily has massively improved my happiness because it reminds me to be thankful.
Take some time at the beginning of each day to reflect on what you’re grateful for—it’s the best instant mood boost!
8. Stay Flexible
Cultivating a simple daily stretching routine that you can do first thing in the morning or at night before bed will benefit you from the inside out.
Whether you did a challenging workout earlier in the day or relaxed and worked from home, stretching is essential to having a healthy body.
Do a few quick moves to stretch your muscles or follow a full 30-minute yoga practice—your body will thank you for practicing flexibility and focusing on your breath.
9. Do Your Nails
While regularly applying nail polish isn’t one of the most drastic lifestyle changes you can make, it’s a simple way to improve your confidence.
I always feel better and more put together with a fresh manicure, whether doing press-ons at home or getting a set at the salon.
Doing your nails is a fun excuse to pamper yourself—you can also coordinate them for different occasions, holidays, or seasons.
10. Learn the Importance of Hair Health
You’ll be amazed by how much hair can affect your overall appearance once you properly care for your hair.
Using the right hair products, you can achieve flowing, silky locks, whether you have a thick, curly texture or struggle with excess hair loss and thinning.
Don’t settle for the cheapest stuff at the drugstore—research and experiment with different brands and products to find the best one for your hair type.
From Vegamour’s plant-based haircare sets to Viori’s unique shampoo bars, many options on the market will work wonders on dull, tired strands.
Occasionally, I enjoy doing a hair mask for deep moisture and nourishment.
11. Rest Up
Getting enough sleep is seriously underrated—I’m always amazed at how much better I feel when well-rested with quality sleep.
It’s also essential to keeping your brain in tip-top shape and increasing energy levels. As someone always on the go, I need all the energy I can get!
If you tend to be restless, try investing in tools to help you sleep more soundly. I swear by silk pillowcases—they stay cool while you sleep and are better for your skin and hair.
I’ve also heard great things about sunshine alarm clocks, like the Hatch Restore, which naturally wakes you up and gives you a calm start to the day.
12. Try Meditating
Meditation can be intimidating if you’ve never tried it before—emptying your mind for even a minute is surprisingly challenging!
This is especially true if you always have a lot going on inside your head, like me. I’m trying to be more consistent with meditating daily or at least several times weekly.
Many handy apps, videos, and podcasts guide you through a quick, restorative meditation practice.
This is a great way to regulate your emotions and set yourself up for a successful day.
13. Get Moving
Exercise is one of the most essential healthy habits to incorporate into your weekly routine.
The World Health Organization recommends exercising 20 to 40 minutes every day, depending on the activity’s intensity.
Sometimes, finding the motivation to hit the gym can be challenging—we’ve all been there! When I struggle to prioritize my physical health, I try to take things slow and easy with an activity I enjoy.
I’ll lace up my sneakers for a hot girl walk around the neighborhood or wear my favorite comfy outfit to follow a YouTube yoga routine.
I’ve learned that finding forms of exercise you genuinely enjoy makes a huge difference in staying consistent week to week.
My goal is to have a healthy body I feel confident in, so I’m not hyper-focused on losing weight or training specific muscle groups.
I feel happier, have more energy, and sleep significantly better while maintaining my weekly movement goals.
Be patient with yourself and try new things to find a physical activity you look forward to!
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14. Experiment With Makeup
Don’t get me wrong—I don’t wear makeup every day. Sometimes, a simple makeup look can give you that subtle confidence boost.
You don’t have to go all out with a complicated, lengthy routine.
My go-to makeup products are primer to blur my pores, a lightweight foundation with SPF, a pomade to fill my eyebrows, mascara, and a tinted balm for my lips. Voila!
This takes me less than 10 minutes, and I feel like a completely new woman.
While I love a bold and dramatic makeup look, this simple daily routine highlights my natural features for a fresh and youthful appearance.
15. Focus On Good Posture
Being intentional about maintaining good posture throughout the day is another great way to glow up quickly.
Remember to keep your back straight, shoulders relaxed, and your head up with your chin looking directly ahead.
Not only does good posture project self-confidence, but it also helps your breathing and long-term spinal health.
