The Beauty & Wellness Habits Millennials Ditched, and Picked Up, Throughout The Decade

From perfecting their highlight to daily workouts, these beauty glow ups were ten years in the making.

cherie

Dec. 30, 2019

When we talk about beauty glow ups, we don't just mean going from not washing your face to washing it (though, that is an important growth point!) Beauty glow ups also include the mental, spiritual, and emotional growth we experience, which, in our opinion, can be more important than graduating from barely knowing how to put on eyeliner to perfecting the cat-eye. Throughout the last ten years, we've ditched and picked up so many beauty and wellness habits it's hard to keep track (remember when nude lips and heavy smokey eyes were a thing? Or when everyone was on the master cleanse?) Through it all, we know that one thing rings true—going from your teens to your 20's is a major glow up for everyone. We talked to four young professionals about how they glew up from the beginning of the decade until now, and what lessons they've learned that have contributed to their overall well-being and happiness. Brandon Towns, 24

What were you up to at the beginning of the decade?"I was 15 years old, in high school, and was a dedicated track runner. I had dreams of being an olympic runner, which meant my life pretty much revolved around practice. We were constantly running whether it was off season or not. Eat. Sleep. Class. Run. Repeat. That said, I definately took care of my diet but I didn't really take care of my skin. I'd be so tired, I'd jump into bed after practice without necessarily washing my face."What was your biggest glow up at the end of this decade? "Getting my skin regimen together. I now understand the importance of taking care of my outward appearance, along with my general wellbeing. I do a lot more things for myself now that contribute to my health and happiness!"What piece of advice would you give your younger self?"Get out of bed, and jump into the shower! Haha, but really, I'd tell myself to go ahead and try new things. Be flexible, and don't be afraid to take chances. They're gonna get you somewhere!"Tiffany Fuentes, 25

What were you up to at the beginning of the decade?"I was in my sophomore year in high school, and I loved art. I loved playing around with abstract art, which kind of caused me to fail in a high school art class, but I got to practice for fun with my makeup! I actually wasn't allowed to wear makeup because of my parents, so I'd save my lunch money and sneak to Sephora to buy eyeliner, and then secretly take my moms red lipstick, do my makeup after leaving the house, and always take it off right before I got home."What was your biggest glow up at the end of the decade?"Back then, I had no idea what I was doing with makeup—I just knew I wanted to get creative with it and have fun! Now at the end of the decade, I know how to beat my face, get that highlight right, and just enjoy it all without restrictions. Also, a life glow up I've had is just being more in tune with myself and more comfortable and happy with me." What piece of advice would you give your younger self?"I'd tell myself you are enough, you can do it all, and just keep pushing through all the trials and tribulations. There's a glow up waiting for you at the end of this decade!"Lexi Ronnestrand, 23

What were you up to at the beginning of the decade?"I was 13 and did a lot of sporty activities with friends like kick ball, jump rope, and all that fun stuff. I looked like a tomboy and I loved wearing my red converse and sweats, even though I had a mom who always wanted me to play with makeup, I never really wanted to. I was kid, and wanted to be just that!"What was your biggest glow up at the end of the decade?"When I was younger, I used to think that people who would wear makeup, dress cute, and do their hair were trying too hard. I used to think they weren't being themselves! But throughout the decade, I realized that the effort we put into our presence is actually a form of self expression. Now, I see that fashion, style, and makeup are great ways to express who we are as a person. I'm glad I got out of my comfort zone to explore that!" What piece of advice would you give your younger self?"I'd tell myself to not wear the sweatshirt with all the holes in it, and to listen to mom!"Pat Nguyen, 26

What were you up to at the beginning of the decade?"I was 17, a junior in High School, and wasn't really taking care of my skin. My mom didn't believe in face wash, so I would just use hand soap to wash my face. I knew I wanted to invest in my skin more because of my acne, so I would use my allowance to try new things." What was your biggest glow up at the end of the decade?"Throughout the decade, I learned how to prioritize myself. Even with my skin, taking the time out to find what works for me and what would help me clear my skin gave me the confidence I needed to get through college. I also learned throughout this decade how to really care for my health through consistently working out, and that has been one of the best decisions I've made for myself. So, my biggest glow up from the beginning of the decade until now is finding my self-confidence through healthy decisions like going to the gym and taking care of my skin."What piece of advice would you give your younger self?"I'd tell myself to look inside myself to find happiness but to also look to others for guidance. They will help you along the way, but everything you need is already within. That's where the glow up is waiting."Got a glow-up you want to share? Download the Cherie app and show us how you've changed over the decade!

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