The Glow-Down Movement: Embracing Natural Beauty Over "Glow-Ups" - dmusemagz.com

A quiet but powerful revolution is taking place on beauty YouTube, and it’s called the “glow-down.” Unlike the popular “glow-up” trend that pushes physical transformations, the glow-down encourages a return to one’s natural state, rejecting the constant drive for aesthetic upgrades. It’s a response to beauty standards that have become increasingly demanding, particularly on social media.

Videos under this trend showcase creators undoing enhancements like lash extensions, veneers, and fillers. Internet personality Alivia D’Andrea’s viral video, “How Glowing Up Ruined My Life,” epitomizes the movement. In her 35-minute mini-documentary, which amassed over 5 million views, D’Andrea shares her struggle to maintain a picture-perfect appearance. At her “best,” she admits to feeling a fleeting sense of self-worth, but when she couldn’t uphold that image, negative thoughts crept in. Her video captures the toll that maintaining an idealized self-image can take on mental health.

The glow-up mindset, which promises that achieving an “ideal” appearance will solve life’s problems, has been heavily marketed. Social media is flooded with “glow-up” narratives tied to milestones like back-to-school or post-breakup moments, pushing the notion that physical improvement is key to happiness. Psychologist Lisa Tang notes, however, that while self-improvement can be healthy, it must go beyond mere physical changes to be truly fulfilling.

Fortunately, beauty standards are shifting. Aesthetics doctor Dr. Shauna Tan observes that patients now favor a more natural, balanced look over extreme enhancements. Where once Kylie Jenner-inspired lip fillers and hourglass figures dominated, today’s “It girls” like Charli XCX and Billie Eilish champion individuality and self-acceptance. This shift has led to more people seeking healthy skin and natural features over unattainable perfection.

The glow-down movement has gained traction thanks to celebrities like Ariana Grande and Kylie Jenner, who have openly reduced their cosmetic enhancements. Grande, for instance, shared in a Vogue interview that she stopped using fillers and Botox in 2018. “For a long time, beauty was about hiding for me. Now, I feel like maybe it’s not,” she said. Similarly, Jenner recently removed a significant portion of her signature lip filler, signaling a shift in her perspective on beauty.

Psychologist Lisa Tang views this trend as a positive development, encouraging genuine self-acceptance and reducing social comparison. She suggests that instead of chasing fleeting trends, individuals should focus on inner growth, question self-imposed beauty standards, and challenge negative self-beliefs. Embracing a balanced perspective on self-improvement, she believes, allows for a healthier, more sustainable outlook on beauty and self-worth.

***

Follow D-Muse to stay current with fashion trends, lifestyle tips, and exciting events. DM us now to get all the information you need!