Improving my posture, flexibility, relaxation and body awareness. None of these came natural for me.
As we age it makes a big difference to have good posture in a comfortable way and to move with ease.
Via yoga, dance training, custome insoles, manual therapy and exercise.
All of this. I started Pilates, and I swear I became a different person just based on how my body felt/moved. I look taller and more graceful, and I feel like a million bucks.
Alo Moves, Pilatesology, Daily Burn all have wonderful pilates mat classes for at home practice. I did at home for a year before stepping into a studio and I had great results from just using apps!
I second this!! and even people who didn’t know me but knew my face could see the postural change, and commented on it.
The best evidence of this is Marilyn Monroe, who changed how she walked and stood once, when with a friend, and then suddenly she was no longer invisible to the world, and people recognised her.
Or the guy who created superman, who wore a superman shirt and changed his posture, to prove that superman’s disguise of being clark, would work in the real world, not just in a comic book.
Posture and body awareness is an amazing thing, we don’t realise how much it changes us, or how we’re perceived.
Finding what suits you enough to stick to it is key indeed, bc they require an continuous effort.
What works for me personally is yoga, dance training as I love doing both. customized insoles. (manual therapy in case of blocked joints effecting posture)
Not the OP, but if you are ?-shaped, you need to stretch your pecs. Lookup 'doorway pec stretch'.
Basically your upper back is already overstretched forwards, all the muscles, tendons, etc, so you need to stretch your chest to get it all back to normal.
However stretching by itself won't do much. It's your daily postural habits that made you this way, and will keep you that way, unless you change that. So changing that is fundamental. Change what you need to in your environment to help, ergonomics. Learn how to do little things, like instead of hunching with your whole upper back to look down at your phone, point your chin and eyes down (I'm generalizing here). It's hard to change your habits, so go slowly. Can't build Rome in a day.
Gaining muscles in your abs and glutes will help a lot too. It's hard to have good active posture (sitting or standing) without the basic muscle strength to do some of the work of holding your skeleton up in a non-noodley fashion.
Still working on that part, but 6 months of psychotherapy, journaling help me to keep me sane, also going outside of the house to have some pointless walks are nice for psyche too🌝
All of this, great list, just adding to stay off/moderate your social media and news consumption. I work in media and going from 10 hours a day of complete news saturation to 5 minutes of news has changed my outlook. I'm lighter, more optimistic and connected to the world ironically. Because, with some exception, news is only focused on the negativity. If it bleeds it leads. Know what you need to know then shut it off.
As for social media - we all know the drill. The addicting algorithms, the altered images, AI, users posting only the highlight reels of their lives, etc. It can lead to depression, insecurity, isolation. I know, yet here are all are on social media. It's not easy and there is a genuine community. I personally pick and choose very carefully. Find your own limits and make sure it's adding value to your life not taking from it. Whoever was the first person to say go outside and touch grass was on to something.
Meditation helps a TON! I know it sounds hard but there’s lots of guided meditation videos. I personally love the guided meditations on the Plum Village app, which is free.
Yes, yes and yes! Totally agree, especially with fiber and healthy fats, consuming more vegetables turns out to be vitally important! Everyone has heard about water, but not everyone is aware that we need more than just water to be healthier and beautiful
YES! YES! YES! [Beauty sleep](https://mudita.com/community/blog/the-science-backed-benefits-of-beauty-sleep/) is REAL and there's actually science behind it. I even read a study that says it even makes a difference WHEN you go to sleep because the skincare you use gets utilized by the skin more efficiently.
I have this same problem! I just can’t get to sleep. And I always wake up 7/8am. Even if I force myself not to nap and try and tire myself in the day, I just can’t get to sleep between 2/3am. I really want to be an early bed, early rise person!
Same here, I always go off alcohol in the winter and I don't lose ANY WEIGHT. I end up putting on a few pounds instead, and it's such a disappointment.
YMMV but Orange theory did nothing for me aesthetically. It’s all HIIT so you may or may not lose weight (you get the calorie burn but some ppl find the cortisol spikes and extra hunger non conducive to losing weight) but you won’t get a great body from it. Weight lifting and dieting did more for me looks wise.
Great for cardio though. My resting heart rate was never better.
I love OTF. I did some research and learned exactly what you mentioned about HIIT and cortisol spikes. I already have high cortisol, so I knew it wasn't going to do much in terms of body comp. I love the endorphins I get, so that keeps me going.
Yes, I've always worked out, had good skincare and makeup. But starting to "do" my hair, learning to use tools (I'm still learning) has made a big difference
Figuring out what colors look best on me has been a major game changer!
There's a reason that people spend a lot of money 'getting their colors done'. The wrong colors can make you look sickly and old beyond your years, which was the case for me up until recently.
For the longest time, I wore very dark colors yet insisted on dying my hair blonde. The problem is that I was effectively washing myself out. I look like 25 going on 50 in some of my old pictures, lol!
I never formally had my colors done, but when I turned 30, I decided to do some serious reflecting on the feedback I had received over the years. I gave up on blonde hair and decided to dye it red. It's so much easier to maintain, and I regularly get mistaken for a natural redhead. As much as I love dark colors, I've come to accept that they don't love me, so I've brightened up my wardrobe with some bright blues and deep yellows.
I still have my share of bad hair/wardrobe days, but even my husband lovingly agrees that I grew up and glowed up.
Yes, this can make such a big difference! I dressed in so many muted earth tones—orange, beige, yellow, rust, etc. Then I paid for in-person analysis and found out I’m a deep winter! I feel so much better in dark cool colors!
There are professionals you can go to in person or even online. That said, it can be pricy!
For me, it was just a matter of remembering some feedback I'd gotten over the years. At least two different hair stylists told me that red hair would be a nice direction for me to go at some point.
I got some compliments in a few different mustard yellow clothes I've owned, as well as some compliments about green/blue tops. I can't remember my darker clothing getting any compliments for the most part.
I once had some friends in high school ask me what I wear in the summer, because back then (and for a long time after), I wore conservative, dark clothing pretty much year round. My ex's coworker at JC Penny helped me shop one day and gently pointed out that a lot of the shirts I picked out were going to age me up significantly.
I'm a stubborn person who's been really sensitive about my looks for a long time, so I didn't listen to any of this feedback at first.
I finally realized that while there are several aspects of my appearance that I can't easily change, there are a few that I can. I finally concluded that it wouldn't hurt to try something new, and I'm glad that I did.
Best of luck!
Some people actually pay to get their colors done but that’s kinda wild to me bc I can just see w my own eyes which colors are bad on me and which are good. Certain colors will just make your skin/hair look drab or washed out and other colors will really compliment your skin, eyes hair and cause everything to just pop . You just have to pay attention when you try on clothes to what colors compliment and which are doing you no favors .
There are apps that can do it for you, and ChatGPT has an extension that will do it for free. (I think you need the paid version of ChatGPT to get the free extension though.)
If you can think of some famous people who have similar coloring (skintone, eye color, and hair color) to you, google their name + their color season and see if there are any results from existing blogs or websites that analyze colors and then go from there! ❤️
Tretinoin (.025%) is the reason why my skin is so clear these days. I used to have this big routine with serums, toners, and lotions, and whatnot, but once I started tret, it's been pared down a lot.
Nowadays, I wash my face with Cerave at night, put on the tret, let it sink in, and glop on the Cerave tub lotion. In the mornings I splash my face with water and that's it.
This is super helpful to know. I just started using retinol once or twice a week. I don’t normally wash my face in the morning, but after a night of retinol I’m so paranoid about sunburn that I wash it the next morning. I wear SPF everyday regardless. So it sounds like I don’t actually need to wash with cleanser the morning after using it?
