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We all want to look our very best; after all, when you look good, you feel good. Grooming may be something that we learn the importance of when we’re very young, like why it’s so important to look after our teeth – but it’s also something that can quickly fall by the wayside when life gets chaotic.
These last couple of years, life has seemed to stay in a constant state of chaos, hasn’t it? It looks like we’re always looking for ways to carve out more time for self-care, spend time on things we enjoy, and optimize our routines to make those things achievable. Let’s look at some ways we can up our grooming game to look and feel our very best, even when we feel rushed and overstretched.
Bathe Before Bed
The “Triple B” of Bathing Before Bed can be a serious game-changer when it comes to your morning routine. Instead of saving your hair washing or mask, shaving, and anything else you do in the shower in the mornings, start knocking this task out the night before. Aside from the fact that nothing feels more amazing than climbing into a bed with clean sheets when your body’s clean, it can easily knock thirty minutes out of your morning routine. That way, when you wake in the morning, you have more time for meditation, journaling, or a walk that will set your positive intentions and good mood for the day – feeling good is half the battle of looking good.
Million Dollar Smile
Investing in your smile is essential; we all know that. On top of making and keeping your twice-a-year dental appointments, make sure you stay on top of any issues you may be experiencing with your mouth and teeth. Bleeding gums? Find the root cause and address it. Halitosis? Please, address that quickly! If you find that you can’t stick to the full two minutes of brushing (hey, you’d be surprised), get a new toothbrush with a timer or an electric toothbrush that makes the job seem more manageable for you. Your smile is one of the first things people notice about you, so invest in and protect it.
Skin Deep
Beauty is only skin deep, and this adage exists because it’s true. Of course, what’s on the inside is more important than what’s seen outside, but taking serious care of your skin can up your grooming game like you wouldn’t believe. The healthier your skin is, the healthier you look and feel. Skin is a strong indicator of overall health. If you don’t already have a dermatologist on speed dial, at least make an appointment with one as soon as you can. They can assess the overall health of your skin and give you prescriptions (topical or oral) to deal with any skin issues you have. Maybe you’ll go to your appointment, and they’ll pat you on the back for already having beautiful skin and recommend some over-the-counter products targeted for your specific skin type to keep that glow.
Either way, making sure your skin is healthy is a quick way to look fantastic as soon as you wake up. If you typically hide issues with foundations and concealers, getting your skin into peak condition is a great way to shave off the time you spend applying makeup.
Ditch Shampoo
If you haven’t heard of the “no-poo” movement, do a little digging online and see if it’s something you’d be willing to try. Advocates of not using shampoo say it’s transformed their hair into frizz-free, voluminous, god-like hair. Shampoos notoriously strip our hair of the oils it needs to stay looking luscious, so the no-shampoo method helps correct that. Additionally, when you follow this lifestyle, you wash your hair less – a lot less. Though there is a bit of a learning curve, and it takes time for your hair to adjust, once it does, there’s no going back. Not only will your hair look its absolute best, but you’ll save some serious time out of the shower.
There are many other ways you can up your grooming game that hasn’t been mentioned above. Some may be able to come up quickly by just reevaluating what you’ve been doing and areas that can be improved upon. These days there’s no shortage of tutorials and before-and-afters on social media platforms to help guide you on your journey to looking and feeling your best. Just remember, if you can’t love yourself, how will you love anyone else? The most important thing is loving who you are on the inside, what’s in your heart. So here’s to you, beautiful you!
