- A skincare routine
Skincare should be the underlying foundation to your overall beauty routine. Especially if you wear makeup. As someone who has suffered from hormonal cystic acne, I know that is often easier said than done. It can be so frustrating seeing all the nearly perfect skinned “glow up routine” videos on YouTube or seeing other perfected (likely filtered) social media posts. I completely understand. But don’t suffer in silence! If you aren’t particularly skincare savvy, seek the advice of your dermatologist or Esthetician. I’ve been going to the same dermatologist since I was seventeen and I couldn’t be more grateful for her wealth of information. Why torture yourself (your skin & wallet) purchasing and testing multiple products to clear your skin rather than paying a co-pay to be told by a medical professional what would benefit you the most? Often, topical products can be prescribed as generics and cost a fraction of the cost of commercialized over fragranced nonsense.
These days, there are also great options such as Curology or Agency that a lot of women swear by.
With all that said, there are amazing over the counter products I use and swear by, and regardless of the route you take, it can take some patience and trial & error. What matters is discovering what works for you, and remaining consistent once you do.
Regardless of where you’re at on your skincare journey, what matters most regardless of your skin type or age is wearing sunscreen! Save yourself any further premature aging, dark spots, and hyperpigmentation starting now. Check out my post on some of my favorite sunscreens for the face and body, even the sunscreen haters in my life will use.
- Hair care
Perhaps you’ve been sticking with the same hairstyle or bad dye job for a while. It’s time for a switch up. Even if you think its “fine”. Fine isn’t what we are going for. Discuss your concerns or possible styles with a trusted hair stylist that understands your hair. I’ve had the same hairdresser for almost 10 years now and nobody knows my hair better, not even me. If I want to change cut, color, or style. I consult her. Invest in the health & overall appearance of your hair.
If you’re simply looking to jazz up your hair care routine, I will always stand by “It’s a 10” leave in conditioner. For a subtle color enhancement I also love “Glaze” conditioner.
It also never hurts to invest in protective hairstyles at night, silk/satin pillow cases, hair ties, and headbands.
- Dental Hygiene
It seems that the only highlight on dental care in glow up videos is teeth whitening. Although whitening your teeth is a quick and effective way to enhance your smile, overall consistent dental hygiene is also important to one’s overall appearance. Regularly brushing and most importantly flossing is key. Not to mention, regularly flossing helps to prevent build up that and form around the teeth/gum line that contributes to a yellow appearance to the teeth.
- Lashes & Brows
If the eyes are the windows to the soul, then your lashes and brows are the curtains & frame. There are many different brow and lash techniques to enhance the brows/lashes temporally or semi-permanently.
When it comes to lashes, options are frankly limited that are easy on the wallet. But my favorite for a special occasion or vacation is a lash lift & tint. A lash lift is strictly lifting, curling, and tinting your own natural lashes to give them a glorious mascara look without the clumps or hassle. I’ve never had the process hurt my eyes, and your lashes simply slowly fall back to their natural position in about 8 weeks. I can confidently say I’ve tried every lash serum under the sun, and even with consistent use had no significant luck with any of them. In one instance, I had a contact allergy to one lash serum that left me with swollen, red, and burning eyes for two days. Needless to say, it’s a no go for me.
For brows there are both inexpensive options and costly yet effective routes to take. Microblading, PMU powder brows, and brow lamination being some of the trendier options. When it comes to microblading or other PMU options for the brows, I highly encourage you to thoroughly do your research before committing the time and money to an artist. The results can be wonderful though, and with proper care last up to two years. If darkening your brows is really your only concern, I know a lot of women who have had great luck at home simply dying their eyebrows.
- Manicure & Pedicure
Who isn’t guilty of dropping a significant amount of money at the nail salon here and there. However, these days I prefer the much more cost effective option of doing them myself at home. Recently, I discovered Sistaco, it’s essentially a gel/dip hybrid. What I love even more is their kits come with an “express” remover, so even though the polish is cured with a UV light and lasts as long as gel, you don’t have to go through the hassle of filing down and soaking your nails to remove it.
- Hair removal
If you’re pro body hair on women, well, click away ma’am, click away. However, I think the majority of women are not. These days, there’s always new trending ways to remove body hair. Last year, I invested in professional laser hair removal for my underarms and bikini, and it was by far one of the best decision I ever made cosmetically. I rarely touch a razor for said areas. On the other hand, I prefer to shave & IPL my legs at home, and have had fairly good success with it. I use the Nood home handheld IPL device 1-2 times a week. If body hair is one of your insecurities, I definitely believe the investment is worth it. Fairly recently, a newer IPL device called Ulike has entered the scene, and is best regarded due to its addition of a cooling element. That is relevant because if you’re unaware, IPL devices can get hot especially when they run for longer periods of time as you treat multiple areas. If you’re a sensitive skinned person, prone to rosacea, or are intending on using it…in lady areas, I would definitely consider investing in an IPL device with a cooling element.
- Tanning (minus the UV damage…please)
This had to be included, simply because you’ll be hard pressed to find a Youtube video on a “glow up” without someone applying a tan. Unpopular opinion here, but, you don’t need a tan. Let’s just get that, and the part where I beg you not to lay in the sun or a tanning bed for hours out of the way. Despite the fact I’m 100% Floridian, I’m very fair thanks to my SPF and protective clothing, and I’m living my best pale girl life currently. However, self-tanners and gradual tanning lotions are not foreign to me, and if they do come in to play for me it’s generally in the thick of summer. My all time favorite is Bondi Sands’ gradual tanning lotion. It is far superior in texture, color, and the scent of the Jergens gradual tanning lotion. For my other pale ladies, I found it gave off a nice subtle color enhancing glow without a strong orange cast or harsh lines.
Disclaimer: I am not a physician. All articles are for informational purposes and based off personal experiences regarding the topic. Articles are not intended to treat or diagnose any conditions nor should they be taken as medical recommendations. Please consult your Doctor/Dermatologist for diagnosis or treatment. Individuals will experience treatments, procedures, and medications differently and your Doctor will determine if a treatment is right for you. Posts may contain affiliate links, for which I may receive a small compensation at no additional cost to the reader when a product is purchased. All opinions on products, treatments, and procedures are my own and based off personal experience. Photos used on the website and all social media accounts for femininefacets.com are either free for use stock images or taken by me unless otherwise stated. All content is written by me unless otherwise stated.