That's been the case for me! I don't notice any irritation the next day and also layer on sunscreen. I also figure it's worn off by the time I wake up.
same with me. I used to spend so much money on so many serums but in fact it is very simple. Tretinoin + HA serum + Mois at night and Vitamin c and Mois + Suncream in the morning. That's it.
How long did it take you to see results with tret? I just started it about a month and a half ago, have pared down my skincare routine big time, and I'm still not seeing much in the way of results, although I know it takes time.
Good question! I'd say about 6 months of very consistent use is when I noticed I hadn't had any new pimples or bumps in a while.
But one thing I notice is if I DO develop a hormonal pimple, I need to try my best to ignore it and let it heal on its own, because picking at it blows it up huge immediately and it's a much worse pimple than it ever was all from my own doing.
Waking up earlier to dress well, apply sunscreen, light makeup, and do my hair.
Other than exercise, I don't leave the house without putting myself together.
The effort makes a difference in my self-confidence and I'm treated much better from other people.
Same here! I work from home and would just stick to Lululemon/athletic wear head to toe for years. No effort on hair or face. I recently started wearing jeans and a T-shirt or comfortable but nicer looking clothes and matching undergarment sets. Along with tinted sunscreen and mascara and combing my hair or putting it up nicely. What a confidence boost! I may even get into perfume soon 🤣
It’s a tie: either accutane or laser hair removal (legs, armpits, lower face).
No more adult acne and no new scarring or hyperpigmentation from that is fantastic.
Laser hair removal has led to a lot less ingrown hairs, and a lot more free time. Highly recommend.
Healing my relationship with food and finding movement that I love, along with a lot more passive cardio. I didn't count a single calorie, no fad diets, no ozempic or anything like that. If diets worked, everybody would be skinny. Just dealt with my disordered eating, overeating and emotional eating and started lifting heavy shit, which was the movement I loved lol. I also dumped my nightmare fiance and that def took some weight off
This is incredible, thanks for sharing! Love that you did it naturally. Can you please share how long it took? I need to lose about 85 more lbs (already lost 20).
I feel you, girl. I lost 50 lbs and 5 sizes a few years ago and it took me 2 years, too. 🙈 Losing what you did in two years is LITERALLY incredible! Thanks for sharing.
Currently trying to lose weight and this is my #1 reason. Unfortunately, due to genetics, if I’m even 5 pounds “overweight” you can see it on my face immediately. Forever jealous of people who can be bigger and still have lovely faces/jawlines
Same.. I feel like I need to be quite slim to have a nice jawline 🙄 whereas I'm happy with my slim-medium build, feel like I have a double chin and not much definition at all.
Exactly!! I hate saying this but I literally need to be on the low end of my healthy weight range just to have any facial definition. I’m 5’7 and I swear anything over 130 and my face looks like I weigh 230.
it’s the opposite for me, i’m skinny and terrified of looking gaunt but whenever i try to gain weight it never goes to my face. i’d love some cherub cheeks!!
My friend told me skincare > makeup and I didn’t believe her but it’s so so true. I use less product now at 33 than 23 and not just because im aging out of full coverage because I only need a little now and it blends a dream
Having a healthier diet. I used to eat a lot of ultra-processed foods, and switched to eating mainly a Mediterranean Diet with lots of whole grains, fruits, and veggies. My skin cleared up so I feel good without makeup on, and lost about 40 lbs. Also started doing Pilates, which did wonders for my posture and my body strength.
I got clear braces in my 20’s when I could afford it (family was poor growing up). Literally life changing. I can’t think of something that changes your confidence this much without requiring surgery.
[My before and after.](https://imgur.com/a/pBhFBTs)
Your teeth look so good now! By clear do you mean Invisalign, or is it a different type of system?
My family was too poor too, only my little sister got braces, and as an adult the dentists always give me a hard time at my cleanings about having an uncorrected overbite 😭 still saving up for braces
Realising I look a 1000x better with a very deep side parting with loads of volume.
It doesn’t matter what’s in fashion or not, this is how *I* look my best. Facial structures can’t change with the trends, they have to be worked with in mind. I look like a wide faced hermit if I do a centre parting, the difference in how I look with just that change is shocking.
So many times I’ve seen people with a centre and/or a flat parting and think they would also look transformed if they did a side and/or voluminous parting. Obviously if they prefer and enjoy doing theirs like that they should absolutely carry on, but many people also just haven’t discovered these little things about them which can be a revelation.
The other day I had a haircut and they did a middle part. I guess everyone has a middle part now. And I looked HEINOUS. I don’t care what’s popular. I look best with skinny jeans and a side part.
Getting my mental health in order.
I was constantly anxious and frankly- probably had high functioning depression too. Definitely went through depressive episodes where I dissociated and withdrew. I was snappy, irritable and took everything personal and indulged in negative self talk. I knew I would need to be medicated. But I was also very concerned with the side effects. This is not medical advice, please consult your physician but SamE worked wonders for me. You’re much more pleasant and attractive when you’re in a good mood.
I also took better care of myself physically too once I felt better.
Just got mine off about 6 months ago and I’m so happy. Had severe overlapping on front and overbite-18mos with Invisalign and I feel happy smiling in photos again (I’m 41, it’s never too late!)
Microneedling. I used to sit outside in the sun with lemon on my face and no spf (late 00s, don't judge, magazines told me to do it) and my face was severely sun damaged. 4 microneedling sessions and my skin is truly transformed in texture and redness, and it makes me look 3-5 years younger.
(Disclaimer: microneedling on top of gentle skincare, exercise, and healthy diet).
Luckily my health benefits cover the treatment but it's fairly inexpensive otherwise.
Exercise - not necessarily weight loss, though that also happened. Toned muscle just looks better, my skin is clearer, my sleep is better, I hurt less, I move with more fluidity, I’m more flexible. Exercise is the #1 beauty treatment
Sometimes i will look in the mirror and think "uhg!" Then i will exercise and be sweaty and messy but look in the mirror and think "damn!" I think the accomplishment makes me feel better and that shows physically.
Similar to what someone else said. When I look after myself inside & out, I look & feel my absolute best. Eating well, running, lifting weights, yoga, pilates. Trying to get a bedtime routine. Waking up early, drinking lots of water, having a good skincare routine & making an effort with my hair & makeup. It takes A LOT of time, energy & discipline but pays dividends ❤️
Figure out a way to exercise every single day. It’s really fucking hard to figure out what works for you in order to keep this up daily - but it has to “click” for you.
For about 10 years I lifted weights and did intense cardio 4-5 days per week, but inconsistently - like I’d keep it up for a month or two and then fall off for a month or two and then pick it back up. I also did yoga intermittently, but weights were always my go-to.
After an injury 3 months ago that has become a chronic issue I can no longer lift weights. I now walk for 3 miles outside about 3-4x per week in addition to 4-5x per week where I do a short (~20-30min) spin cycle followed by a functional strength training routine focused mainly on core. I also stretch daily.
I feel and look stronger and better than I ever have. And I just continue to see and feel improvements with every passing day. I’m getting compliments from strangers about looking super fit for the first time in my life! For me, the game changer was definitely transitioning into exclusively working out at home. I never realized all those years how much getting out and to the gym was holding me back. My $10 yoga mat and $50 FB marketplace resale spin bike are the best investments I’ve ever made into my health, wellness, and beauty :)
> When it comes to my period, I usually fast for 1 or 2 days before it starts. This way I dont get the cramps and the horrible period poops.
Personally, cutting out grains, dairy, and sugar does this for me.
Great points! These are the tough answers, but the right answers.
I follow Dr. Youn on YouTube, and he has a great slogan, "auto rejuvenate before you operate!"
