21 Quick Beauty Tricks to Make You Prettier in Moments

Have you ever just had a “frumpy feeling” kind of day? I hate the days when my hair isn’t washed, or I didn’t get enough sleep so I look exhausted, or I just couldn’t find an outfit I liked. Let me be clear: looking perfect all the time is probably the least important thing to worry about in life and you are soooo much more than what you look like on a Monday night. But that doesn’t mean we don’t want to feel good about the way we look! We all want to feel and look attractive. Don’t ever let someone make you feel bad for wanting to look your best. With that said, I’ve put together a list of 21 quick beauty tricks for how to look prettier in just moments!

Most of these tips can be accomplished on-the-go and in seconds, while others may take a few minutes and require some forethought. Okie dokie, let’s dive right into my best tips to improve your appearance with minimal time and effort! 

For a quick overview on how to look prettier, here’s what’s coming up:

1. Take care of your eyes
2. Change your hairstyle
3. Give your hair texture
4. Good posture
5. Smile
6. Moisturize your lips
7. Lipgloss/lipstick
8. Add perfume or body mist
9. Choose form-flattering clothing
10. Pinch your cheeks for blush
11. Accessorize 
12. Add heels or pumps
13. Display open body language
14. Talk with your hands
15. Highlight your best feature
16. Tuck in your shirt
17. Wear complementary colors
18. Wear black
19. Keep your nails clean & trimmed
20. Use a primer
21. Stay moisturized

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21 Quick Beauty Hacks for How to Look Prettier

1. Take care of your eyes

If you’re not already wearing mascara, just add a single layer to make your eyes appear bigger and more awake. If you don’t want to wear mascara, simply curl your lashes to make them appear more dramatic! On the days when you didn’t get enough sleep and you’re sporting those designer bags under your eyes, dab on a bit of eye brightener, eye cream, or concealer to fight the tired look.

2. Whatever your hair is doing, make it do the opposite

If you want to know how to look prettier, sometimes a little change goes a long way.

If you’re wearing your hair up, let it down. Usually wear your hair down? Throw it in a bun or high ponytail. If it’s parted on one side, flip the part to the other side to give your hair some extra lift. Plus, I know it sounds insignificant, but changing the part in your hair can actually make a big difference in the way your hair frames your face. A change in your usual, everyday hairstyle will help you stand out in a positive way and make you look more attractive.

Personally, my hair sometimes looks flat, dull or frizzy after a long day. For added volume, flip your hair upside down, give it a ruffle or a ‘tease’ at the roots with your fingers, and flip it back over again.

Pro tip: My hair has 2 moods: 1) Irregular waves that look pretty good and 2) Monica from Friends when she went to the Bahamas and the humidity tripled her hair size and made her a frizz ball. To fight frizz, try carrying a travel size anti frizz hair serum or spray in your purse. Look for key ingredients such as mango butter, shea butter, avocado oil, coconut oil and jojoba oil.

3. Give your mane some texture

Whether you’ve got straight or wavy hair, I’ve found that adding a bit of texture to my hair makes any style I’ve chosen look that much better. Sea Salt Spray is one of my favorite ways to do this. It gives your hair an effortless, tousled look. I love it best when my hair is wavy.

I bought the Moroccanoil Dry Texture Spray from Sephora, and loved the way it gave my hair a tousled texture, without drying it out or weighing it down.

To give you a few extra options for how to look prettier during a bad hair day, I’ve listed a few other options from brands I use and trust below, though I haven’t used these products specifically. (Note: These sprays are mostly for adding texture; meaning, they won’t give your hair beach-y waves if you have naturally straight hair and don’t use any appliances to actually curl or crimp your hair.)

• Moroccan Sea Salt Spray

• Bumble & Bumble Surf Spray

• Not Your Mother’s Beach Babe Soft Waves Tropical Sea Salt Spray

4. Shoulders back and chin up

Good posture is fantastic for an instant improvement to anyone’s look. To be honest, I’ve got terrible posture and I catch myself slouching all the time. So, sit up straight, pull your shoulders back and keep your chin up. 

