Here’s a to-the point glow up guide to get yourself pretty, healthy, and shiny before new year 2026!
I don’t know about you, but I’m so over the whole ‘New Year, New Me’ thing. Like, why should we wait until January 1st to start feeling amazing?
I mean sure, the fresh start effect is in full play at that time, but it’s very unrealistic to expect yourself to ditch all your bad habits and start a dozen new ones in a single day.
It’s why so many of us fail to stick to our new year’s resolutions and end up abandoning the idea of our ‘best self’ mid January.
This is why, you and I together, are going to embark on a pre new year glow up journey before the new year.
You will learn to slowly develop habits that help you glow, while still enjoying the end-of-year vibes.
The pressure will be low, but you’re going to love the end results so much, I promise.
Whether you found this post months before new year, or it’s literally the last week of December and you’re looking for some quick wins, this guide is for you, bestie.
It’s never too late or too early to start your glow up journey. Let’s see how this is going to work.
How To Glow Up Before 2026
1. Get Serious About Skincare and Keep It Simple
You and me both know that good skin makes everything else easier. It’s an essential part of glow-up, and you can’t skip past it.
I would not suggest buying pricey products for this or doing a 12-step routine.
Just start with the holy trinity: a gentle cleanser that doesn’t strip your skin, a moisturizer that doesn’t break you out, and sunscreen in morning (yes, even in winter and even when you’re staying inside).
If you have persistent skin issues, do not under any circumstance try actives yourself. See a dermatologist and use the products they prescribe.
It’ll require some money and time, I know, but the results will be worth it, not to mention risk-free.
Do your morning skincare and bedtime skincare without fail.
The magic of skincare is in consistency, not complexity. If you start putting in the work now, you’ll see results in a few months.
But you’ll start feeling the goodness from the day you start your routine. Pinkie promise!
2. Have Loads of Water
Okay, I know everyone and their mom tells you to drink more water, and you might be sick of it.
I used to roll my eyes at this advice until I started tracking how much water I was actually drinking and realized it was nowhere near what my body needed.
Hydration was the first thing I focused on in my glow-up and weight loss journey, and it’s a habit I’ve kept till date.
Firstly, start your day with a big glass of water before you even think about coffee. Your body has been without water for hours while you slept, so this is like giving your system a gentle wake-up call.
If hydration is hard for you, then first get yourself a pretty water bottle, something that makes you feel fancy, or has measurements on the side so you can track your intake, or makes that satisfying pop sound when you open it. It will motivate you to actually drink from it.
If plain water bores you (I get it), try adding cucumber slices, lemon, mint, or berries. Getting a fruit-infuser water bottle might help too.
3. Sip Healthy Tea
Lt’s talk about tea now because this is where it gets fun (at least, for me).
Herbal teas are basically like a spa treatment you can drink. They’re easier to make than smoothies and so very nourishing, which is why I don’t get why they’re not talked of enough.
You can have green tea for antioxidants, chamomile for relaxation, peppermint for digestion, and rooibos for that caffeine-free glow.
Have a cup before bed, and make a whole ritual out of it so that your body and mind know it’s time to wind down.
Teas will also keep your body hydrated so your skin stays plump, your energy stays up, and everything functions better.
When I initially started carrying a water bottle everywhere and drinking herbal tea in the evenings, within two weeks people were asking if I’d done something different with my skin.
Sometimes the simplest things make the biggest difference, right?
4. Start Moving Your Body Every Day
I’m not going to tell you to start some crazy intense workout routine that you’ll hate and quit within a week.
But I will tell you to find movement that makes you feel good in your body.
Here are some ideas:
- Dance to your favorite playlist in your bedroom
- Take walks while listening to podcasts or audiobooks
- Follow along with YouTube workout videos
- Try that Pilates class your friend keeps talking about
- Do yoga in your balcony or backyard
- Go biking in the mornijng (best cardio ever)
The best exercise for you is the one you’ll actually do consistently.
I spent years forcing myself to run and lift weights at the gym because I thought that’s what ‘fit’ people did, even though I hated every second of it.
Now I do YouTube workouts in my living room and take long walks, and I’m in better shape than I ever was when I was miserable at the gym (I’ve lost 22 pounds this way).
My favorite YouTube channels:
- P.S. Fit (very engaging workouts)
- Growwithjo (happy workouts)
- Madfit
Even just 20-30 minutes of movement daily will make you feel more energetic and confident.
Oh, and exercise is literally a natural mood booster and stress reliever, so you’ll be glowing from the inside out.
5. Make Small Healthy Changes To Your Diet
You can go on a proper diet and restrict your food once 2026 begins, but for now, just start by making small healthy changes to your diet.
Here are some tips that I follow whenever I want to get healthier with my eating habits:
- Breakfast should be protein-rich and healthy
- Have at least one fruit
- Snack on cucumbers and nuts when hungry
- Have a probiotic after breakfast and after dinner (your gut health will love you)
You can still have your winter and holiday treats and have takeouts, but the above tips will help you strike a good balance instead of having an outright bad diet.
These changes will make it easier to transition into your healthy era come new year.
Also, please listen to your body’s hunger and fullness cues, eat regularly throughout the day, and please don’t skip your meals.