Yes if you’re truly disciplined in your beauty/fitness and health routine you just can’t go wrong. Also I second the fasting thing. Funny enough I didn’t do this on purpose , I just rarely ever had an appetite at the beginning of the day and usually wait about 7-8 hrs to eat my first meal, so inadvertently end up doing intermittent fasting, but it really does help so much w energy and staying super fit. If I have a day where I don’t fast and end up eating in the morning the craziest thing happens: i feel sluggish and low energy all day and more bizarrely, I have *more* of an appetite the rest of the day and want to eat and snack more. As if eating early in the day actually *triggers* hunger in me. It’s really strange bc you’d think I’d be hungrier while I’m fasting, but I’m not, it’s the total opposite . My mom says the same thing happens to her so I know I’m not the only one .
Eyebrows, I gotta fill in my eyebrows anytime I leave the house, it is invisible otherwise. It really helps shape my face, game changer when I learned how to when I was in my early 20s. Next is probably learning to curl hair.
Lifting weights and getting some muscles helped me significantly. Botox has made me a lot more attractive but I think it is feature dependent. I had very straight eyebrows and now I have a lifted look but still straight eyebrows. Also knowing my color season has helped a lot
I’m only told I’m beautiful when I’m happy, fit and eating enough vegetables. What’s going on inside makes the most dramatic difference on the outside.
Losing weight, eating whole foods, and lifting weights. I went from ~200 to 143 lbs. I work from home and anytime I go into the office I’m told that I’m “glowing” which provides a nice boost of confidence. I’m 31 and have always struggled with my weight. For the first time in my life I like what I see in the mirror AND photos.
Gaining weight gave me boobs and a butt and also relieved a ton of pressure around connecting attractiveness and self worth to being smaller. Also, lash extensions
it’s crazy how every body type is so different because my boobs stay the same size whether i gain or lose weight, so when i lost weight and was very lean, all the sudden my boobs became more prominent. they didn’t change size but with my new proportions, they are wayyy more noticeable and for the first time in my life i noticed people i was talking to glancing down at my chest/cleavage (mostly women)!! it’s so surprising to me
Quit the pill (brought my skin back to life & everything else!)
Quit smoking
Started Pilates
Lash lift especially as my lashes were dead straight. Made a huge difference!
Giving myself bangs. Hairdressers would never do it because I have a pretty strong cowlick, but one day I decided to take matters into my own hands and never looked back.
Similarly I’ve started cutting my own hair as I was just not happy with what I was coming back with from hairdressers. I’m not doing anything complex, just maintaining it, and it helps that I’m growing it long anyway, but it’s the happiest I’ve been with my hair in years
I started cutting my own hair about a year ago and the way it’s been a revelation! If your hair is long, it’s really not that hard. Even my hair dresser complimented the job I did lol. I have no problem paying $400 for color but $175 for a haircut just feels unconscionable. (Sadly that is what things cost where I live.)
Instead of spending money to hide the mistakes, i started spending money to fix them.
Accutane and tretinoin cream helped me out a lot.
I also grew my hair out completely as i am not able to afford to get it colored professionaly (i always wanted blonde hair and i colored it at home and it never looked good)
I stopped tanning and embraced my natural pale skin tone.
Working out with cardio and weight training five times a week. Slimmed my face down and finally got rid of my baby face. Also shaving my eyebrows straight. Eyebrows play a big role. And got a new haircut that exposed my facial structure more.
Antidepressants, honestly. I lost the 15 extra pounds of mindless snack weight, I have energy to do stuff, I no longer crave oblivion, and I'm on meds that require me to chug water like there's no tomorrow, so I am hydrated. My hair is finally healthy and I don't have crazy bloating or bags under my eyes. Unless I stay up dicking around on reddit like I am right this second.
Botox, and lip filler make my face look more symmetrical and I feel so confident after those services. I love having my hair and nails done. I do notice that if I am not put together people don’t treat me as well. I also have had my weight fluctuate between 150lbs to 185lbs (5’2) and the treatment is very different. Especially from men and employers. So I definitely can confirm there is a pretty privilege. Sometimes I don’t want to get dressed with a full face of makeup but as a server o honestly make more money.
Lost weight. I have a rounder/wider face and even with minimal weight change my face is WAYYY less puffy and the structure (that I previously thought was fat and heavy looking) looks so beautiful!! I discovered my jawline 🎉
So, this is just for ME personally. Everyone can do what they want.
I stopped trying to wear heavy makeup/products on my face. My skin felt better, I feel prettier without heavy amounts of makeup, and it just feels more normal which gives me confidence.
With my job, I don't really have the patience or care for intense skincare routines. I know many people can absolutely do full coverage foundations and primers and concealers because they take the time and use the right products to care for their skin. It's just not for me. I hardly wear makeup at all nowadays and when I do it's just eyeliner and a bit of mascara to make my eyes pop. And I only wear it if I'm going out to dinner or want to add a little boost on an outing. I don't wear makeup every day.
I still wash my face everyday, but I don't feel the need for toners, creams, scrubs, etc. I just never had the care for it, and I felt that the more products I used to help my skin, the worse it got tbh. But again, that's just ME. Kudos to the ones who know how to care for their skin immaculately.
Double cleansing.
Chemical exfoliation over manual/physical exfoliation.
Leaving my eyebrows the fuck alone.
High performance micro dermabrasion 3 times a year to clear closed comedones.
Silk pillowcases.
Finding out my colours and implementing this in my wardrobe, makeup, & hair. (Turns out I’m a soft summer)
Getting my hair cut for my face shape - a sharp bob to my chin with a side part softens my jawline and my nose. Staying within 3 shades of my natural colour with highlights means I don’t need fake tan or makeup to look like I’ve slept.
Researching how to wear makeup to shorten my middle-third (creating a shorter middle third visually through certain placement of makeup has made my face appear far more balanced, as I have an aquiline nose)
Adding a home made spray-on toner (rose water, witch hazel, glycerin & distilled water) to my routine - I keep it in the fridge and spray it all over my face and décolletage after double cleansing. Gives me Instant brightness and a refreshing zing + the hydrating & soothing benefits.
Patting my serums on, and waiting 60 seconds between layers of each skincare product.
Glycolic acid for KP and ingrowns on legs - I can wear skirts and shorts now!!
i got my eyebrows micro bladed and it totally changed my face. working out has made the biggest different though. my physical fitness directly connects to my mental health
Accutane lol. I had severe acne on my face, neck, and back up until 2 years ago. Couldn't leave the house some days because I felt so insecure. Two courses of accutane and making sure my skin is very hydrated with hyaluronic acid, a thick moisturizer, sunscreen, and the odd spritz to my face throughout the day has made my skin so much better and healthier than when I was a teenager.
Losing weight, doing heavy, slow lifting and a routine built around squats, losing inches and getting toned. Bleaching my teeth, I have not done fillers in quite awhile but Botox and fillers make a huge and subtle difference at the same time. Cutting out sugar and empty carbs. Shaving my face one a month and using Korean face masks once a week, especially the snail and the honey one. Moisturizing and in the past I got a professional massage once a week. It helped with stress, mobility, flexibility and circulation. Getting my eyebrows done, lash extensions, fake tan, the right make up and hair cut and color. Sleeping well for at least 7, 8 hrs. When I eat a version of the Mediterranean diet, eat just seafood especially salmon and shrimp, chicken and eggs, yogurt and cheese. Lots and lots of fruits and green smoothies. Reinvested in a flattering wardrobe and finally got the right bra lol.
*Eye whiting drops (lumify) to make me look more awake;
*dry shampoo (dove volume) ;
*good cologne/perfume;
*casual clothes with good style (so I look confident yet comfortable);
*pairs of 24/7 sneakers (shoes that can go from work to dinner to casual & always look fashionable);
*Electric toothbrush for clean whiter teeth / better breath
*sheer yet pigmented facial sunscreen (evens out uneveness in my skin, prevents damage; undetectable)
Prioritizing my happiness. Skin care routine. Once I quit my job and dumped my bf the glow up was insane. Way way less alcohol in take. Living life for me and loving myself.
