Glow Guide: 10 Tools to Elevate Your Self-Care Routine
- Cole Woods
- 5 days ago
- 10 min read
Welcome to the Glow Guide, a curated list of ten game-changing tools that can boost your beauty, wellness, and lifestyle routine. Below, we explain each tool and why it’s worth incorporating into your self-care regimen. For more in-depth information, be sure to click the “Read More” link provided for each tool.
1. Red Light Therapy
What It Is: Red Light Therapy (RLT) involves exposing your skin to low-level red or near-infrared light. This non-invasive treatment stimulates cellular repair and improves skin texture and tone. Regular use can help reduce inflammation, boost collagen production, and even aid muscle recovery after workouts. It’s a favorite for achieving that healthy glow from within and speeding up healing processes in the body.
Why It’s a Glow-Getter: RLT is praised for its versatility, from anti-aging skincare benefits to pain relief and mood enhancement. It’s a relaxing, spa-like therapy you can do at home with a light panel or mask, making it an easy addition to any routine focused on looking and feeling rejuvenated.
My Go-To: LifePro Red Light Therapy Mask
Pro Tips:
Use post-serum for deeper absorption
10-15 minutes a day is enough
Pairs well with a nighttime wind-down routine
2. Laser Hair Removal
What It Is: Laser Hair Removal is a cutting-edge beauty treatment that uses concentrated light to target and destroy hair follicles, resulting in long-term hair reduction. Over a series of sessions, it can significantly minimize hair growth on areas like legs, underarms, face, and bikini line.
Why It’s a Glow-Getter: Imagine smooth, stubble-free skin without the need for constant shaving or waxing. By investing in laser hair removal, you save time in your beauty routine and enjoy the confidence of silky skin every day. It’s also relatively gentle on the skin when done properly, preventing the irritation and ingrown hairs that other hair removal methods can cause.
Read More: Navigating Your Laser Hair Removal Journey: A Comprehensive Guide – Cole Woods shares costs, benefits, what to expect, and tips for choosing the right laser hair removal approach for lasting smooth skin.
3. Microblading
What It Is: Microblading is a semi-permanent makeup technique for enhancing your eyebrows. A trained technician uses a specialized tool to deposit pigment into the skin in fine, hair-like strokes. The result is fuller, well-defined brows that can last 1–2 years.
Why It’s a Glow-Getter: Well-groomed brows frame the face and can dramatically cut down your daily makeup time. Microblading is ideal for those with sparse brows or anyone who wants a wake-up-and-go, polished look. It delivers a natural appearance (when done by an expert) and fades gradually, allowing you to tweak shape or thickness over time as styles or preferences change.
Read More: Bold and Beautiful Brows: The Ultimate Guide to Microblading – Dive into Cole Woods’ personal experience with microblading, including preparation, what the procedure feels like, and expert aftercare tips for flawless, long-lasting brows.
4. Sauna Blankets
What It Is: An Infrared Sauna Blanket is a portable, at-home wellness device that emulates the experience of a traditional sauna. You wrap yourself in a thermal blanket that emits far-infrared heat to raise your core temperature. This induces sweating and delivers benefits similar to a sauna session – all from the comfort of your bed or couch.
Why It’s a Glow-Getter: Infrared sauna blankets are touted for detoxification, stress reduction, and muscle relaxation. The deep-reaching infrared heat can ease sore muscles and joint stiffness, improve circulation, and even promote better sleep. Over time, regular sessions may support skin clarity (thanks to sweating out toxins) and leave you with a post-sauna endorphin glow. It’s essentially a soothing retreat you can give yourself anytime, which is a boon for both beauty and wellness routines.
Read More: Redefining Relaxation: A Guide to Infrared Sauna Blankets for Modern Wellness – Cole Woods explains how infrared sauna blankets work and shares the myriad health and beauty benefits they offer, from pain relief to improved sleep and stress management.
5. Monthly Facials & Massages
What It Is: Committing to monthly facials and massages means setting aside time each month for professional skincare treatments and bodywork. A facial typically includes deep cleansing, exfoliation, extractions, and nourishing masks or serums tailored to your skin’s needs. A massage might range from Swedish or deep tissue to hot stone or lymphatic drainage, targeting muscle tension and promoting relaxation.
Why It’s a Glow-Getter: Regular facials keep your complexion clear, hydrated, and glowing by addressing issues before they escalate (think clogged pores or dullness) and boosting circulation in the skin. Likewise, consistent massages do wonders for reducing stress hormones, improving posture and flexibility, and increasing blood flow throughout the body. Together, these treatments are the ultimate act of self-care: facials give you that fresh-faced radiance, while massages rejuvenate your body and mind. Over time, you’ll likely see improvements in skin texture and muscle tension, and even better sleep and mood thanks to stress relief.
