How to Glow-Up in 2026: The Cheat Sheet Every Woman Needs

Ready for a 2026 glow-up? This realistic cheat sheet covers beauty, wellness, habits, and lifestyle upgrades to help you become your best self.

2026 is your year to stop overcomplicating self-improvement and start making upgrades that actually work. A real glow-up isn’t about perfection; it’s about small, intentional changes that add up over time. This is your year to feel and look your best from the inside out. Here is your guide to better routines, healthier habits, and wellness tips to help you glow up in the new year, plus a cheat sheet at the end for you to save.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission for purchases made through my links at no extra cost to you. Thank you for the support and as always all opinions are my own.

2026 Vision Board

How to Glow-Up in 2026

Beauty Upgrades

Facial Tension & Puffiness

• Jaw Tension: Gua sha your jawline upward 10x, then down both sides of the neck 10x each. Here’s the full routine I follow.
• Puffy Face: Ice roll or wrap an ice cube in a paper towel and massage all over your face.

Skin Health & Glow

• Dull Skin: Use a red light mask (code ERIKALED) every day for 10 minutes.
• Dry Skin: Exfoliate with a silicone brush 1–3x a week and use a moisturizing cleanser.
• Pimples / Breakouts: Apply a thick layer of Vaseline on top — they disappear overnight.

Skin Protection & Aging

• Anti-Aging: Wear SPF every single day, even on cloudy days, and if you sit next to a window all day. Plus, retinol once a week.

Under-Eye Care

• Dark Circles: Eat a healthy diet (focus on adding whole foods) and sleep 7–8 hours every night.

Hair & Nails

• Hair Thinning: Take this hair vitamin — my hair grew like crazy.
• Brittle Nails: Use a nail strengthener and use cuticle oil every day.

Lip Care

• Chapped Lips: Aquaphor is the only lip balm that actually works.

Beauty Must-Haves

Wellness Upgrades

Energy & Sleep

• Wake Up Tired: Drink a glass of water right after waking up (you might be dehydrated), or try electrolytes for a mid-day pick-me-up.
• Headaches / Migraines: Take magnesium glycinate before bed — it also improves sleep quality.
• Seasonal Blues: Use a light therapy lamp for 20–30 minutes to mimic sunlight.

Digestion & Body Comfort

• Bloated: Walk after meals, drink peppermint tea, and stay hydrated.

Mental Health & Stress

• Anxiety: You can only control how you react, feel, and think — not external events or other people’s actions.
• Overwhelmed: Do a brain dump. Write everything down, then prioritize by importance or deadline.
• Burnt Out: Take a walk outside, then find ways to cut your workload or ask for help.

Mindset & Motivation

• Comparing Yourself: Stay off social media. Only follow people who inspire, entertain, or cat accounts (personal favorite).
• Unmotivated: Plan a day centered around your favorite things (Disneyland, favorite restaurant, etc.) and listen to your favorite music.
• Craving Mental Growth: Read nonfiction books or articles about a topic you want to learn more about.

Wellness Must-Haves

Lifestyle Upgrades

Home & Environment

• Cluttered Space: Have a reset day — organize your space, clean your bedding, and restock essentials.
• Feeling Disconnected from Your Routine: Dedicate a day to your beauty routine, like a hair mask, exfoliating, and an “everything shower.”

Digital Boundaries

• No Phone Boundaries: No scrolling during meals, 30 minutes after waking up, and 1 hour before bed.
• Mindless Scrolling: Try a new hobby like reading, puzzles, or game night.
• Overstimulated: Put your phone on Do Not Disturb after workdays.

Energy & Focus

• Always Tired: Take a multivitamin with vitamin D and B-12 to boost energy throughout the day.
• Chaotic Mornings: Prep one thing the night before (outfit, planner, or coffee setup).
• Unfocused Days: Use a Pomodoro timer — work for 25, break for 5.
• Decision Fatigue: Plan your outfits and meals ahead of time.

Wind-Down & Rest

• Can’t Unwind: Dim the lights, follow a skincare routine, and put away your phone 1 hour before bed.

Wellness Must-Haves

Ready for Your 2026 Glow-Up?

Start your 2026 glow-up with a digital life planner. This neutral aesthetic life planner is the only notion template you’ll need to plan and organize your entire life all in one place.

Who is it for?

•  You need one place to plan and organize your entire life

•  A “second brain” to store all your tasks, routines, trackers, and goals

•  You love a neutral aesthetic theme

•  New to Notion (beginner-friendly)

What’s Included:

•  Life Dashboard – A glance at all the routines, trackers, and planners

•  The Planner – Weekly and daily planner to manage top priorities and tasks

•  Morning & Night Routines – Routines to keep you productive and focused

•  Yearly Goals Tracker – Track your yearly goals and display your vision board

•  Habit Tracker – Track your daily habits and progress toward your goals

•  40 Affirmations – A page dedicated to personal, money, career, and self-love affirmations

•  Weekly Reset Routine – A weekly routine to help you reset and start fresh

•  Monthly Reset Routine – A monthly routine to help you reflect and plan for a new month

•  Meal Planner – Plan your meals for the week and keep track of your grocery list

•  Workout Planner – Create and track your workout routines

•  Budget Tracker – Track income/expenses and manage your savings and budget

•  Reading Tracker – Track your reading goals + plan future reads with a to-be-read (TBR) list

•  How to Use Guide PDF – A PDF guide on how to use and navigate the template

2026 Glow-Up Cheat Sheet

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