Start the New Year Off Right with a Glow Up
All we can do is strive to be a little bit better than we were yesterday, right? This is a challenge for everybody.
So, ok yes this is clearly geared a little bit more towards girls, but guys – all these can apply to you too!!
These are all tips that I’ve gleaned from my 27 years of slow and grueling glow-up. I’ve been dying to share these but never knew of a good way to combine all my tips into one post. I love making (and doing!) self-improvement challenges, so I thought hey why not use this opportunity to bundle all my advice?!
I thought I’d help someone else speed up their journey to hotness a little bit by sharing this – and just in time for the New Year!!
Rules
So in case the way I made this challenge is confusing let me spell it out for you:
So the idea is that you’ll do some of the actions just once during the 30 day period – things like getting a haircut, for example. Obviously you won’t be getting a trim everyday.
Then some of the things you’ll do daily.
Then for some items they’re in between (see the second slide).
I decided for the “Do it Once” category and “Do it Daily” category, I’d add the caveat that you can pick 4 or 5 from the list to commit to. That way you’ll be more inclined to actually follow through. I mean you chose them right?
See? I wasn’t lying when I said this challenge was easy 😉
Keep reading for a full breakdown of each item on the challenge IN DETAIL! I promise these are all so easy but also SUCH good habits to start!
And yes – these have changed my life (sometimes literally in a matter of a week) – so they are definitely going to change yours!
The 30-Day EASY GLOW UP Challenge!
Do it Once (Pick 4 from this list):
Get Your Eyebrows Professionally Threaded
We all know that girl or guy who came to school one day and something was just…different. In a very good way.
I swear, eyebrows are the #1 way to glow up – especially if you have thick brows. Thick brows are beautiful because they give the brow artist more to work with and get a beautiful shape that enhances and sharpens your features.
I recommend threading because it’s the most precise method and doesn’t rip any skin off like a bad wax can.
If you have light or sparse brows, I still recommend getting them professionally shaped just once. Then maybe consider dying them darker or even learning how to fill them in!
Then you can easily upkeep with tweezers on your own. These are the only pair of Tweezers you’ll ever need. I just got mine sharpened for free after 10 years of use. But then soon realized…(and this is my discovered life hack!!) to sharpen your tweezers all you need is a good glass nail file. Just pinch the tweezers on the file and pull it across once or twice. Boom. Perfectly sharp tweezers!
Dermaplane your Face
Dermaplaning is a fancy word for shaving your face with a sharp blade. Though you remove hair in the process, the real goal of this process is to remove dead skin.
I recommend it if you’re insecure about your peach fuzz, because it’s truly the fastest, easiest, and least irritating way to remove it temporarily.
And before you ask – NO it does not make it grow in thicker or darker. So really it’s a no-lose situation.
Just give it a try once this month and see if you like it!
You can buy the blades on Amazon for cheap, or go to Target/Bed Bath and Beyond/etc. and they’ll have them! I got mine from Bed Bath and Beyond, but I think next time I’ll try to find smaller blades that can be more precise.
Personally I don’t mind my peach fuzz that much so I’d only do it for special occasions where I’d want to look my absolute best or wear a full face of makeup. (That’s another added bonus of dermaplaning – it makes your foundation go on SO much smoother and last much longer.)
Epilate your Arm Hair
There’s nothing wrong with body hair, but sometimes there’s something subtly attractive about smooth, silky arms.
In all my (painful) experimentation, I’ve found that epilating is hands down my favorite method of hair removal.
But ONLY for my forearms! I’m telling you it’s really not worth it to epilate your legs, armpits, or God forbid any other region. Forearms, hands, fingers, and the top of your feet/toes are the only places I’d recommend epilating.
So what is epilating?
Epilating is the method of hair removal where you use a small electronic device called an “epilator” to quickly pluck out hairs via several swiping motions across the skin. If you use it correctly, it’s a fast process and really isn’t too painful. Bonus is that since it’s plucking hair from the root, the results are very long lasting.
