'Glow Up'/ "Princessing" 2024 Thread 1

[Chaiselongueallday]

I've had some success with these in the past. Have realised that over the years I've picked little habits from these that I've been able to sustain so I thought ahead of the new year I would start a thread for 2024...anyone else want to join me?
I'm 46 this year and want to focus on being healthy, happy with my style and attuned to my body and skin. I don't want to waste time worrying about not being good enough. I am including a bit of health and fitness on my list as I feel better in my clothes when I'm toned and generally healthy in body and mind. I'll be doing yoga, walking and mad living room dancing. I'll not be bothering with foundation (unless a very special occasion) this year fed up of wearing a mask..so looking after my skin will be important. I won't be spending on fast fashion ...I've done quite well on this in the past, inspired by this board and capsule wardrobe threads.

I'll think about a more detailed list and post it later.

I've copied some useful info from a previous 'Princessing thread' below for anyone that fancies it and needs inspiration.

*The term "Princessing" was invented back in 2011 by a poster called Blackswan. It was the year of the royal wedding and she proposed that every year you should get ready for a wedding you were attending as if it were your own.

I took that idea and ran with it!

The general idea behind that original thread and all the "Princessing" "Grooming" "Operation Revnovation" threads since has been to make small sustainable changes that help make you feel better. To make this measurable, most people finds it helps to make a list - not too long, no more than 20 items really of the changes you want to make. The original thread had one general list but as no two people have the same priorities I think it's better for everyone to have their own individual list. To anyone in need of inspiration the original list was:

1. 8 glasses of water a day

1. Exfoliating
2. Using some kind of teeth whitener
3. Using some kind of regenerative face cream
4. Intensive nail care (feet and hands)
5. Some kind of eyelash growth serum
6. The Shred / other intensive exercise
7. At least 2 extra fruit & veg
8. Healthy breakfast daily.

10. Hair oil (moroccan hair oil for eg, or kerastase etc) 11. No alcohol during the week 12. Daily vitamins 13. Body brushing 14. At least 2 servings of salmon or other fatty fish per week. 15. One early night once a week. Suggest 9PM. 16. Regular hair removal 17. Give up one naughty favourite item e.g. chocolate/crisps 18. No more fizzy drinks 19. DAILY body moisturising. 20. Warm water with lemon first thing in the a.m.

You don't have to post your list but I would recommend you write it down somewhere for yourself.

Original Princessing thread*

This is great! Following so I can post my list later x

I've made quite a few changes over the last few years.
My favourite one was having my brows tattooed. The woman who did them is a genius and didn't give me that high shocked brow look I've seen on some people.
I've had the outer corner of my eye lids tattooed and it has made a positive difference to me.
I've kept up with pedicures and gel nails.
The main thing that is letting me down is my weight but that is work in progress.
I love the princess-ing thread.
I've going to Dh's work conference in Scotland in the beginning of Feb and then on holiday a week later so I'm glowing up the best I can!!!

I love this! With my eldest son's wedding abroad this summer I need it!

1. Use LED face mask 5 times a week
2. Yoga 3 times a week
3. Caroline Girvans Iron programme to start.
4. Tint eyebrows at home every 2 weeks.
5. Track cals and macros daily, focusing on protein and fibre.
6. Stop drinking fizzy drinks
7. Walk the dog daily.
8. Get on my spin bike at least 3 times a week.
9. Get off the sofa in the evenings and onto the floor so I can stretch and learn to sit cross legged.

10. More plants, less meat, less alcohol.

Really need to do these, as I have a lot of weight to lose and I'm so unfit. I just want to get to this summer feeling more confident in my body and not dreading the wedding pics. A long term goal is to do my yoga teacher training in India, and I want to feel worthy of being there, and not self conscious of how I look!

I’m not going to write a list, because it always ends in disaster for me and January is already looking like it will be highly stressful. I think probably the main and biggest thing I can do is to actually use stuff, be it clothing, make up, perfume, jewellery, hair products and skin care.

Loving this idea! I'm going to narrow down my list over the weekend, ready to begin on Monday.

Perfect timing, as I was given a habit tracker pad for Christmas (pic attached). Not very princessy but it will do the job!