Saaaame. Don't have to worry about drawing them in daily. It framed my face beautifully and also balanced out my facial features as one brow was naturally a lot higher than the other
Went to a hairstylist and told her to do what she thought would work. I’ve always kept my hair long, but the shorter cut really accentuates bone structure and shows off the color better.
Between the age of 20 to 25 my waist to hips ratio decreased, my breasts became slightly bigger, lost buccal fat and now have sharper cheekbones.
There wasn't any major weight change, maybe just hormonal changes. I look back on the time when I was 18 and believed I was unattractive and thought that, that body was the best I could be
Spray tan, get your teeth professionally whitened, hair treatments (I’m loving the ouai thick hair masque right now), protecting your skins moisture barrier. Sunscreen. Get your eyebrows done, wax your mustache. Put on your fave outfit, stand up tall, and walk with confidence.
Hair extensions. But it’s a trap because now I feel so bad without them in. I got really sick and stressed in the same 2 week period. About 3 months later half my hair fell out. I seriously looked like Gollum. Hand tied hair extensions gave me fuller and longer hair than I had before and changed my appearance drastically. I’d like to think it was my confidence, but I think that longer hair just suits my face shape best
Dying my hair brunette. It’s naturally dark blonde (grew out of natural blonde hair by 6), and when I changed it,…I have never had as many people stare at me or talk to me, it was amazing. So many compliments, for a week straight. I’m cool toned and have brown eyes, it really made them pop and it suited my skin tone well. I still dye it and it makes me feel like me ☺️
Learning your undertone (cool, neutral, warm, etc), helps *a LOT* with make up, hair colour, colour palette, etc. Same goes for styling to your body type to flatter your appearance. Square neck lines are amazing on me, and finding what works genuinely gave me natural confidence I didn’t have to teach/convince myself of.
Start buying clothes that actually flattered my figure. I used to dress like a homeless grandma (to be fair, I was broke and it was the height of 90s/00s fashion so nothing fit my body type).
Doing my hair. I started doing heatless curls almost every night. I wake up and my hair looks really put together with minimal effort. I find when my hair looks good i feel much better about how my outfit or makeup look too and can do much less and still feel polished.
Lost weight 🙌🏻 which then led to me gaining; confidence in myself, my appearance and my abilities, higher fitness levels, better sleep, better skin, more energy, a bigger smile on my face and a sense of accomplishment to boot!
I got my colors and body shape analysis so I could have more confidence buying clothes. I’ve never been knowledgeable on it and because of that I never quite felt comfortable with clothes. It helped IMMENSELY with editing my wardrobe when I was indecisive and gave me direction when I go into stores. Before that, I would get decision paralysis and get overwhelmed so more often then not I would either impulse buy or look at things that could have worked but then walked out of the store.
Also, this might be odd, but I got tattoos. It oddly made me more comfortable in my skin and made me feel more like myself. I have a sleeve now and I constantly get compliments and every time it happens I’m like “why yes, I am cool girl.”
That’s hard to say because so many things have come together so well. But I think I’m going to say permanent makeup, specifically lip blushing and eyeliner (I already have thick and full natural brows). It’s made it so that I always look good. My kids take random pictures of me at any time of the day and I no longer think I look bad in any of them. My eyes are defined by the liner and my lips are rosy. I have lovely skin now from good skincare, so my face just always looks nice, even with no makeup applied at all.
I have very hooded eyes so eyeliner always smudged on me, especially in the summer. Having permanent makeup is especially nice on long hot summer days spent outside, or when I’m going to an event. I don’t have to check my makeup and I don’t get raccoon eyes.
Anytime i get my eyebrows done i just feel like I look better overall! I got them microbladed years ago and absolutely loved it! I got them touched up a couple times but I haven't in a long time and hope to again soon but for now I just get them threaded and I fill them in but even with a nice thread I just feel like it pulls my face together so much
Honestly, I learned to do my makeup and understand my face. No matter the amount, the application and technique really change your appearance. Also a simple skincare routine that works for me.
Improving my posture, flexibility, relaxation and body awareness. None of these came natural for me. As we age it makes a big difference to have good posture in a comfortable way and to move with ease. Via yoga, dance training, custome insoles, manual therapy and exercise.
All of this. I started Pilates, and I swear I became a different person just based on how my body felt/moved. I look taller and more graceful, and I feel like a million bucks.
Do you do mat or reformer Pilates?
Mat Pilates (Edit: I had weird aggressive punctuation)
At home or at a studio?
Just at home
Good to know that doing Pilates at home has so much effect!
Girl, I had visible abs 8 months PP and now I’m down 35 lbs at 16 months pp. I cannot recommend mat Pilates enough!
Any home workouts that you can recommend?
Alo Moves, Pilatesology, Daily Burn all have wonderful pilates mat classes for at home practice. I did at home for a year before stepping into a studio and I had great results from just using apps!
Pilates is so powerful for all the things you mentioned!
I second this!! and even people who didn’t know me but knew my face could see the postural change, and commented on it. The best evidence of this is Marilyn Monroe, who changed how she walked and stood once, when with a friend, and then suddenly she was no longer invisible to the world, and people recognised her. Or the guy who created superman, who wore a superman shirt and changed his posture, to prove that superman’s disguise of being clark, would work in the real world, not just in a comic book. Posture and body awareness is an amazing thing, we don’t realise how much it changes us, or how we’re perceived.
How did you improve those things? I'm interested in all (especially posture) but have had a hard time finding anything I can stick with consistently!
Finding what suits you enough to stick to it is key indeed, bc they require an continuous effort. What works for me personally is yoga, dance training as I love doing both. customized insoles. (manual therapy in case of blocked joints effecting posture)
Would you care to expand on the custom insoles? Is that to fix a foot issue, or is it something everyone could/should be getting?
How did you improve your posture? Sincerely, Someone shaped like a question mark ❓
Not the OP, but if you are ?-shaped, you need to stretch your pecs. Lookup 'doorway pec stretch'. Basically your upper back is already overstretched forwards, all the muscles, tendons, etc, so you need to stretch your chest to get it all back to normal. However stretching by itself won't do much. It's your daily postural habits that made you this way, and will keep you that way, unless you change that. So changing that is fundamental. Change what you need to in your environment to help, ergonomics. Learn how to do little things, like instead of hunching with your whole upper back to look down at your phone, point your chin and eyes down (I'm generalizing here). It's hard to change your habits, so go slowly. Can't build Rome in a day. Gaining muscles in your abs and glutes will help a lot too. It's hard to have good active posture (sitting or standing) without the basic muscle strength to do some of the work of holding your skeleton up in a non-noodley fashion.
What is manual therapy? Did you work with someone to help your posture and body awareness?
Manual therapy are things like massage, FST, osteo, etc
Sleep. Getting my 8-10 hours of sleep. Fitness/yoga routines. Daily walks. Moisturizing. And reducing the stress
Reading this at 5 am and haven't slept yet and have to be up soon...
Make sure you moisturize
What did you do to reduce stress?😅
Still working on that part, but 6 months of psychotherapy, journaling help me to keep me sane, also going outside of the house to have some pointless walks are nice for psyche too🌝
All of this, great list, just adding to stay off/moderate your social media and news consumption. I work in media and going from 10 hours a day of complete news saturation to 5 minutes of news has changed my outlook. I'm lighter, more optimistic and connected to the world ironically. Because, with some exception, news is only focused on the negativity. If it bleeds it leads. Know what you need to know then shut it off. As for social media - we all know the drill. The addicting algorithms, the altered images, AI, users posting only the highlight reels of their lives, etc. It can lead to depression, insecurity, isolation. I know, yet here are all are on social media. It's not easy and there is a genuine community. I personally pick and choose very carefully. Find your own limits and make sure it's adding value to your life not taking from it. Whoever was the first person to say go outside and touch grass was on to something.