Your body needs consistent fuel to function at its best. And a happy gut means clearer skin, better energy, and improved mood.
6. Build a Simple Morning Routine
I think morning routines are like love letters to yourself, and I try to make it happen every day for myself.
A good morning routine sets the tone for everything else: your diet, your workouts, your joy, productivity, everything!
So, just build a simple morning routine for yourself ahead of new year. Even if it has just three steps in it (like skincare, making your bed, and breakfast), it still counts.
Every morning, do your steps on repeat in the same order, and see how much peace and strength it brings you.
Here are some morning routine ideas you can pick from:
- Do a 5-minute stretch in your bedroom
- Have your coffee while reading a book
- Go for a short walk
- Do your skincare
- Make your own breakfast
- Take a quick shower
- Put on good clothes
- Listen to a podcast while getting ready
- Do some journaling
- Write in a daily planner
There’s so so much you could do; this list is never-ending. So, make a basic morning routine that you can follow after whatever time you wake up, and stick to it till new year rings in.
7. Upgrade Your Wardrobe Staples
Just your staples, babe, not your whole wardrobe. You want to make sure the pieces you wear most often actually make you feel amazing.
First, take some time to go through your wardrobe and really think about what makes you feel confident versus what you wear out of habit.
Get rid of the torn-out staples and ill-fitting clothes. Sometimes just getting rid of the pieces that don’t make you feel great can be transformative.
Upgrade your basics like well-fitting bras and underwear, jeans that actually fit your body, a few tops that make you feel put-together, and shoes you can walk in comfortably.
Quality over quantity always wins. I’d rather have five pieces I absolutely love than a closet full of ‘just fime’ clothes.
And please get things tailored if they need it before the new year, yeah?
If you have a special outfit planned for New Year’s Eve, try it on with all the accessories, shoes, and undergarments ahead of time.
Make sure everything fits the way you want and that you can move comfortably, because there’s nothing that kills confidence like an outfit that doesn’t feel right.
8. Pamper Yourself With Small Luxuries
Okay, time for some fun talk now. There’s never a right or wrong time to pamper yourself. You should do it all-year round, but as we inch closer to the new year, it should be a non-negotiable.
Why? Because it’ll help you embrace your glow-up era, that’s why!
Pamper yourself with affordable luxuries, like ice hand cream, a silk scrunchie, fancy tea or coffee, and a shower gel that makes you feel like you’re at a spa.
Maybe you can try a body oil that smells amazing, do a weekly hair mask while you binge-watch Netflix, or take actual baths instead of just quick showers.
Also, light a candle once a week or every day, put on a face mask, paint your nails, and do whatever makes you feel like you’re taking care of yourself!
9. Hit the Salon (Right Before New Year)
Alright, so a trip to the salon might not be in everyone’s monthly budget, so I have saved this tip for the end of new year.
You want to feel nothing but your absolute best as you step into 2026, so pelase gift yourself a salon trrament.
This is where you get to outsource the stuff you either can’t do yourself or just don’t want to deal with yourself.
For me, it’s getting a haircut, getting my eye brows done, arms and legs waxed, and maybe a good facial if I’m feeling fancy.
But I skip the nails because I prefer doing those at home with my favorite Netflix show and a cup of tea.
Figure out what works for you and what makes you feel most pretty.
Maybe you’re amazing at doing your own hair but terrible at shaping your eyebrows. Maybe you love doing your own nails but want a professional to handle your skin.
There’s no right or wrong here; just whatever makes you feel most confident and taken care of.
Book these appointments sooner rather than later, especially if you’re reading this in December.
Everyone has the same idea around the holidays, and you don’t want to be scrambling for last-minute appointments.
10. Work On Your Mindset and Grow Your Confidence
The most magnetic people aren’t the ones with perfect features or flawless skin. They’re the ones who seem genuinely comfortable with themselves and have a good mindset.
Confidence isn’t something you either have or don’t have; it’s something you build, my girl.
So, my last tip for you is to work on your mindset before 2026 comes.
Here’s how to do it:
- Practice gratitude daily (sounds cheesy, but it works)
- Start paying attention to your inner dialogue and make it positive
- Notice one thing you like about yourself each day instead of fixating on what you want to change
- Buy yourself flowers (Miley Cyrus taught us that)
- Unfollow accounts that make you feel bad about yourself
- Write a positive journal entry
Honestly, if you can do even just one of those things, it will really make a difference, even if you’re just one day away from the new year.
When New Year’s Eve rolls around, I want you to feel proud of the effort you put into yourself, whether you had months to prepare or just started last week.
So, Are You Ready, Girl?
Whether you’re starting your glow up months in advance or scrambling to pull it together in the final weeks of December, you have everything you need to enter 2026 feeling beautiful and confident.
It can be a little overwhelming, I know, but don’t panic, not even a little. I am on the same page as you and this is not a race, trust me.
Start where you are, use what you have, do what you can. Pick one or two of these areas to focus on first, then gradually add more as they become habits.
Let’s glow-up together, ladies, and end 2025 feeling happy, bright, and glowy.
What’s one area you’re most excited to focus on for your glow up? I love hearing from you beautiful humans, so drop a comment and let’s cheer each other on!