Up for this. Been doing a glow up since September - mainly weight loss (two stone to go and goal date is early august when I have a holiday booked). Like the continue to and new points to implement way of doing it:

Continue to-

Lose weight
Exercise
Skincare morning and night
Decent clothes every day

New -

Do my nails weekly
Hair mask weekly
Plan new capsule wardrobe for when I reach my goal weight
Follow daily routines for work and weekend

Looking forward to it and progress updates!!

Ohhh I was wondering if this thread would be on here yet

I'm not thinking of a huge list , more a Keep Up The Good Work on what I have managed and add some new ones . If you do something for 21 days it becomes a habit ( so I'm told)

I drink lots water and I don't drink alcohol

Banana every lunchtime instead of sweet thing , potable and filling

I don;t eat chocolate except special occasions (Christmas , NY, Easter, my Birthday )

Eyebrow serum is working + dye

My hair is a bit of a 'mare but I had massive hairloss which is growing back wavy from the roots and much more grey . I need to get it cut , but I know I'll be just a couple of inches off the ends as I cannot think of anything else .
I used Olaplex and Elasticiser

Face - exfoliate 1-2 week , face oil .
Other days its a wash off facewash or Konjac sponge and whatever moisturiser I pick up

I wear leggings+top to travel to/from work and a uniform at work . But on my own days I;m trying to wear smarter , less scruffy clothes unless I;m cleaning

Be ruthless with clothes . Only buy if I really want or need them. No impulse buys unless it is essential
Same with toiletries .

My To Do List:

Weightloss /healthy eating , a work in progress
Get another piercing (helix or tragus )

Not On My List

Coffee - I;m not giving up . Ever .

I've decided on 6 things

1. Build my capsule wardrobe (I've got into a working from home based fashion rut and don't feel like me anymore). I've had my colours done and I'm a Deep Winter so looking forward to embracing it
2. Dress nicely daily for me (I've got the Stylebook app and going to use it to plan a week's outfits)
3. Nail polish and make up
4. Mindful eating
5. Swim twice a week (minimum)
6. Take more selfies and/or be in more photos (I've always been the one behind the camera).

4 and 5 should also lead to weight loss (which I need but don't want to make the focus).

Back with my list!

1.Keep up green tea first thing in the morning
2.Keep up iron, vit D, magnesium and aloe supplements
3.Keep up skin and me*
4.Exercise 3 times a week (lose 1/2 stone)
5.Be more mindful of eating healthily
6.No more than 5 alcoholic drinks a month
7.SPF 50 every day on face, neck, hands
8.Invisalign/braces
9.Lash lift and tint monthly
10.8 glasses of water a day

*if I could upload photos of my face before/after a year of skin and me I would! I had very bad break outs and a lot of pigmentation . My skin is literally blemish free now and very even skin tone wise. I get compliments on my skin now - I never used to! I do have a link for you to get a trial box for £2.50.. full disclosure I receive a box at £2.50 too I think if someone uses the code:
https://www.skinandme.com/?promocode=LINDSAYE5DYW

Also, I had lash liner and eyebrows micro bladed last year - game changer!

I'm doing this too. I have a Glow Up 24 planned.

I'm good keeping on top of my regular hair and beauty appts but it's the little daily care that needs refining. I wear a minimal amount of make up that works for me.

• 1L water a day
• daily skincare routines
• body brushing and moisturising
• fully style hair after washing (mine can be a frizzy wavy mess if not)
• keep up with Gym 🏋️‍♀️ routine I've started
• get my steps in
• chiropodist every 3 months for a luxury pedicure.
• lots of fresh food.

I've downloaded a habit tracker app to help.

I love these threads! I was on one at the tail end of last year and it made me really mindful of little habits. The main thing it did was made me get into the habit of wearing make up every single day, and I look and feel so much better for it! I’m going to join this one now too!

start:

• a proper gym routine including some strength training.
• sort out my sleep hygiene. My sleep used to be absolutely awful and it is a lot better now, but I am guilty of staying awake way too late scrolling on my phone.
• screen time. This needs to be cut significantly and I need to read more. I used to read non-stop and now I scroll through insta and mumsnet instead. Pointless.
• getting my hair done slightly more frequently as I am fighting back the greys and it cannot be ignored anymore.
• Nails and toenails. I need to keep on top of my gel manicures/giving myself a pedicure every other week. I’ve got a lamp to do my own gels but I am SO lazy. Every time I do it I think ‘that didn’t take long’ but I can just never get started.

continue:

• keeping my space tidy, and lighting a candle most evenings. It became a little ritual throughout December because my partner bought me a Christmas candle and I think I might sustain the habit throughout all of winter to make the dark evenings a bit cosier.
• a small amount of make up every single day. I do look a lot better for it.
• Maintain the skin care routine.

