Is it possible to “glow up”?

And what does it actually mean?

Quick summary 📝

1️⃣ A glow up usually means feeling better in yourself, but looksmaxxing focuses on changing your looks, and some of it can be harmful

2️⃣ These trends can create pressure to meet beauty standards, leading to appearance worries which aren't good for us

3️⃣ True glow-ups come from self-care: hydrate, eat well, rest, and focus on confidence and self-love

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"Glow ups" and looksmaxxing are popular trends on social media.

They describe ways people aim to improve their appearance or overall self 🌟

But not all of it is helpful. Some of the advice out there can leave you feeling worse about yourself, not better.

So let’s break down what these trends actually mean, and how to glow up in a way that feels good 👇

What's the difference?

A glow up usually means a positive change, whether that’s how you feel, what you’re into, or how you look after yourself.

Looksmaxxing is different. It’s all about trying to ‘maximise’ your looks, and some of the advice out there gets pretty extreme.

Some looksmaxxing content pushes unproven face ‘hacks’ and even risky things like surgery or steroids. Doctors warn these can be harmful ⚠️

Are there any downsides to think about?

Social media trends like "glow ups" often focus on how you look on the outside, rather than how you feel about yourself.

Some teens post videos, or even ask AI apps, to rate how they look. But no app or comment section gets to decide your worth 💛

This can create appearance worries and just adds pressure or puts ideas in your head of what could be wrong, when really it's all normal!

So how can you glow up?

The key here is to focus on feeling good, and confident.

Instead of thinking that confidence comes from a good appearance, think about a good appearance coming from confidence!

So, with that in mind, here are a few ways you can work on "glowing up", these are consistently trying to…

👉 Stay hydrated: aim for around 6 to 8 glasses of fluid a day to help you feel more energised

👉 Eat a healthy diet: make sure to eat different foods that are nutritious and give you the energy and vitamins your body needs

👉 Have a self-care routine: even 10 minutes to do something nice for yourself counts

👉 Learn to love yourself: this is SO important! Work on your mindset around your appearance, even a self-compliment a day can help

👉 Get a good night’s sleep: beauty sleep is a thing! It’s important to give your body time to rest and repair, so make sure you catch those zzz's

👉 Do things that make YOU happy: make sure you're making enough time for yourself and being (a bit) selfish when it comes to your needs

👉 Move your body: find something you enjoy, like dancing, walking with friends or a sport, because it’s great for your mood

Most importantly, any small act of kindness to yourself is a step in the right direction.

Please don’t put too much pressure on yourself to "transform". You are already amazing, you just need to see it ✨

If worries about how you look are taking up loads of headspace, talk to someone you trust, or call Childline for free on 0800 1111.

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