Navigating the back to school glow up trend

Teens are turning so social media for “glow up” tips

As the new school year approaches, the idea of a "glow up" has become a major trend on social media.

A “glow up” is often described as a mental, physical, or emotional transformation – a journey of improving yourself from who you were to who you want to be.

But this trend is focusing more on external beauty rather than on feeling good internally.

These videos frequently suggest ways to enhance appearance before school starts – like trying new makeup looks, getting fresh haircuts, or doing nails. 

Teens are also turning to social media with videos of their own appearance, seeking glow-up critiques in comments.

Why is this an issue?

While these videos may be well-intentioned, they garner millions of views and can sometimes promote unrealistic beauty standards, increasing the pressure to look a certain way – adding appearance anxiety to the mix of pressures teens are already facing for a new school year.

If your teen is showing signs of pressure from glow-up trends, consider our tips on boosting your daughter’s body image to help foster a healthier self-view.

The start of a new school year should be a time to focus on mental and physical health and getting organised.

While it’s natural to want to look and feel good, these "glow up" trends often encourage teens to pursue costly and unattainable ideals. 

The truth is, they don’t need expensive skincare products, hairstyles, or perfumes to “glow up.” For a more balanced take on the glow-up trend, you can explore our answer to a teen question on how to have a glow up before school.

Talk about it

“Glowing up” doesn’t have to be just about external changes; it’s also about mental and emotional growth.

Back-to-school season is a great time to discuss:

• How your teen is feeling about the upcoming school year
• Any concerns or thoughts they might have
• Personal goals or changes they’d like to achieve

It’s also a chance to break negative habits and make positive self-improvements, such as:

• Drinking more water
• Prioritising self-care
• Establishing a good sleep routine
• Engaging in activities that bring happiness
• Eating better

By talking to your teen about their “back to school glow up,” you can shift the focus from just physical changes to setting meaningful goals and taking steps together to achieve them.

Why not support your teen with luna premium?

Our app, luna, has dedicated advice on this topic which can help them feel more empowered through adolescence.

You can think of luna as a modern, digital approach to wellbeing – it’s cost-effective, verified by doctors and safeguarding experts, and has a direct line into the biggest concerns facing teens today – so it’s actually addressing what they need advice on, when they need it.

If you’ve been looking for an antidote to the misinformation and negativity shared on social media or forums, you can get luna for your teen via our luna premium page for the price of a coffee each month or manage their subscription by downloading luna yourself and signing up as a parent (it's "we are luna" in app stores).