Good luck everyone. I have had a difficult Christmas tbh, and I feel quite miserable and depressed. Hopefully this will make a small difference.

Also, I had lash liner and eyebrows micro bladed last year - game changer!
Isn't it just!!
I love mine and would really recommend it.

1. Lights out before 11pm
2. Walk daily
3. 6 portions of fruit and veg per day
4. Floss teeth
5. Handcream and cuticle oil daily

The sleep is the priority though. If I do nothing else, I'll be getting my sleep.

Have we really been Princessing since 2011?! Haha wow!

It's the water for me, the others I have pretty well got into daily habits but never enough water! This year now I'm 40 I think I've got to start some sort of weights. Definitely need to up the cardio, even just a walk a day. Teeth whitening is a good shout too.

@70isaLimitNotaTarget I'm with you on the coffee!

@Allthatwegotisthispalebluedot sorry to hear you've had a miserable Christmas. This time of year can be quite hard. I'm feeling quite crap too, but hoping that new year plans will help.

Really enjoying reading everyone's lists. I'm not starting mine properly until Jan 8th as we're at Center Parcs next week. Although Center Parcs is good for exercise I know I won't stick to healthy eating and I'll spend most of the week in gym gear, a big coat and a woolly hat so there will be no style involved!

• Hammam treatment monthly for silky soft skin
• Professional teeth deep cleaning regularly
• No carbs after 6 pm
• Drastic reduction of simple/white carbs
• Daily nature walk for exercise
• Looking for new cosmetics and having fun with the process
• Eating a salad and fruits every day and upping protein
• Smelling wonderful

Can anyone recommend a good moisturiser for mature dry skin and gentle teeth whiteners?

What habit tracking apps do people use?

I’ve got my list (some bits inspired by other lists above!!). I’ve limited it to 10 things as I think I’ll just get overwhelmed otherwise…

1. eye cream every night
2. facial serum 2 / 3 times a week (Estée Lauder advanced night serum)
3. Salux and salicylic body wash (Sol de Janeiro Bom Dia) everyday
4. dry brushing two times per week
5. hair mask once a week (PhD Weightless mask)
6. vit B and folic acid every night - not ttc, just deficient!
7. no coffee after lunch time, no tea/other caffeine after 4pm
8. prioritise sleep hygiene - sleep mask, early nights, reading and not faffing on phone before sleep
9. barre class three times per fortnight
10. some exercise every day (even if just doing Bring Sally Up or ten mins Pilates routine)

I’m excited!

I think this thread is right up my street because I think my biggest issue is that I don’t make the most of myself. I look at other women I know and they really do make a lot of effort.

That said, I do still get a lot of complements so I’m thinking, imagine if I made an effort. I might look really good!

So:

1. I spent all 2023 getting super fit. Then I was in an accident. Today I went to the gym. I’m determined to get it back.
2. I’ve nice things. Stop admiring them in my drawer and wardrobe. Bloody wear them!
3. I’ve signed up to Zoe Nutrition. I need to start it next week, after a scan I need to do on my injury (no metal).
4. Don’t buy any clothes, makeup, accessories or jewellery. Use what I’ve got. It’s all nice!
5. Make more friends. I think to address how I look, I need to feel less lonely and socialise more
6. Address my MH which is ok, but could be better. I often feel lonely and isolated.
7. Get an additional job to the p/t one I’ve got
8. Drink more water
9. Drink no alcohol
10. Whiten my teeth
11. Read more, get off the news, stop procrastinating
12. Use body lotion
13. Use the tools I’ve got e.g. NuFace, steamer, Philips Lumea

I love this!please can I join? Xxx

My list is:-

Posture exercises every day
Facial massage every night
To eat more fruit and vegetables
Cutting down on sugar

I haven't really got any spare cash for things that cost money but I'm happy with the above list xx

Love these threads- will think of my list!

Following