It might sound and look scary, but rest assured a good epilator will never pinch your skin. Just be very light with the swipe motions on your forearms, and on fingers and toes all you need is tiny light touches on the skin to grab hold of the hairs once and for all.
I recommend epilating your arms before you shower – just do it on dry skin. Then get in the shower to rinse off the hair, very gently exfoliate as usual with a gentle soap, and then pat dry and apply a thick layer of nourishing lotion. Your arms will feel amazing!!
I use an epilator like this one from Amazon. Be sure to do your own research to find out which one you like best.
Do a Full Body Aspirin Scrub
I’m telling you guys – Aspirin is an absolute game changer for your skincare. And it’s exactly what you’ll need about a week and a half after you dermaplane your face and a few days after you epilate your arms.
Aspirin is basically salicylic acid – which is a natural byproduct of certain plants such as the Willow tree.
And you may already know that salicylic acid applied to the skin sheds dead skin cells and decreases inflammation. This means your skin is left exfoliated, silky soft, and calmed.
Here’s the process. It’s really unbelievably easy:
- Take 5-10 UNCOATED aspirin tablets in a small dish and use your fingers to drip in just enough warm water to cover the tablets.
- Watch closely and you’ll notice the aspirin start to “explode” as it absorbs the drops.
- Keep adding water little by little until the aspirin is dissolved to a wet powdery substance.
- Do your face first. Pump a little gentle face wash in your hand and scoop up a bit of the dissolved aspirin. Start scrubbing your face with it all around. Enjoy the gentle exfoliation and how it feels against your skin 🙂 Then feel free to add a little more aspirin as needed for problem areas and really work on any areas that tend to get flaky. For me that’s the edges of my nostrils and my chin crease. (If you recently dermaplaned, this is the perfect time to help your peach fuzz grow in right by buffing away any fine dead skin.)
- Next you’ll do your body. Follow the same process except use a pump of your favorite body wash to mix with the aspirin. Use your hands to scrub it all around especially on problem areas. I recommend avoiding using a loofah to spread the scrub because you’ll never get all the aspirin bits out of it.
- Finally make sure to lather up with a super nourishing lotion afterwards so that your silky, supple skin lasts!
Get a Haircut/Trim
We all know a haircut is the easiest way to switch up your look! Try something new that makes you feel confident.
Declutter Your Space
You can look as great as you want, but you won’t feel great until you’re in a good mindset. Decluttering is the #1 easiest step to take to get in a healthy mindset. Take a day to tidy up your space and make it look magazine worthy.
Donate or Sell Clothes You Don’t Like Anymore
If you want a full-on glow up, you’ll need to make sure your clothing is reflecting your own unique style every day you go out. Take a day to kickstart this process by donating or selling clothes you don’t want to wear anymore. If it doesn’t reflect the style you want to portray, maybe it’s time to say goodbye!
Where to donate: Goodwill, Value Village/Unique, Salvation Army, etc.
Where to sell: Uptown Cheapskate, Plato’s Closet, ThredUP, Poshmark, Offerup, Facebook Marketplace, a yard sale. (Read my article about how to sell all your stuff and maximize your earnings here!)
Do It Daily (Pick 5 from this list):
Wash your Face with ONLY Water and a Wash Cloth (No Chemical Cleansers!)
If there’s one thing I’ve learned during all my skin struggles, it’s that most of my problems had been rooted in some sort of product irritation.
I know – it’s hard to accept. With all the money and time we invest in products we hope will save our skin, it can be downright upsetting to find out that they were the causes to our problems.
Therefore I challenge you – If you have any skin problems, before you start looking for another expensive product to tackle your problem, cut out all your other products. That means serums, cleansers, toners – all of it – for 30 days.
You’ll probably find that you’ve given your skin a much needed break to calm down without being bombarded daily with chemicals.