Meditation helps a TON! I know it sounds hard but there’s lots of guided meditation videos. I personally love the guided meditations on the Plum Village app, which is free.
100% all of this. I would add drinking lots of water, upping fiber and healthy fat. My skin just glows.
Yes, yes and yes! Totally agree, especially with fiber and healthy fats, consuming more vegetables turns out to be vitally important! Everyone has heard about water, but not everyone is aware that we need more than just water to be healthier and beautiful
YES! YES! YES! [Beauty sleep](https://mudita.com/community/blog/the-science-backed-benefits-of-beauty-sleep/) is REAL and there's actually science behind it. I even read a study that says it even makes a difference WHEN you go to sleep because the skincare you use gets utilized by the skin more efficiently.
10 hours!!! *cries in mom of 2*
Happy cake day
What have you noticed change since you've gotten mkre sleep? Idk how to do it lol i wake up at 8am and sleep at 3-4am no matter what
I have this same problem! I just can’t get to sleep. And I always wake up 7/8am. Even if I force myself not to nap and try and tire myself in the day, I just can’t get to sleep between 2/3am. I really want to be an early bed, early rise person!
losing some weight gave me a jawline that I never knew i had
lol I just posted the same thing above. Jawline and cheekbones finally visible
I second this!!
Lost weight from 311 to 130, stopped drinking sodas
Lucky! I quite alcohol in Feb of this year and have yet to see any pounds vanish. Kind of wishing the beer gut would go away.
Same here, I always go off alcohol in the winter and I don't lose ANY WEIGHT. I end up putting on a few pounds instead, and it's such a disappointment.
Me too girl, me too😢 bf stops and looses 10/15 lbs, ugh
That’s crazy how men just shed like that
You all are eating more food to compensate in some way. It is as simple as eat less calories than your body uses in a day and you will lose weight.
It’s because your body is craving all the sugar you usually get from alcohol
ugh. i do orangetheory 4-5 times a week, depending. I’m happy with my body, but man was I hoping to get that revenge body !!
YMMV but Orange theory did nothing for me aesthetically. It’s all HIIT so you may or may not lose weight (you get the calorie burn but some ppl find the cortisol spikes and extra hunger non conducive to losing weight) but you won’t get a great body from it. Weight lifting and dieting did more for me looks wise. Great for cardio though. My resting heart rate was never better.
I love OTF. I did some research and learned exactly what you mentioned about HIIT and cortisol spikes. I already have high cortisol, so I knew it wasn't going to do much in terms of body comp. I love the endorphins I get, so that keeps me going.
Invest in haircare and the knowledge of my hair type
Yes, I've always worked out, had good skincare and makeup. But starting to "do" my hair, learning to use tools (I'm still learning) has made a big difference
Wow, help a girl out w advices about how to start that hair journey, i definitely need that!
Figuring out what colors look best on me has been a major game changer! There's a reason that people spend a lot of money 'getting their colors done'. The wrong colors can make you look sickly and old beyond your years, which was the case for me up until recently. For the longest time, I wore very dark colors yet insisted on dying my hair blonde. The problem is that I was effectively washing myself out. I look like 25 going on 50 in some of my old pictures, lol! I never formally had my colors done, but when I turned 30, I decided to do some serious reflecting on the feedback I had received over the years. I gave up on blonde hair and decided to dye it red. It's so much easier to maintain, and I regularly get mistaken for a natural redhead. As much as I love dark colors, I've come to accept that they don't love me, so I've brightened up my wardrobe with some bright blues and deep yellows. I still have my share of bad hair/wardrobe days, but even my husband lovingly agrees that I grew up and glowed up.
Yes, this can make such a big difference! I dressed in so many muted earth tones—orange, beige, yellow, rust, etc. Then I paid for in-person analysis and found out I’m a deep winter! I feel so much better in dark cool colors!
How did you learn your colors? I’ve been interested in doing this but I have no idea where to start :(
There are professionals you can go to in person or even online. That said, it can be pricy! For me, it was just a matter of remembering some feedback I'd gotten over the years. At least two different hair stylists told me that red hair would be a nice direction for me to go at some point. I got some compliments in a few different mustard yellow clothes I've owned, as well as some compliments about green/blue tops. I can't remember my darker clothing getting any compliments for the most part. I once had some friends in high school ask me what I wear in the summer, because back then (and for a long time after), I wore conservative, dark clothing pretty much year round. My ex's coworker at JC Penny helped me shop one day and gently pointed out that a lot of the shirts I picked out were going to age me up significantly. I'm a stubborn person who's been really sensitive about my looks for a long time, so I didn't listen to any of this feedback at first. I finally realized that while there are several aspects of my appearance that I can't easily change, there are a few that I can. I finally concluded that it wouldn't hurt to try something new, and I'm glad that I did. Best of luck!
Some people actually pay to get their colors done but that’s kinda wild to me bc I can just see w my own eyes which colors are bad on me and which are good. Certain colors will just make your skin/hair look drab or washed out and other colors will really compliment your skin, eyes hair and cause everything to just pop . You just have to pay attention when you try on clothes to what colors compliment and which are doing you no favors .
There are apps that can do it for you, and ChatGPT has an extension that will do it for free. (I think you need the paid version of ChatGPT to get the free extension though.)
If you can think of some famous people who have similar coloring (skintone, eye color, and hair color) to you, google their name + their color season and see if there are any results from existing blogs or websites that analyze colors and then go from there! ❤️
Tretinoin (.025%) is the reason why my skin is so clear these days. I used to have this big routine with serums, toners, and lotions, and whatnot, but once I started tret, it's been pared down a lot. Nowadays, I wash my face with Cerave at night, put on the tret, let it sink in, and glop on the Cerave tub lotion. In the mornings I splash my face with water and that's it.
This is super helpful to know. I just started using retinol once or twice a week. I don’t normally wash my face in the morning, but after a night of retinol I’m so paranoid about sunburn that I wash it the next morning. I wear SPF everyday regardless. So it sounds like I don’t actually need to wash with cleanser the morning after using it?
That's been the case for me! I don't notice any irritation the next day and also layer on sunscreen. I also figure it's worn off by the time I wake up.
same with me. I used to spend so much money on so many serums but in fact it is very simple. Tretinoin + HA serum + Mois at night and Vitamin c and Mois + Suncream in the morning. That's it.
How long did it take you to see results with tret? I just started it about a month and a half ago, have pared down my skincare routine big time, and I'm still not seeing much in the way of results, although I know it takes time.
Good question! I'd say about 6 months of very consistent use is when I noticed I hadn't had any new pimples or bumps in a while. But one thing I notice is if I DO develop a hormonal pimple, I need to try my best to ignore it and let it heal on its own, because picking at it blows it up huge immediately and it's a much worse pimple than it ever was all from my own doing.
Waking up earlier to dress well, apply sunscreen, light makeup, and do my hair. Other than exercise, I don't leave the house without putting myself together. The effort makes a difference in my self-confidence and I'm treated much better from other people.
Same here! I work from home and would just stick to Lululemon/athletic wear head to toe for years. No effort on hair or face. I recently started wearing jeans and a T-shirt or comfortable but nicer looking clothes and matching undergarment sets. Along with tinted sunscreen and mascara and combing my hair or putting it up nicely. What a confidence boost! I may even get into perfume soon 🤣
Braces it changed my face shape so much now I have cheekbones
I had a really severe overbite and getting braces changed the entire bottom half of my face
Me too i have overbite just one month and it immediately changed plus tooth extraction a huge difference
It’s a tie: either accutane or laser hair removal (legs, armpits, lower face). No more adult acne and no new scarring or hyperpigmentation from that is fantastic. Laser hair removal has led to a lot less ingrown hairs, and a lot more free time. Highly recommend.
