10 simple ways to improve your look

A list of ten ways to easily, quickly and cheaply improve your well-being and appearance for a better overall look.

With all of the makeover and self-improvement shows on TV, it may seem like a lot of work to change your look or appearance. But you don’t need experts or a television show to quickly make you look (and therefore feel) better. Below are ten simple ways you can easily improve your look now!

1. Get bronzed- This doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to go fry out in the sun. A nice, sun-kissed touch to your skin makes you look healthy and gives you a natural glow. You can use self-tanning lotion or a bronzing powder to achieve this look in case it isn’t sunny in your neck of the woods right now.

3. Wear heels whenever possible- Even a small, one-inch heel will instantly make your silhouette look slimmer. You don’t have to go and buy those stilettos that are impossible to walk in (and can actually cause injury to your feet). You can find functional, affordable shoes with small heels to accomplish this. And heels with jeans are now an acceptable part of the fashion world, so they can be worn even casually, not just when you have to dress up.

4. Get some exercise- not only is this physically beneficial to you, but it will make you look better to! Any weight loss, even a pound, will make you look and feel better. But exercise also gets your blood circulating better, which leads to a better overall complexion. It also produces endorphins that give you a confidence boost. Never underestimate what this can do for your appearance. If you are glowing on the inside, you will be glowing on the outside, too!

5. Get a manicure- few things are as unsightly as hangnails and scraggly, unkempt cuticle beds. Since you use your hands for almost everything, they get noticed more than you might think. Simply dropping in at a nail salon (you don’t need an appointment at most) and getting a quick manicure can instantly make your hands look polished and clean. There are also kits you can buy at your local drugstore that have all of the same implements that the pros use to do your manicure at home.

6. Use moisturizer- if you haven’t started yet, it’s never too late. Even starting use later in life can reverse some of the damage already done to your skin and instantly give your face a better appearance. Moisturizers smooth your skin and make it look healthy. Make sure yours has sunscreen with at least an SPF of 15 in it. One that has antioxidants is even more beneficial. Regular use will also slow the signs of aging and combat any wrinkles or acne scars you may already have, taking years off your face.

7. Cut your hair- Even if it’s just a trim to get rid of split ends, a haircut always makes you look and feel better. If you are stuck in a rut, then try something a little more drastic. Go for a style that frames your face and is easy to maintain. Great-looking hair always gives your beauty quotient a boost. Using a shine serum on your hair adds a healthy vitality to your entire look. Talk with your stylist or barber before you begin and don’t be afraid of change.

8. Get a massage- the benefits of massage are much more than just relaxation (though being relaxed always makes you look better than being stressed). Massage, like exercising, increases blood flow and circulation. This makes your complexion better all over, not just at the site of the massaging. Using an aromatherapy oil will further the benefits of this age-old technique.

9. Stand up straight! - Most people are so prone to slouching that they don’t even realize when they are doing it. But slouching makes you look heavier than you really are, and makes your clothes look like they don’t fit correctly. Make a conscious effort to stop slouching as often as possible. You will be surprised how much better your clothes fit, and how much easier it is to breathe deeply.

10. Choose your clothes carefully- Take an honest (but not brutal) friend shopping with you. That new style of bathing suit may be the hottest thing on the beaches, but on your body type it looks like a paper bag. Don’t buy it! If it is hot this season, it may be passé before you know it. Buying a classic suit that fits well on your body type will last longer and make you look slimmer and more attractive. This applies not just to swimwear, but all clothes, shoes and accessories as well.