16. Prioritize Self-Care
At least once a week, I try to indulge in a self-care spa day with some of my favorite beauty and wellness treatments.
A spa day doesn’t have to blow your budget to help you feel relaxed and refreshed—it can be as simple as doing face masks at home or using shower steamers that you made yourself.
When I have the time, I love treating myself to a massage. Especially now that I’m pregnant, I’ve enjoyed trying prenatal massages at different local spas.
17. Mix Things Up
One of my favorite ways to give myself a reset is by changing something up, whether it be my personal style, haircut, or makeup routine. Variety is the spice of life, after all!
If I feel like I’m in a slump and need an instant refresh, I’ll try a new hairstyle or put together an outfit that might be outside my comfort zone.
This is the perfect opportunity to challenge yourself and try things you may have been hesitant to do.
The transformation can be as subtle or dramatic as you want—it’ll be a valuable experience either way.
18. Remove Toxicity
When was the last time you recognized and addressed something toxic in your life? Eliminating toxicity, whether a person or a job, will give you an instant glow-up.
Honestly, this process can be challenging and uncomfortable. Surrounding yourself with positive people and situations massively impacts your happiness and quality of life.
Taking the step to end a toxic relationship or leave an unhealthy work environment is scary, especially if you have to start over, but you’ll feel transformed entirely after taking the plunge.
19. Invest in Your Oral Hygiene
Aside from the usual toothbrush and floss duo, I didn’t think much about my dental routine.
Recently, though, I’ve been focusing more on oral hygiene and have added some new products to my lineup.
Tongue scrapers are incredibly cheap but the perfect way to alleviate bad breath. I scrape my tongue daily, and it’s been a game-changer for staying fresh and minty all day.
I’ll also occasionally use teeth whitening strips to give my smile an extra sparkle. Many effective strips are available at various prices that brighten your smile from home.
20. Tell Yourself Positive Affirmations
Another habit I highly recommend incorporating into your glow-up routine is saying positive affirmations.
Negative thoughts can easily take control of your mind and adversely impact your confidence and opinion of yourself. Unfortunately, it’s an unavoidable part of being human.
Daily affirmations are a powerful tool for combating internal negativity and creating a happier, more content mindset.
They can be as simple as sentiments like “I am beautiful,” “I am worthy,” and “I am happy and healthy.”
Identify a handful of positive affirmations that resonate with you and say them aloud daily.
21. Eat a Balanced Diet
It may seem like a no-brainer, but a healthy diet incorporating nourishing food groups is vital to a balanced lifestyle.
Eating healthy doesn’t mean only eating fruits and vegetables—it’s all about balance!
I love indulging in a good meal, especially when traveling, but I also recognize that whole, healthy foods generally make me feel my best.
If you’ve never given much thought to your diet, consider whether your eating habits are benefiting your lifestyle and overall health.
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22. Do Something Good for Others
Glowing up isn’t just about doing things for yourself—it’s also essential to recognize the impact you can have on others.
Set a personal goal to do something good for others at least once a week.
You don’t have to dedicate much of your time or resources to affect someone’s life positively.
Something as simple as paying for another person’s coffee order or intentionally complimenting someone can brighten their day.
If you have time to volunteer, I highly suggest finding opportunities to give back to your community.
Putting yourself in someone else’s shoes, even for a few hours, can give you a healthy new perspective.
This How to Glow Up guide is all you need to quickly and realistically elevate your daily routine!
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FAQs
Some lifestyle changes can be made immediately to glow up. Others may take weeks or months, like shifting your mindset and setting a consistent workout routine.
Glowing up doesn’t have to be expensive if you focus on bettering your mental, physical, and emotional health with simple techniques and products.
The best way to glow up is by becoming the ideal version of yourself from the inside out.
Elise Armitage is an entrepreneur and founder of What The Fab, a travel + lifestyle blog based in California. At the beginning of 2019, Elise left her corporate job at Google to chase her dreams: being an entrepreneur and helping women find fabulous in the everyday. Since then, she’s launched her SEO course Six-Figure SEO, where she teaches bloggers how to create a passive revenue stream from their website using SEO. Featured in publications like Forbes, Elle, HerMoney, and Real Simple, Elise is a firm believer that you can be of both substance and style.