Keeping your chin up also helps highlight your jaw and eliminate that ‘just opened my phone camera in the selfie setting, now I have three chins’ type of situation that happens. 

Just me? Cool cool. Moving on.

(If you have a hard time keeping good posture, check out this post from Pursuing Lemons, which offers 10 yoga poses to help correct posture!)

For me, I use a posture brace while I’m sitting at our kitchen table to help me improve my posture. It helps me keep my mind on work without having to constantly remind myself, ‘Dude, we just went over this. Stop slouching like you’re 102 years old.’ Using the brace a little everyday can actually improve your overall posture, so you start keeping your back straight instinctively. 

Another tip for how to look prettier is to show confidence, and good posture definitely suggests confidence.

5. Smile sincerely

Self-explanatory. Sometimes, “how to look prettier” is simply a matter of “how to be happier.” Joyful people always look prettier and a smile can go a long way to brighten someone’s day. Studies show that people were more likely to find someone attractive if they have a sincere smile on their face.

Pro tip: For a whiter smile, brush your teeth with a charcoal toothpaste, or dip your toothbrush in a bit of straight up charcoal powder before you brush. Do this consistently and you’ll notice your teeth will get much whiter!

6. Keep your lips moisturized

The first thing people tend to notice when someone is speaking is a person’s mouth. So of course, chapped lips are not ideal. A simple tip for how to look prettier is just to make your lips look more attractive. Moisturize them with a chapstick or lip balm that has moisturizing elements such as shea butter or cocoa butter, beeswax, jojoba oil or other natural oils. Soft, supple lips are a huge plus.

Pro tip: Be wary of sneaky ingredients like salicylic acid, phenol, menthol, and camphor, which can actually dry out your lips over time or cause irritation.

7. Gloss it

Lipgloss is a game changer for how to look prettier, y’all. Add some gloss to your smile, or swipe on your favorite lipstick. For me personally, lipstick makes me feel like a boss chick. Something about it just amps up my confidence.

My go-to lipgloss is Sephora’s Too Faced Lip Injection Plumping Lip Gloss. It makes your lips feel tingly, borderline too intense (but just for a few moments!), and brings the blood flow to your lips. It makes them look super plump, as well as glossy. I’ve gotten so many compliments wearing this one. I’ve bought it twice now, so I definitely think it’s a good buy.

8. Make yourself smell nice

Spray some body mist or perfume on yourself! Find your signature scent and carry it with you in your purse. While this doesn’t specifically relate to how to look prettier, smelling pretty is also a big advantage.

Nowadays, people are much more aware of some of the toxic and harmful ingredients included in beauty products. Perfume, as you all know, is no exception. If you prefer, stick to cleaner brands such as Good Chemistry (available exclusively at Target) and the booty-obsessed, body-positive brand Sol de Janeiro.

You can even just dab on some essential oils on your wrists or at the nape of your neck. Choose a scent that promotes an uplifted mood, tranquility or positivity to both smell amazing and keep your energy positive. Essential oil suggestions: Clary sage, bitter orange, chamomile, fennel and mandarin green.

9. Choose form flattering clothes

Pick clothes that are form flattering and fit you well. None of this ‘I’ll buy it now and wear it in a month when I lose weight’ type stuff. (Guilty.) Life is too short to not dress up in something that makes you feel beautiful, cute or like a total baddie.

That’s not to say you need to put on skintight clothing though! Just don’t be afraid to let your natural shape show, whether that’s curvy, thin, athletic, or somewhere in between.

10. Pinch your cheeks

Not so hard that it hurts, but just a little pinch will bring the blood flow to your cheeks and give you a rosy glow! Like a natural blush. 

If you’re not so into the pinching, I’d suggest trying out Glossier’s Cloud Paint. It’s a lightweight gel-cream that you dab onto your skin for a pretty, natural looking blush. I got a free sample with my purchase of Glossier’s Skywash Eyeshadow, and I’ve gotta admit that I loved it. It gave me the subtle blush I was looking for.