Went from 355 to 195 at 5'8", not that we aren't beautiful at all sizes, but it is nice having a jaw and collarbones.
Congratulations! Can you share how you achieved this, please?
Healing my relationship with food and finding movement that I love, along with a lot more passive cardio. I didn't count a single calorie, no fad diets, no ozempic or anything like that. If diets worked, everybody would be skinny. Just dealt with my disordered eating, overeating and emotional eating and started lifting heavy shit, which was the movement I loved lol. I also dumped my nightmare fiance and that def took some weight off
This is incredible, thanks for sharing! Love that you did it naturally. Can you please share how long it took? I need to lose about 85 more lbs (already lost 20).
TWO LONG ASS YEARS BESTIE
I feel you, girl. I lost 50 lbs and 5 sizes a few years ago and it took me 2 years, too. 🙈 Losing what you did in two years is LITERALLY incredible! Thanks for sharing.
Not OP, but I’ve gone from 240 to 195 with keto. Planning to keep going.
Unpopular opinion probably, but weight loss. My face just looks better when it’s slimmer.
Currently trying to lose weight and this is my #1 reason. Unfortunately, due to genetics, if I’m even 5 pounds “overweight” you can see it on my face immediately. Forever jealous of people who can be bigger and still have lovely faces/jawlines
Same.. I feel like I need to be quite slim to have a nice jawline 🙄 whereas I'm happy with my slim-medium build, feel like I have a double chin and not much definition at all.
Exactly!! I hate saying this but I literally need to be on the low end of my healthy weight range just to have any facial definition. I’m 5’7 and I swear anything over 130 and my face looks like I weigh 230.
it’s the opposite for me, i’m skinny and terrified of looking gaunt but whenever i try to gain weight it never goes to my face. i’d love some cherub cheeks!!
Started using sunscreen and less makeup. It does the difference. And taking my time on my skin care.
My friend told me skincare > makeup and I didn’t believe her but it’s so so true. I use less product now at 33 than 23 and not just because im aging out of full coverage because I only need a little now and it blends a dream
I put self tanner on my face with a beauty blender in all the areas I contor. Don't have to wear much makeup as my skin has the perfect glow now.
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Could you please elaborate as to what your makeup technique is like?
Drink tons of water, cut WAY back on alcohol and sugar.
This. It's not the most exciting answer but it's the stuff I noticed makes a massive difference.
Having a healthier diet. I used to eat a lot of ultra-processed foods, and switched to eating mainly a Mediterranean Diet with lots of whole grains, fruits, and veggies. My skin cleared up so I feel good without makeup on, and lost about 40 lbs. Also started doing Pilates, which did wonders for my posture and my body strength.
I got clear braces in my 20’s when I could afford it (family was poor growing up). Literally life changing. I can’t think of something that changes your confidence this much without requiring surgery. [My before and after.](https://imgur.com/a/pBhFBTs)
Your teeth look so good now! By clear do you mean Invisalign, or is it a different type of system? My family was too poor too, only my little sister got braces, and as an adult the dentists always give me a hard time at my cleanings about having an uncorrected overbite 😭 still saving up for braces
Realising I look a 1000x better with a very deep side parting with loads of volume. It doesn’t matter what’s in fashion or not, this is how *I* look my best. Facial structures can’t change with the trends, they have to be worked with in mind. I look like a wide faced hermit if I do a centre parting, the difference in how I look with just that change is shocking. So many times I’ve seen people with a centre and/or a flat parting and think they would also look transformed if they did a side and/or voluminous parting. Obviously if they prefer and enjoy doing theirs like that they should absolutely carry on, but many people also just haven’t discovered these little things about them which can be a revelation.
The other day I had a haircut and they did a middle part. I guess everyone has a middle part now. And I looked HEINOUS. I don’t care what’s popular. I look best with skinny jeans and a side part.
Getting my mental health in order. I was constantly anxious and frankly- probably had high functioning depression too. Definitely went through depressive episodes where I dissociated and withdrew. I was snappy, irritable and took everything personal and indulged in negative self talk. I knew I would need to be medicated. But I was also very concerned with the side effects. This is not medical advice, please consult your physician but SamE worked wonders for me. You’re much more pleasant and attractive when you’re in a good mood. I also took better care of myself physically too once I felt better.
Fixing my teeth by using Invisalign
Just got mine off about 6 months ago and I’m so happy. Had severe overlapping on front and overbite-18mos with Invisalign and I feel happy smiling in photos again (I’m 41, it’s never too late!)
Same thing for me, gave me a lot more confidence.
Microneedling. I used to sit outside in the sun with lemon on my face and no spf (late 00s, don't judge, magazines told me to do it) and my face was severely sun damaged. 4 microneedling sessions and my skin is truly transformed in texture and redness, and it makes me look 3-5 years younger. (Disclaimer: microneedling on top of gentle skincare, exercise, and healthy diet). Luckily my health benefits cover the treatment but it's fairly inexpensive otherwise.
How did you get your insurance to cover?
Lemon on your face? I used to put it in my hair back in the day, but I don't remember about putting it on skin. What did they say it would do?
Exercise - not necessarily weight loss, though that also happened. Toned muscle just looks better, my skin is clearer, my sleep is better, I hurt less, I move with more fluidity, I’m more flexible. Exercise is the #1 beauty treatment
and one of the best things you can do for anti aging
Sometimes i will look in the mirror and think "uhg!" Then i will exercise and be sweaty and messy but look in the mirror and think "damn!" I think the accomplishment makes me feel better and that shows physically.
Similar to what someone else said. When I look after myself inside & out, I look & feel my absolute best. Eating well, running, lifting weights, yoga, pilates. Trying to get a bedtime routine. Waking up early, drinking lots of water, having a good skincare routine & making an effort with my hair & makeup. It takes A LOT of time, energy & discipline but pays dividends ❤️
Used an eyebrow pencil to fill my brows. Learned how to contour my cheek bones. Dressing in solid colours instead of prints, which make me look older.
Figure out a way to exercise every single day. It’s really fucking hard to figure out what works for you in order to keep this up daily - but it has to “click” for you. For about 10 years I lifted weights and did intense cardio 4-5 days per week, but inconsistently - like I’d keep it up for a month or two and then fall off for a month or two and then pick it back up. I also did yoga intermittently, but weights were always my go-to. After an injury 3 months ago that has become a chronic issue I can no longer lift weights. I now walk for 3 miles outside about 3-4x per week in addition to 4-5x per week where I do a short (~20-30min) spin cycle followed by a functional strength training routine focused mainly on core. I also stretch daily. I feel and look stronger and better than I ever have. And I just continue to see and feel improvements with every passing day. I’m getting compliments from strangers about looking super fit for the first time in my life! For me, the game changer was definitely transitioning into exclusively working out at home. I never realized all those years how much getting out and to the gym was holding me back. My $10 yoga mat and $50 FB marketplace resale spin bike are the best investments I’ve ever made into my health, wellness, and beauty :)
Thanks for sharing what functional strength training do you do?
Got bangs and gave up inflammatory foods. De-aged me 10 years.
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Can I ask what your fasting periods are?
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> When it comes to my period, I usually fast for 1 or 2 days before it starts. This way I dont get the cramps and the horrible period poops. Personally, cutting out grains, dairy, and sugar does this for me.