Unless you’ve been specifically prescribed something for your skin by a doctor, probably all you need to maintain balance is warm water and a wash cloth. I usually only use a facial cleanser once a month, when I’m doing an aspirin scrub (see above). When I do, I use this amazing gentle cleanser from Free & Clear.
Moisturize Heavily
This is such a big tip for everyone out there. Guys, girls, even those of you with oily skin. Use moisturizer!
Every time you wash your face – even with just water – or take a shower, your skin is looking for a protective barrier. If you don’t moisturize as soon as your skin is dabbed dry, your skin will start to compensate by creating oil. This is why if you get in the habit of not moisturizing your skin, you may notice it start to get oilier. Or you may notice it becomes a flaky, dry desert lol! Either way it sucks.
I have dry skin, so I switched from using this light lotion to this super heavy lotion. I never thought I’d use a heavy lotion on my face, but it’s a game changer. My skin feels so much more supple and calm throughout the whole day.
Whiten your Teeth
Biggest. Glow up. Tip. Right. Here. Whiten your teeth!!
30 days is the perfect amount of time to get started with home whitening treatments.
But, of all of these tips, this is the one I encourage the MOST caution with. Yes, you need to be consistent, but you also can’t go overboard. Make sure to follow the instructions of the product you’re using. When in doubt, always do a little less and never do more.
Even a slight whitening will be noticeable by others, even if you might not notice it yourself since it is such a gradual process.
A whiter smile elevates your whole face, makes you look clean, bright and so attractive!
Plank for 1 Minute
Seriously – have you ever seen an easier Glow Up Challenge?! I’m only prescribing 60 seconds of workout a day! And the best part is, you probably won’t even break a sweat.
It’s easy for a reason: I want you to actually stick to it!
You always have 60 seconds in your day to commit to this. It’s fun, its rewarding, and…not as easy as it sounds!! If you’re not in the greatest shape, it might even take you a few days before you can do a full 60 second plank with no breaks.
Planks are such a healthy habit to get into. They strengthen your whole body – including your all-important core – and they are low impact and safe. Get the form down correctly on day one, and you’ll find you won’t be suffering any aches and pains from improper form or impact.
They’re a great habit to get into, and you’ll probably find that once you’re on the floor doing a plank, you’re suddenly motivated to do a few other exercises while you’re in the groove.
Use Weights or Resistance Bands while Watching TV
In middle school I overheard a girl say that if she wants to watch TV, her parents make her toss a weight ball back and forth from hand to hand. That stuck with me for 15 YEARS.
It’s absolutely genius. Get into the habit of playing around (safely) with some light weights or resistance bands while you watch TV and boom. Without barely noticing, you’re improving your health while having a grand time.
Brush Your Hair and Scalp (Every Morning and Evening)
This sounds so basic, I know. But it’s something I just started committing to this Fall, and seriously – it has fixed all my hair and scalp issues. They’re done.
THIS Wet Brush is the brush you need for this!! Notice it’s not the original Wet Brush design – it’s the shower version. It has stiffer bristles but still the same gentle detangling effect. It gives the best scalp massage and easily glides through hair. For guys, I highly recommend this Wet Brush. I’m not sponsored by Wet Brush, I promise lol. But they seriously make game changing brushes.
I had a mysterious scalp pain every day. Nothing acute, just an overall achiness, kind of like when you wear your hair in a tight ponytail for too long. I tried everything, changing shampoos, doing no shampoo, doing scalp treatments – NOTHING helped.
Once again, simplicity has prevailed. All I needed to do was essentially give myself a thorough scalp massage every morning and night. I just lean over my tub with my hair hanging upside down (wet or dry is fine), and brush it thoroughly. Bonus is it gets rid of so much loose hair that would otherwise fall out around your house, room, in your food (you girls understand…), or in your bed. Just use a tissue and pick up excess hair before it goes down your drain.
Intermittent Fasting
Intermittent fasting is the easiest method I’ve found for myself to maintain a healthy weight without “dieting.”
