Glow-Up Will Fail If You Skip This Step (Sorry, Not Sorry)

Title: Your Glow-Up Will Fail If You Skip This Step (Sorry, Not Sorry) Category: Glow-Up Author: The Consulting Chick

Let’s have a real talk moment.

I love a good Sephora haul as much as the next girl. There is a very specific dopamine hit that comes from buying a $60 serum that promises to make you look like you get eight hours of sleep and drink a gallon of water a day.

We love the idea of a glow-up. We love the montage moment in the movie where she cuts her hair, buys a new wardrobe, struts into the office, and suddenly everyone realizes she’s the main character.

But here is the uncomfortable truth I need to drop in your lap today: You cannot out-skincare a messy mindset.

You can change your hair, update your wardrobe, and master the art of the "clean girl" aesthetic, but if you are still carrying the same dusty old insecurities, low standards, and chaotic energy underneath it all, it’s not a transformation. It’s a costume.

And honey, the costume eventually slips.

If you want a real glow-up—the kind that makes people stop and ask, "What are you doing differently?" because your vibe has shifted, not just your highlighter—you have to start with the foundation.

The "Renovation" Metaphor

Think of yourself as a house. A superficial glow-up is like buying expensive new furniture and hanging art on the walls while ignoring the fact that the foundation is cracked and there’s mold in the basement.

It looks cute for Instagram, but it doesn't feel good to live in.

A real glow-up requires an internal demolition before the decoration.

The Internal Audit: 3 Areas to Scrub Clean

Before you buy one more piece of clothing for your "new era," you need to address the clutter inside your head and your environment.

1. The Digital Detox (Ruthless Edition)

Your subconscious mind is soaking up everything you scroll past. If your feed is full of people who make you feel inadequate, jealous, or anxious, you are actively poisoning your own glow.

• The Fix: Mute or unfollow anyone whose content makes you feel like you aren't enough. I don't care if you've known them since third grade. Protect your peace fiercely. Curate a feed that inspires you to level up, not one that triggers your insecurities.

2. The "Tolerations" List

What are you currently putting up with that drains your energy? This could be big things (a situationship that’s going nowhere, a boss who disrespects you) or small things (a messy closet, that one friend who only calls to complain).

Every time you tolerate something subpar, you send a signal to yourself that you don’t deserve better.

• The Fix: Write down everything you are currently tolerating. Pick three things off that list this week and handle them. Fix the broken cabinet door. Send the boundary-setting text. Cancel the plans you don't want to go to. Stop leaking energy.

3. The Self-Talk Script Flip

If you talked to your best friend the way you talk to yourself in your head, she would have blocked you years ago.

You cannot glow up while constantly bullying yourself. If your internal monologue is a running commentary of "You're lazy," "You look tired," and "You'll never pull that off," guess what? You won't.

• The Fix: Catch the negative thought. Stop it mid-sentence. And force yourself to rephrase it into something neutral or supportive. It feels fake at first. Do it anyway. You are rewiring your brain.

The Takeaway

The most stunning women in the room aren't always the ones with the most expensive clothes or the perfect features. They are the ones walking around with unwavering self-assurance because they’ve done the internal work.

The glow doesn't come from a bottle. It comes from the audacity to believe you deserve the best life has to offer, and the discipline to align your actions with that belief.

Do the dirty work on the inside first. Then go buy the serum as a reward.

Take My Advice or Not, The Consulting Chick