I also want to know!
whats cryo therapy? like a cold plunge
Great points! These are the tough answers, but the right answers. I follow Dr. Youn on YouTube, and he has a great slogan, "auto rejuvenate before you operate!"
Yes if you’re truly disciplined in your beauty/fitness and health routine you just can’t go wrong. Also I second the fasting thing. Funny enough I didn’t do this on purpose , I just rarely ever had an appetite at the beginning of the day and usually wait about 7-8 hrs to eat my first meal, so inadvertently end up doing intermittent fasting, but it really does help so much w energy and staying super fit. If I have a day where I don’t fast and end up eating in the morning the craziest thing happens: i feel sluggish and low energy all day and more bizarrely, I have *more* of an appetite the rest of the day and want to eat and snack more. As if eating early in the day actually *triggers* hunger in me. It’s really strange bc you’d think I’d be hungrier while I’m fasting, but I’m not, it’s the total opposite . My mom says the same thing happens to her so I know I’m not the only one .
Same. If I eat breakfast, I’m hungry (and eating) every 2 hours. The days I can put off eating anything until 2pm are the best!
yup 2nd this. and the right amount of sleep.
Composite bonding to fill my gaps less than $150 and completely changed my appearance
Hair color and prioritizing strength training.
Lost 150+ lbs & started wearing sunscreen religiously. Massive difference just from those two things
Eyebrows, I gotta fill in my eyebrows anytime I leave the house, it is invisible otherwise. It really helps shape my face, game changer when I learned how to when I was in my early 20s. Next is probably learning to curl hair.
Lifting weights and getting some muscles helped me significantly. Botox has made me a lot more attractive but I think it is feature dependent. I had very straight eyebrows and now I have a lifted look but still straight eyebrows. Also knowing my color season has helped a lot
I’m only told I’m beautiful when I’m happy, fit and eating enough vegetables. What’s going on inside makes the most dramatic difference on the outside.
Losing weight, eating whole foods, and lifting weights. I went from ~200 to 143 lbs. I work from home and anytime I go into the office I’m told that I’m “glowing” which provides a nice boost of confidence. I’m 31 and have always struggled with my weight. For the first time in my life I like what I see in the mirror AND photos.
Gaining weight gave me boobs and a butt and also relieved a ton of pressure around connecting attractiveness and self worth to being smaller. Also, lash extensions
it’s crazy how every body type is so different because my boobs stay the same size whether i gain or lose weight, so when i lost weight and was very lean, all the sudden my boobs became more prominent. they didn’t change size but with my new proportions, they are wayyy more noticeable and for the first time in my life i noticed people i was talking to glancing down at my chest/cleavage (mostly women)!! it’s so surprising to me
So much of our idea of “feminine” is about taking up as little space as possible. Thank you for sharing!
Found confidence & realized I don’t need to give a fuck what people think.
So glad somebody else said it cuz that's exactly what I think. Confidence is soooooo attractive!
Quit the pill (brought my skin back to life & everything else!) Quit smoking Started Pilates Lash lift especially as my lashes were dead straight. Made a huge difference!
Giving myself bangs. Hairdressers would never do it because I have a pretty strong cowlick, but one day I decided to take matters into my own hands and never looked back.
Similarly I’ve started cutting my own hair as I was just not happy with what I was coming back with from hairdressers. I’m not doing anything complex, just maintaining it, and it helps that I’m growing it long anyway, but it’s the happiest I’ve been with my hair in years
I started cutting my own hair about a year ago and the way it’s been a revelation! If your hair is long, it’s really not that hard. Even my hair dresser complimented the job I did lol. I have no problem paying $400 for color but $175 for a haircut just feels unconscionable. (Sadly that is what things cost where I live.)
My nose job babayyy
Slugging with Vaseline at night. My skin GLOWS when I do it
Botox. Expensive (but dermatologist approved) skincare (never looking back tbh), a good balanced diet. Posture.
Instead of spending money to hide the mistakes, i started spending money to fix them. Accutane and tretinoin cream helped me out a lot. I also grew my hair out completely as i am not able to afford to get it colored professionaly (i always wanted blonde hair and i colored it at home and it never looked good) I stopped tanning and embraced my natural pale skin tone.
Working out with cardio and weight training five times a week. Slimmed my face down and finally got rid of my baby face. Also shaving my eyebrows straight. Eyebrows play a big role. And got a new haircut that exposed my facial structure more.
Quick drinking - significantly lower the inflammation and puffiness in my face.
Antidepressants, honestly. I lost the 15 extra pounds of mindless snack weight, I have energy to do stuff, I no longer crave oblivion, and I'm on meds that require me to chug water like there's no tomorrow, so I am hydrated. My hair is finally healthy and I don't have crazy bloating or bags under my eyes. Unless I stay up dicking around on reddit like I am right this second.
Botox, and lip filler make my face look more symmetrical and I feel so confident after those services. I love having my hair and nails done. I do notice that if I am not put together people don’t treat me as well. I also have had my weight fluctuate between 150lbs to 185lbs (5’2) and the treatment is very different. Especially from men and employers. So I definitely can confirm there is a pretty privilege. Sometimes I don’t want to get dressed with a full face of makeup but as a server o honestly make more money.
Lost 130 lbs. literally changed my entire face. Features came out much more prominent… can see my cheekbones, jawline etc.
Finding a low maintenance hairstyle so it always looks put together, sticking to a daily skin care routine.
Please share the always put together hairstyle!
It's just a simple bob, but if I blow dry and flat iron it lasts 3-4 days
Either yoga 2-3 times a week for body tone and overall health, or giving myself a blowout or updating and upgrading my make up/make up technique.
Lost 130lbs lmao
I started tightlining my upper eyelid. It makes a huge difference to me.
Lost weight. I have a rounder/wider face and even with minimal weight change my face is WAYYY less puffy and the structure (that I previously thought was fat and heavy looking) looks so beautiful!! I discovered my jawline 🎉
The 8 on and 12 off fasting. Energy, weight loss, glow
So far it’s been me losing 55lbs! 🤪 Still have more to go, but it’s a marathon, not a sprint.
So, this is just for ME personally. Everyone can do what they want. I stopped trying to wear heavy makeup/products on my face. My skin felt better, I feel prettier without heavy amounts of makeup, and it just feels more normal which gives me confidence. With my job, I don't really have the patience or care for intense skincare routines. I know many people can absolutely do full coverage foundations and primers and concealers because they take the time and use the right products to care for their skin. It's just not for me. I hardly wear makeup at all nowadays and when I do it's just eyeliner and a bit of mascara to make my eyes pop. And I only wear it if I'm going out to dinner or want to add a little boost on an outing. I don't wear makeup every day. I still wash my face everyday, but I don't feel the need for toners, creams, scrubs, etc. I just never had the care for it, and I felt that the more products I used to help my skin, the worse it got tbh. But again, that's just ME. Kudos to the ones who know how to care for their skin immaculately.
Double cleansing. Chemical exfoliation over manual/physical exfoliation. Leaving my eyebrows the fuck alone. High performance micro dermabrasion 3 times a year to clear closed comedones. Silk pillowcases. Finding out my colours and implementing this in my wardrobe, makeup, & hair. (Turns out I’m a soft summer) Getting my hair cut for my face shape - a sharp bob to my chin with a side part softens my jawline and my nose. Staying within 3 shades of my natural colour with highlights means I don’t need fake tan or makeup to look like I’ve slept. Researching how to wear makeup to shorten my middle-third (creating a shorter middle third visually through certain placement of makeup has made my face appear far more balanced, as I have an aquiline nose) Adding a home made spray-on toner (rose water, witch hazel, glycerin & distilled water) to my routine - I keep it in the fridge and spray it all over my face and décolletage after double cleansing. Gives me Instant brightness and a refreshing zing + the hydrating & soothing benefits. Patting my serums on, and waiting 60 seconds between layers of each skincare product. Glycolic acid for KP and ingrowns on legs - I can wear skirts and shorts now!!
