Get More Detail-Oriented
Look, you’ve got a lot going on in a day, so asking you to do a 1-hour beauty routine isn’t our goal. But you know, and we know, that it's easy to notice the small flaws on others - lipstick on the teeth, unbrushed hair, wrinkly clothes, etc., etc., etc. Unfortunately, it's a two-way street, so it’s important to do a little body maintenance now and again. When you take the time to make sure you're putting your best foot forward, you feel better. Not sure where to start? Don’t worry, we have just the list for you.
1. Your Nails
Hands get seen all day, on the train, around a conference table, while tapping a card at the grocery store, so rough cuticles and dirt under the nail edge make you look unkempt. You don’t need a full manicure, but clean, trimmed nails definitely make you look more put-together.
2. Your Breath
Because people are polite, nobody wants to tell you that you have bad breath. Still, if you’ve eaten, drank, or smoked something recently, it’s probably best that you chew some gum or eat a breath mint. When you’re in close conversation, people can probably tell you what you had for lunch.
3. Your Brows
You don’t need your brows to be tinted, microbladed, or even waxed to high heaven if you don’t want them to. All we’re asking is that you pluck the wily stray hairs from your forehead. It might not seem like much, but it tends to freshen up the face.
4. Nose & Ear Hair
You may not see them, but other people certainly do. Having nose or ear hair doesn’t tell someone your age or style choices, but it does tell people that you’re not the best at maintaining basic body upkeep.
5. Your Hairline
We’re not talking about if your hair is getting too long (although we’ll touch on that later), but we are referring to that disheveled look that only comes with an overgrown neckline. Like nose and ear hair, it’s harder to remember to care for because you don’t see it in the mirror, but it’s still there.
6. Your Lips
When you’re talking to someone, it's common for your gaze to drop into their mouth. When this happens to you, do you want the other person to see dry, cracked lips? Probably not. This goes further than vanity. Having chapped lips often leads to some pretty painful lip cuts, so do your due diligence and re-up on that lip balm.
7. Your Skin
Hopefully, people aren’t associating acne with being unclean, because the two aren’t synonymous. You don’t need perfect skin, but you’ll feel so much better if you’ve taken the time to wash the sleep from your face and give yourself a much-needed hydration boost.
8. Your Facial Hair
Beards, mustaches, stubble, a clean shave, whatever your preference is, it just needs to look maintained. It’s easy to tell who has and hasn’t taken care of their 5 o’clock shadow; that’s all we’re saying.
9. Your Glasses
Your glasses sit at the focal point of your face, so if they look smudged, you look grimy. Take the time to clean your frames and lenses a few times a day. You’ll look more put together, and you’ll be able to see where you’re going.
10. Your Hair Part
A clean, simple hair part does more than you may expect. A quick brush may be all that’s necessary to make your hair look presentable, as long as your hair falls where it's supposed to.
11. Flyaways
Look, flyaways are bound to happen. Whether you’re dealing with humidity, dryness, or a touch of static electricity, your hair’s going to react. When you can, smooth down the top layer of your hair with a small brush or dryer sheet to keep those pesky strands at bay.
12. Your Roots
Nobody likes an oily scalp. Aside from looking greasy, it has the unfortunate problem of deflating any hairstyle you try. Pop a bit of dry shampoo or baby powder onto your roots to provide the tippy top of your body with a much-needed refresh.
13. Your Makeup
Nobody cares what brand of makeup you use, just that you know what you’re doing with it. Walking out the door with an unblended patch of concealer or a too-harsh line of bronzer is embarrassing and makes you look rushed. Even if you are rushed, either simplify your makeup routine or give yourself 5 extra minutes to make sure everything looks as it should.
14. Your Nail Polish
Day-to-day, nobody cares about the flakes of color on your nailbeds. In professional or social settings, though, it’s kind of like you made a sundae but forgot the cherry on top. If you don’t have time to redo your nails, your best bet is to go back to a clean, bare nail.
15. Your Clothes
Nobody wants to point out that you have a coffee stain on your shirt or foundation crowding your collar, and you certainly don’t want it either. Accidents happen, but it doesn’t hurt to keep a detergent pen on you just in case.
16. How You Smell
Whether you smell bad or smell too good, your scent is the first thing people will notice about you. You want to toe the line, remembering to put on deodorant and clean clothes, but avoiding the urge to douse yourself in perfume or cologne.
17. Your Eye Bags
That thin skin under your eyes tells folks how well you slept or how tired you are, so it's important to give the area a little extra love. Adding an eye cream to your skincare regimen, or simply putting a little more moisturizer there, makes you look a little more awake. It’s also a good idea to avoid applying a heavy amount of makeup to the area, as it tends to crease quite easily.
18. Your Shoes
People do look down. They look down when they meet you, when you sit across from them, when you stand up from the table, and when you walk away. The last thing you want is for them to see your dirty sneakers or scuffed heels.
Mehdi-Thomas BOUTDARINE on Unsplash
19. Your Teeth
You don’t need veneers or whitening strips, but your standard oral care is welcome and expected. Brushing twice a day, flossing, using mouthwash, and maybe even a tongue scraper are more than enough to tell the world you’re really good at oral hygiene.
National Cancer Institute on Unsplash
20. Your Overall Cleanliness
You want to look and feel like a million bucks, but that feeling doesn’t come from high-end makeup or clothing. All you need to worry about is some basic maintenance. When you look like you take care of yourself, that feeling comes naturally.
