Filters are popular for a reason—they’re a way for some of us to feel a little more confident with our selfies while hiding parts of our appearance that we assume are problematic. That’s ridiculous. If you’re going to be obsessed with how you look, at least focus on the parts that matter.
- Your skin It’s currently winter, which means one thing: dry skin. When you don’t feel comfortable in your own skin, you can lose a lot of your self-confidence. If you’re new to the world of moisturizer, you’ll want to get on board. Without it, you’re more prone to wrinkles and a dull, flaky complexion. No thanks.
- Your eyes All eyes are beautiful. Regardless of the color and shape, they’re such a vital part of your body because they literally help you view the world. While it’s fun to highlight them and line them with makeup (which will emphasize their beauty even more), you should also remember to treat them well. It’s so hard, but limiting screentime is really important when you can. If you’re bored after work and find yourself mindfully scrolling through your phone, maybe try picking up a paperback instead.
- Your posture Standing up straight can make you feel a lot more confident but it can also help prevent some unfortunate health issues down the line. Harvard Health believes that good posture matters not just to prevent injuries while working out but to keep your whole body in balance. Fear looking like a walking right angle on your 80th birthday? Work on that posture now.
- Your chest It doesn’t matter if you’ve got big boobs or are relatively flat chested — there’s no one preferred boob shape, and guys (at least decent guys) usually don’t have a huge preference. Still, you’ll want to focus on your ladies and make sure you have the right bra on. A well-fitting bra can literally change both your day and your overall appearance around and help prevent an unnecessary backache, especially if you wear a higher cup size. Treat your boobs well. (And while we’re on the topic, don’t skip on your breast cancer checks in the shower since it’s easier to treat with early detection.)
- Your teeth Having a bright white smile is important but it’s also important to actually address tooth pain and see a dentist at least once a year. You might not know this but an infected tooth can cause life-threatening conditions like sepsis and meningitis. Yikes. Plus, a nice smile really does go a long way and tells other people that you’re friendy and worth getting to know. They don’t necessarily need to be straight, but they need to be healthy.
- Your lips Ever wake up with the feeling that your lips have absolutely crusted over? It’s a little gross but all too common for the winter. If you’re one of those people who always has at least five ChapSticks in your purse, you may want to splurge on a sugar scrub and make sure you’re drinking plenty of water. If the air in your house is dry, you might also want to consider buying a humidifier to use during the cold months.
- Your back Yeah, you don’t see it all the time, but you can definitely feel it. A whopping 80% of the population has had back pain before and if left untreated, you can have some pretty bad issues later on in life that’ll really affect your overall appearance. Remember to stretch every morning, stay active, and treat your back with a little respect. An occasional massage is pretty good for your back and your mind, so don’t feel guilty for booking one this year.
- Your hands If you’ve ever experienced a broken or sprained finger, you understand why your hands are so essential. It’s nice to give them a bit of pampering with a manicure on occasion but there are other ways to make sure they’re in proper shape. For one, using a thick cream made specifically for your hands can work wonders. Hand and wrist exercises are also crucial, especially if you text or type a lot.
- Your general hygiene This seems like a no-brainer, but if you skip showers a lot or simply forget to wash the important parts, you might accidentally give off a bad first impression. Make sure you also invest in deodorant, especially if you’re fairly active. Also important is making sure you always wash your clothes, especially if you’re a smoker. You might not smell it but the rest of the world does.