11. Accessorize

Jewelry can jazz up any outfit. Plain white T shirt and jeans? Add a statement necklace or a chunky gold bracelet. If you want to maintain a casual look, choose either a simple necklace or even some braided bracelets.

For example, I took a photo of the “Rose Gold Rush Pack” by Aspyn Ovard that I purchased from Pura Vida and wear literally all the time. They’re a simple but tasteful addition to any of my outfits.

You can also add a hat depending on the style of your outfit. A baseball cap gives you a cute and sporty look, while a panama or fedora can make just about any outfit look more trendy.

Sunglasses are another key. Movie stars are always running around in luxury sweat pants, but still manage to look fabulous by throwing on a pair of sunglasses. So make sure you bring a pair of sunglasses with you when you’re going out to look more put together and look more attractive over all.

12. Slip on some heels or pumps

Heels are great for dressing up almost any outfit: jeans, skirts, dresses, and even casual dress shorts. They make your legs look longer and can make a casual outfit look more dressy. I’ll be honest– I still walk like a drunk baby giraffe when I attempt to walk in heels, so I prefer pumps or wedges if I’m trying to class up my look.

Right now, Target is selling some super cute chunky summer shoes, which might be just what you’re looking for. I just bought these Universal Threads Platform Sandals and am COMPLETELY obsessed.

13. Display open body language

Do you tend to cross your arms when talking, or stand with your hands in your pockets? Those body languages can suggest that you’re closed off and can make it difficult for people to engage with you. This, in turn, makes you appear less attractive. Try to stand in a more relaxed pose and be fluid with your movements if you’re wondering how to look prettier. 

Here are some ways you can display open body language: Keep your arms relaxed, nod your head when someone is talking, keep your eyebrows slightly raised to show interest, and keep a relaxed stance (but keep your back straight so you don’t get slouchy!).

14. Look more attractive just by moving your hands

This relates to #10, but studies show people who are expressive with their hands are viewed as warmer and more energetic overall. So when you’re talking or telling a story, don’t keep your hands shoved in your pockets. Use them to be expressive.

15. Pick a feature and make it the star of the show

I can guarantee that regardless of how much you like your body right now, you’ve got a couple bangin’ features that other girls would kill for. Pick something about yourself that you feel confident in and amp it up!

For example: If you love the natural shape of your lips, use a bold shade of lipstick to draw attention to them! Do you have gorgeous, strong fingernails? Keep them painted to automatically make any outfit look more put together. (If you don’t like to keep a colorful outfit, that’s fine! Pick a neutral shade like blush or nude, or even a clear polish!) For those of you with nice collarbones or an elegant neck (think Keira Knightley), wear something off the shoulder or a scoop neck to show them off! Basically, whatever you got, flaunt it. (Though I would suggest doing so tastefully–whatever that looks like for you!)

16. Tuck in your shirt

If you’re wearing a too-long or oversized shirt or top, tucking it in can completely change the feel of your outfit. A simple tuck can transform your outfit from casual or urban grunge to chic and flattering. Both grunge and chic are cute looks, it just depends on what you’re going for. 

On a day when you already feel a little ‘blah,’ a more polished look might just do the trick. Typically, I think this looks best with high-waisted jeans or a high-waisted skirt, along with a belt–an easy way to accentuate your curves.

17. Wear colors that complement your skin tone

Wearing the right colors for your “summer” or “winter” skin tone can vastly improve your appearance. How do you know if you’re a “winter” (cool toned skin) or a “summer” (warm toned skin)? This article from StitchFix should be able to help you figure out the best colors based on your skin tone. To sum up the article (because I had no idea about this info until I read the article):

You likely have a cool skin tone if you have: light colored hair, pale or fair skin, your veins are more blue than green, you have blue or grey eyes, and you burn easily in the sun. If this is you, you’ll be complemented by cooler colors such as blues, silvers, grays, light purples, pastels, emerald greens, sapphires, etc. If you prefer warmer colors, the article suggests lipstick reds or pale yellows. Be cautious with bright oranges or anything too yellow, as those colors will overpower your skin tone, according to Stitch Fix.

