It’s okay for a modern, feminine woman to want to know how to look pretty all the time. It feels amazing to turn heads as you walk down the street. The flattering feeling of your beauty being noticed is intoxicating. Except by catcallers, that’s annoying. Though you should feel beautiful in more ways than just external validation, when people smile or nod at you to acknowledge your existence it feels like the effort you put into your appearance is being recognized. As a result, you feel more comfortable and confident in your body. So how to look pretty no matter what?
How To Look More Beautiful
The specific facial features we collectively find beautiful come and go. There was a time when large foreheads were the look du jour and full lips were something to be downplayed. Beauty standards also vary from culture to culture so there is no one way to be universally beautiful, except to look healthy.
Biologically, heterosexual men choose women that look healthy because of the drive to reproduce, even if they don’t want kids. Even women will befriend and gravitate toward other people that look healthy to preserve their own health. We all like to avoid sick people to avoid getting sick ourselves. So the best thing you can do to look pretty all the time is to be healthy.
Ways To Look Pretty Every Day
Get Enough Sleep
Baggy eyes and dark under-eye circles make you look like the walking dead. It is important to get about 8 hours of sleep each night so your body can rejuvenate. It will show its gratitude by giving you healthier hair and glowing skin. Getting a proper amount of sleep is connected to so many benefits beyond beauty. Consistently getting restful nights of sleep is connected to your physical and mental health as well, so above all else get enough sleep.
Have Healthy Hair
Long, thick, shiny hair is the ultimate marker of health. Your body can produce and maintain that growth so it must be getting enough vitamins and nutrients to sustain that look. We all are not blessed with genetically thick hair nor is it easy for everyone to have long hair, but your hair doesn’t have to be long or thick to look healthy. Shinny hair is enough to achieve a healthy look. Have your ends trimmed or get a haircut suited to your face as ragged hair does not signify health or good hygiene. Invest in a silk or bamboo pillowcase because they will not pull moisture from your hair or skin, helping to keep both hydrated and luminous.
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Find A Skincare Routine That Works For You
Clear, glowing skin is another way your body shows that it’s healthy. If you have any skin issues that need to be addressed see that you find ways to care for them that work for you and your budget. If funds are an issue, try at home facials (without the extractions as those should be left to trained professionals), find an excellent moisturizer, and seek out the active ingredients that will treat your skincare concerns. It doesn’t have to be an overly expensive process. There are great brands at all price points.
Have Clean and Shiny Nails
Dirty nails are unhygienic so keep the space under the tip of your nails free from any dirt or debris at all times. Mattes have their moments, but glossy nails look healthier in the same way that shiny hair does. If salon visits are not in your budget be sure to at least keep your nails trimmed, filed, and buffed. Keep your cuticles trimmed and moisturized too. If you choose to add polish make sure to remove it once it’s chipped.
Your nails shouldn’t be too long either. The artistry that goes into creating long acrylics is admirable, but nails that are too long appear to be otherworldly and a little scary. The goal is to toe the line between natural beauty and a little artifice. If your nails are too long to be natural the jig is up!
Exercise
There are countless benefits to moderate exercise. Exercise helps with circulation, longevity, and quality of life, increases your energy, improves your immune system, and helps maintain mental health just to name a few. All of these things keep you actually healthy, not just looking like it. If you’re new to exercising, start by doing 10 minutes of exercise per day. Power-walking and jogging are ways to get started for little to no money if you do not have access to a gym.
Stay Hydrated
Which looks younger, a raisin or a grape? They are the same thing, but a raisin is dried out and a grape is full of water. When you aren’t properly hydrated you will more closely resemble the raisin than the youthful grape. Your body is mostly made of water so to keep it looking and functioning its best try to drink half of your body weight in ounces of water each day. After a few days of consistently doing this, you’ll notice how much better you feel.
Whiten Your Teeth and/or Wear Lipstick That Helps Them Seem Whiter
White teeth look healthier and more hygienic than yellow teeth. The bare minimum is to brush and floss twice per day to maintain the health of your teeth and gums but to kick it up a notch try teeth whitening strips or have them whitened professionally by a dentist. You can also help your teeth look whiter by wearing lipstick with a blue or purple base color.
Straight teeth are a beauty signifier too. If your teeth are a little crooked it can majorly help to have a dentist straighten them with traditional or invisible braces.
Smell Good
Remember when Rihanna first debuted her Fenty fragrance and they used all of those clips of people saying that she smelled good to market it? That’s what we’re aiming for. There is a myriad of options when it comes to fragrances, but the key is to choose something that you like to smell because you’ll be the one wearing it all day. Also, be mindful of how strong the scent is. People shouldn’t smell you coming into the room. Your fragrance should only be noticeable to those in very close proximity to you.
Get Your Eyebrows Mapped
Never neglect your eyebrows. They frame your entire face and can make a world of difference. Just look back at celebrities’ eyebrows from the 90s and early 2000s. those pencil-thin brows weren’t doing anyone any favors. A natural brow will always look good no matter what the current trend is. You can discover what your ideal brow shape is by mapping your eyebrows. Eyebrow mapping is a technique that uses your facial features and structure to create the brow shape that will look best on you. It’s incredibly easy to do yourself and will ensure your brows are never disheveled.
Wear Sunscreen No Matter What
Is it sunny? Wear sunscreen. Is it cloudy? Wear sunscreen. Is it snowing? Wear sunscreen. Will you be inside all day? You’re good. Just kidding, wear sunscreen. Blocking the sun’s harmful UV rays protects you from premature signs of aging and minimizes your probability of developing skin cancer. If those aren’t enough to slather on another layer right now, we don’t know what else to tell you.
Wear Minimal, Natural Makeup
Wearing heavy makeup can make you look older, not more mature…older. Makeup should be used to enhance your best features and discreetly hide anything you don’t want to call attention to. Excess foundation and powder can look cakey and like something is wrong with your skin. Lashes that are too long, voluminous, or dense look entirely too fake. Again, the goal is to toe the line between natural and artificial. People should have to question if your makeup is really your face or not when they look at you. No matter what kind of makeup you choose to wear, a natural look will always be pretty.
Final Thoughts on How To Look Pretty Every Day No Matter What
Beauty is always in the eye of the beholder. What one person thinks is cute could be hideous to the next. It is not vain to want to be beautiful all the time. It’s actually an incredibly feminine and classy desire. Luckily, no one culture has a monopoly on looking clean and healthy so 24/7 beauty is attainable for all of us ladies. The extra effort required to maintain your beauty on a daily will pay you back in spades. And if you’re curious to go a little deeper into femininity, we made an introductory guide to dark feminine energy.
How To Look Pretty | The Lady Loves Living
