Glow Up Diaries: From Dull to Diva in 30 Days

So I’m not gonna lie — I hit rock bottom around month two of doing literally nothing for my skin or hair. My face was giving tired. My hair? Limp. My soul? Fading. Every mirror I walked by felt like it was silently judging me, like “girl, we okay??” Spoiler: we were not.

But here's the plot twist… I decided to do a glow up challenge. Not one of those “run 10km, drink kale, do 75 hard” situations (please no), just something small. Personal. A little “me vs. me” journey. 30 days. Minimal effort. Maximum glow.

And trust me, I was not out here buying 87 serums or bathing in rose quartz water. Just showing up for myself with the basics — good skin and hair care products, a lil discipline, and some blind optimism.

The Start: Chaos, Breakouts & Dry Shampoo

Week 1 was humbling. I was basically working off a year’s worth of damage. Skin was dull. Breakouts had set up camp. I didn’t even own a proper shampoo anymore.

So I went full audit mode: ditched the crusty products, cleaned my makeup brushes (ew), and actually read the back of some bottles for the first time ever. Then came the fun part — building my stash.

Let me tell you, I didn’t even realize how many affordable and genuinely good skin and hair products were just... sitting online, waiting to be added to cart. No overhype. No drama. Just products that work.

Skincare Hits Different When You’re Tired

I always thought skincare was a luxury — like some fancy ritual people did in silk robes while sipping cucumber water. But no. It's survival. When everything else is messy, putting on moisturizer feels like... reclaiming something.

I started slow: cleanse, tone (sometimes), serum, moisturize, sunscreen. That’s it. I didn’t go all in on trends — just focused on finding a few best skin care products in India that didn’t burn my face or break me out in mystery hives.

The difference? Wild. Within a week, I was getting compliments. By week 3, my own mom said my face “looked peaceful.” Which, if you know Indian moms, is basically an Oscar-level compliment.

Don’t Sleep on Hair Care (Literally)

Listen... you can’t glow up if your hair’s out here looking like an emotional support animal. I started oiling twice a week (shoutout to my nani for the recipe I used to ignore), invested in an actual sulfate-free shampoo, and stopped sleeping with wet hair. Revolutionary, I know.

Turns out, when you actually care for your hair, it stops resenting you. It gets softer, shinier, and stops breaking off in protest.

Also, can we just normalize that men skin care products are not some niche market? My partner started stealing my face wash — then my serum — and now has his own entire shelf. Glow-ups are for everyone, okay?

Real Talk: Was It Magic?

Nope. There were days I forgot. Days I did nothing except wipe off mascara with a tissue and called it skincare. But overall? This little 30-day journey reminded me that small changes compound. A few minutes every day can actually shift how you see yourself.

And honestly, the goal wasn’t to look like a filter. It was to look like me, but... rested. Radiant. Like someone who gives a damn.

The best part? I didn’t feel like I had to change who I was — just return to her.

So if you’ve been feeling like a potato lately (no hate to potatoes), consider this your sign. Pick one thing to start with. Cleanser. Oil. Sunscreen. Anything.

Find a couple of skin and hair care products that feel right, not overwhelming. And just... show up. A little, every day.

You don’t need a glow up to become someone else. Just to remember the diva you already are.

P.S. Skinska lowkey has some of the best deals on everyday essentials — actual quality stuff, not just influencer bait. Might be worth checking their full skin and hair care collection if your shelf’s looking sad rn. 😌✨