You likely have a warm skin tone if you have: dark colored hair; dark, olive or golden skin tones; your veins are more green than blue; you have brown or brown-hazel eyes, and you don’t burn easily in the sun. If this is you, you look extra great in earth tones, reds, oranges, rusty tones and creams. If your preference is cooler colors, aim for warmer versions of cool colors. Olive, fuschia, orchid and violet are good options.

If you’re a combination of both factors, you have a neutral skin tone and can basically pull off anything. Obviously though, all of these do’s and don’ts can put people in a box. As Captain Barbossa said to Elizabeth Swann: “They’re more like guidelines.”

For more details on wearing complementary colors, check out the full article here.

18. Wear black

Black is basically the universe’s most flattering color. Think of black as the ketchup of the fashion world–it makes everything better and covers a multitude of flaws. I love black because it’s a slimming shade and, better yet, doesn’t show off the coffee I spill accidentally spill on myself from time to time.

19. Keep your nails clean & trimmed

Good grooming helps you look attractive in general. Keep your nails trimmed and smooth. This doesn’t mean you should go pay for a full manicure (I know I don’t), but even just buffing and filing your nails on your own can vastly improve them. Plus, if you want the gel nail effect without paying for it, just buy a good gel-like nail polish, Essie Gel Couture Nail Colour for an extra-shiny, quick-drying nail color that lasts longer without chipping. 

Having painted fingernails is such a simple method to feeling more styled and more attractive overall.

20. Use a primer

Even going bare-faced with no makeup, primer is such a Godsend. It blurs fine lines, minimizes pores, and a good one will give you the same effect as the “pretty filter” on Snapchat. They’re also mattefying, so for all my fellow oily T-zone ladies, this is the perfect quick-fix (besides oil blot papers).

21. Moisturize 

Your hair, your face, your elbows, your legs, your lips, even the soles of your feet. Moisturize everything. If it’s winter time, you’ll want to use extra rich moisturizer to combat the cold and wind, which dries your skin out quicker. If it’s summer, indulge a little in some body oil to give yourself a nice glow and keep your skin healthy. During the warm months, choose a water-based facial moisturizer for lightweight hydration that won’t leave your skin feeling oily.

Next steps to take to maximize your natural beauty

That does it for how to look prettier with my 21 Quick Beauty Tricks! However, there are more long term methods that can increase and enhance your natural beauty as well, they just require consistency and are not on-the-go type fixes.

Here are some next steps you can take to become more attractive and enhance your features:

• Maintain a good skincare routine
• Take care of your hair
• Get enough vitamins
• Eat your fruits and veggies
• Drink 8 oz of water 8 times a day
• Incorporate collagen into your beverages for skin, hair & joint health
• Get 8 hours of sleep
• Limit your alcohol intake
• Limit your sugar intake
• Avoid inflammatory foods
• Wear sunscreen

I will be expanding on these points as my blog continues to grow, so be sure to check back in later! I’ll add links as I create the posts to better help you on your journey to a healthier you.

Helpful Posts for the Holidays

By now, you should feel prettier, more confident, and more put together overall. To look more attractive, you don’t need a full face of makeup or an outfit straight out of Vogue. Applying even just a couple of these tips on a day when you’re not feeling your hottest will subtly but effectively amp up your look.

Now that the holidays are coming up (as I’m updating this in the beginning of October), you might be looking to do some shopping for your friends and loved ones.

If you’re struggling to find the perfect gift, feel free to check out my gift guide posts to help you out!

• Gift Guide for the Fashion Lover
• Best Gift Ideas for the Classy Man
• Gift Guide for the Fitness Obsessed Friend
• DIY Holiday Self Care Basket to Uplift a Friend

If you found this post helpful, please share it! : ) What tips do you use when you need to improve your appearance in a bind? Let me know in the comments below!

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Til next time, lovelies

Sav