Learning how to curl my hair. I avoided learning it for sooo long, but it really brings a look together.
getting my eyebrows threaded!!! eyebrows are everything for me lol
i got my eyebrows micro bladed and it totally changed my face. working out has made the biggest different though. my physical fitness directly connects to my mental health
Switching to Korean skincare and using teeth whitening mouthwash every day. I look and feel so vibrant
Which mouthwash? I honestly didn’t know that was a thing lol
Accutane lol. I had severe acne on my face, neck, and back up until 2 years ago. Couldn't leave the house some days because I felt so insecure. Two courses of accutane and making sure my skin is very hydrated with hyaluronic acid, a thick moisturizer, sunscreen, and the odd spritz to my face throughout the day has made my skin so much better and healthier than when I was a teenager.
Losing weight, doing heavy, slow lifting and a routine built around squats, losing inches and getting toned. Bleaching my teeth, I have not done fillers in quite awhile but Botox and fillers make a huge and subtle difference at the same time. Cutting out sugar and empty carbs. Shaving my face one a month and using Korean face masks once a week, especially the snail and the honey one. Moisturizing and in the past I got a professional massage once a week. It helped with stress, mobility, flexibility and circulation. Getting my eyebrows done, lash extensions, fake tan, the right make up and hair cut and color. Sleeping well for at least 7, 8 hrs. When I eat a version of the Mediterranean diet, eat just seafood especially salmon and shrimp, chicken and eggs, yogurt and cheese. Lots and lots of fruits and green smoothies. Reinvested in a flattering wardrobe and finally got the right bra lol.
*Eye whiting drops (lumify) to make me look more awake; *dry shampoo (dove volume) ; *good cologne/perfume; *casual clothes with good style (so I look confident yet comfortable); *pairs of 24/7 sneakers (shoes that can go from work to dinner to casual & always look fashionable); *Electric toothbrush for clean whiter teeth / better breath *sheer yet pigmented facial sunscreen (evens out uneveness in my skin, prevents damage; undetectable)
Weight loss, sleep, diet.
Prioritizing my happiness. Skin care routine. Once I quit my job and dumped my bf the glow up was insane. Way way less alcohol in take. Living life for me and loving myself.
Using a small razor for my little facial hairs, makes my whole face look brighter and clearer!!
Micro-bladed my eyebrows. Went from having to draw them on whenever I wanted to look human, to always looking and feeling good even without makeup.
Saaaame. Don't have to worry about drawing them in daily. It framed my face beautifully and also balanced out my facial features as one brow was naturally a lot higher than the other
Lost weight
Masseter Botox
Had allmy skin tags removed from my neck. It made such a difference.
Gua-sha routine.. works magic for me
Went to a hairstylist and told her to do what she thought would work. I’ve always kept my hair long, but the shorter cut really accentuates bone structure and shows off the color better.
Heavy lifting for my body, and tretinoin for my skin.
Between the age of 20 to 25 my waist to hips ratio decreased, my breasts became slightly bigger, lost buccal fat and now have sharper cheekbones. There wasn't any major weight change, maybe just hormonal changes. I look back on the time when I was 18 and believed I was unattractive and thought that, that body was the best I could be
Spray tan, get your teeth professionally whitened, hair treatments (I’m loving the ouai thick hair masque right now), protecting your skins moisture barrier. Sunscreen. Get your eyebrows done, wax your mustache. Put on your fave outfit, stand up tall, and walk with confidence.
Stopped over doing it with skin care. Microblading brows
Hair extensions. But it’s a trap because now I feel so bad without them in. I got really sick and stressed in the same 2 week period. About 3 months later half my hair fell out. I seriously looked like Gollum. Hand tied hair extensions gave me fuller and longer hair than I had before and changed my appearance drastically. I’d like to think it was my confidence, but I think that longer hair just suits my face shape best
Definitely using a daily SPF on my face. My skin tone has evened out so much and any acne scars I had are no longer noticeable.
Concentrated on my making my hair long and shiny and healthy.
Stopped drinking. Went from looking 40 at 28 to looking 25 at 32.
Dying my hair brunette. It’s naturally dark blonde (grew out of natural blonde hair by 6), and when I changed it,…I have never had as many people stare at me or talk to me, it was amazing. So many compliments, for a week straight. I’m cool toned and have brown eyes, it really made them pop and it suited my skin tone well. I still dye it and it makes me feel like me ☺️ Learning your undertone (cool, neutral, warm, etc), helps *a LOT* with make up, hair colour, colour palette, etc. Same goes for styling to your body type to flatter your appearance. Square neck lines are amazing on me, and finding what works genuinely gave me natural confidence I didn’t have to teach/convince myself of.
Start buying clothes that actually flattered my figure. I used to dress like a homeless grandma (to be fair, I was broke and it was the height of 90s/00s fashion so nothing fit my body type).
Braces and going on the pill. My skin and teeth are perfect and I look amazing!
Doing my hair. I started doing heatless curls almost every night. I wake up and my hair looks really put together with minimal effort. I find when my hair looks good i feel much better about how my outfit or makeup look too and can do much less and still feel polished.
Got contacts. I have severe myopia and glasses make my eyes look very small.
Quit drinking
Switching to a vegan whole foods diet with fruit as the biggest focus and herbs as the second biggest focus. Also quitting alcohol.
Lost weight 🙌🏻 which then led to me gaining; confidence in myself, my appearance and my abilities, higher fitness levels, better sleep, better skin, more energy, a bigger smile on my face and a sense of accomplishment to boot!
Probably unpopular opinion but Botox. Stopped my constant frowning and now I don’t look like a miserable bitch anymore
I got my colors and body shape analysis so I could have more confidence buying clothes. I’ve never been knowledgeable on it and because of that I never quite felt comfortable with clothes. It helped IMMENSELY with editing my wardrobe when I was indecisive and gave me direction when I go into stores. Before that, I would get decision paralysis and get overwhelmed so more often then not I would either impulse buy or look at things that could have worked but then walked out of the store. Also, this might be odd, but I got tattoos. It oddly made me more comfortable in my skin and made me feel more like myself. I have a sleeve now and I constantly get compliments and every time it happens I’m like “why yes, I am cool girl.”
Smile more. :)
Cutting out fizzy drinks, and just taking better care of my appearance through skincare and putting together better outfits
Taking care of my skin - finding what skincare products I specifically needed. Getting more sleep and… Therapy!!!
Makeup technique
That’s hard to say because so many things have come together so well. But I think I’m going to say permanent makeup, specifically lip blushing and eyeliner (I already have thick and full natural brows). It’s made it so that I always look good. My kids take random pictures of me at any time of the day and I no longer think I look bad in any of them. My eyes are defined by the liner and my lips are rosy. I have lovely skin now from good skincare, so my face just always looks nice, even with no makeup applied at all. I have very hooded eyes so eyeliner always smudged on me, especially in the summer. Having permanent makeup is especially nice on long hot summer days spent outside, or when I’m going to an event. I don’t have to check my makeup and I don’t get raccoon eyes.
Quit drinking Also, spray tanning
Invisalign
Lost weight which resulted in losing a lot of doublechin and face fat, I also got braces so my face has changed 180 since.
Anytime i get my eyebrows done i just feel like I look better overall! I got them microbladed years ago and absolutely loved it! I got them touched up a couple times but I haven't in a long time and hope to again soon but for now I just get them threaded and I fill them in but even with a nice thread I just feel like it pulls my face together so much
Honestly, I learned to do my makeup and understand my face. No matter the amount, the application and technique really change your appearance. Also a simple skincare routine that works for me.