It’s not about what you eat. It’s about when you eat.
It’s simple to get started, just pick an 8 hour window of the day that you want to eat. If you’re like me and never feel like eating breakfast anyway, this might mean you eat for the first time at noon. Then you have until 8 pm to finish eating before bed.
Disclaimer: I’m not a medical professional and am not intending to give medical advice. As with all of these tips, please do your own research and talk to your doctor to ensure you stay safe and healthy.
Cut Out Processed Snacks
I promise you – after a month without any chips or processed snacks, you won’t even crave them anymore.
As an alternative, I find it super easy to buy a bunch of cucumbers, bell peppers, carrots, etc. Wash them, cut/peel them, and put them in a tupperware in the fridge for up to 5 days. Then whenever you get a craving, you have a nice, crisp, healthy snack waiting for you!
Take Biotin Supplements for Hair, Skin, and Nails
I used to take these every morning and was literally SHOOK at how well they worked. Most supplements you don’t really see or feel a difference, but with biotin…yes. You notice very quickly a difference – especially in your nails.
These are the ones I’ve tried – feel free to pick a brand that works for you!
Do It Every Other Day:
Tretinoin Face Cream Overnight (Prescription Needed, but so Worth it)
I was about 19 years old when I finally told my primary care physician about my acne scars. I was frustrated because I’d only get the occasional pimple, but it would be so deep that it would always leave a pesky scar! So even if my skin was totally smooth, it didn’t look clear because of all the scarring.
That’s when I got a prescription for Tretinoin cream – and my skin LITERALLY was transformed in 1 WEEK!
This is a product I always recommend to anyone I know.
Not only does it refresh your skin deeply and get rid of scars, but I have noticed my pores are SO much smaller, my skintone is SO even, and I can literally minimize any developing smile lines overnight. Sounds extreme but that really is my experience! For reference I use a 0.025% Tretinoin Cream (a weaker formula) and it still has these life changing results.
Talk to your doctor to see if health insurance will cover a prescription for tretinoin. Once you reach a certain age, insurance might not cover it because they think it is for cosmetic use (reducing wrinkles). That’s why I urge you to talk to your doctor as soon as possible especially if you have acne scarring. A big tube of prescription grade tretinoin cream will probably run you about $30 (copay if your insurance covers it). So I highly recommend you do not settle for expensive non-prescription grade retinol. It is weaker, has more additives, and might not get you the results you want.
Expose your Skin to Sun for 20 Minutes (Vitamin D)
We all know about the dangers of sun exposure for your skin and the importance of sunscreen. But with quarantines and sedentary lifestyles, I think it’s also really important to stress the importance of getting enough sun exposure. Sunlight boosts your mood, gets you outside in fresh air, gives your skin a little glow, and gives you Vitamin D.
Do It Once a Week:
Deep Condition Your Hair
Use a deep conditioner – store bought or DIY – and see what works for you! If nothing else it feels good to pamper yourself every now and then.
Work Out or Dance in your Room for 1 Hour
Again – so easy! If you love working out, great! Dedicate 1 hour per week to breaking a sweat.
If you don’t love working out so much…put on a long playlist and dance in your room for an hour. Wear wireless headphones if you don’t want to annoy your housemates.
Take a Selfie
I’m so proud of you for trying out this challenge! I hope you pick up one or two things that you’ll adopt into your regular routine.
Take a confidence boosting selfie once a week! Not only will you be proud of where you are, but by the end of the month you’ll be able to see your progression!
Don’t Forget to DM Me @themonthlymigrant on IG if any of these Tips Worked for You!
I seriously abide by all these tips and wish someone had shared them with me all in one bundle YEARS ago! I really hope you give these a shot and let me know if they change your life like they changed mine!!
Of course I’m not nearly done glowing up in my life either 😉 So please DM me too if you have a tip you want to share with me!
Sharing is caring girls/guys!
As always thanks for reading to the bottom 😉 xoxo Tammi