Cole's Tip: Consider a monthly subscription plan or spa membership to save.
My At-Home Spa Experience Picks: Everything you need to create the perfect spa day right at home with my list of DIY Spa Day Essentials.
Read More: Face-lift from Home! – In this blog post, Cole Woods discusses a favorite at-home facial tool that lifts and tones the skin. It’s a peek into how you can maintain youthful, firm skin between your professional facial appointments, keeping that post-facial glow going strong.
6. Fragrance Wardrobe
What It Is: A “fragrance wardrobe” refers to building a collection of perfumes and scents for different moods, seasons, and occasions, just as you have clothing for various events. It’s an invitation to explore the world of fragrance beyond having a single signature scent. This can also involve layering fragrances, where you combine perfumes, scented oils, or lotions to create a unique, long-lasting personal scent.
Why It’s a Glow-Getter: Our sense of smell is powerful – the right fragrance can boost your confidence, evoke cherished memories, or make an ordinary day feel special. Curating a fragrance wardrobe means you’ll always have a scent that complements your vibe, whether you want to feel cozy and comforting (think vanilla or amber notes), fresh and energizing (citrus and florals), or bold and seductive (spices and woods). Layering your fragrances can also increase their longevity and complexity, truly making your personal scent a work of art. This practice adds an invisible yet profound dimension to your self-care and style, helping you express yourself and even uplift your mood with just a few spritzes.
Cole's Tip: Have a signature scent for each season.
Read More: Scent Symphony: Mastering the Art of Fragrance Layering for Lasting Impression – Cole Woods shares her guide to layering perfumes like a pro. Learn how to mix and match scents (using perfumes, oils, and even body mists) to create a memorable, long-lasting fragrance that is uniquely yours.
7. Oura Ring + Wellness Wearables
What It Is: The Oura Ring is a smart ring – a wearable device packed with sensors that track your health metrics 24/7. It monitors data such as sleep quality (including deep and REM sleep), heart rate, heart rate variability, body temperature, and activity levels. Wellness wearables like the Oura Ring, fitness trackers, or smartwatches are essentially personal health assistants that give you insight into your daily habits and bodily trends.
Why It’s a Glow-Getter: Knowledge is power when it comes to wellness. By wearing an Oura Ring or similar device, you can gain a deeper understanding of your sleep patterns, stress levels, and overall recovery each day. The ring provides a “Readiness score” each morning to tell you how prepared your body is to take on the day, guiding you on whether to push hard with exercise or focus on rest. Embracing such wearables helps you tune into your body’s signals, optimize your routines (like establishing better sleep hygiene or meditation when stress is high), and ultimately improve your well-being. It’s like having a personal coach that encourages healthier choices, which over time leads to better energy, a clearer mind, and that well-rested glow.
My Pick: Gold Horizon Gen 3 Oura Ring
Cole's Tip: Buy the sizing kit first! Don’t guess.
Watch My Review: TikTok – My Honest Oura Ring Review After 2 Years of Use
8. Signature Style Staples
What It Is: Signature Style Staples are the go-to fashion pieces that define your personal style and consistently make you look and feel your best. These could be clothing items (like a perfectly tailored blazer, a favorite pair of jeans, or a little black dress), accessories (such as a statement watch or gold hoop earrings), or even a signature lip color. Essentially, they are the elements of your wardrobe that you reach for repeatedly and that have come to represent you.
Why It’s a Glow-Getter: When you identify and invest in your signature staples, dressing becomes effortless and empowering. Having a reliable arsenal of outfits that flatter you means less time stressing in front of the closet and more confidence in your appearance. Moreover, curating your style staples helps craft your image – as the saying goes, “Wear what you want to be known for.” Whether that’s an air of polished professionalism, creative flair, or timeless elegance, your clothing can communicate it before you even speak. Feeling comfortable and authentic in your style inevitably boosts your self-esteem, allowing your inner glow, your personality, and confidence to shine through.
Tall Girl Bonus: Stay tuned for Legendary Muse capsule drops.
In this post, I break down how personal style, fragrance, and mindset work together to shape your presence before you even speak. It’s more than dressing well, it’s about embodying your vision. From the cut of your blazer to the scent that trails behind you, I explore how intentional style becomes a strategy for success, confidence, and self-actualization.
Watch the Series: Power Dressing Playlist on YouTube
9. Content Creation Tools
What It Is: In the digital age, content creation tools refer to the equipment and software that help you produce high-quality content, whether for personal enjoyment, building a brand, or creative expression. This can include physical tools like a good camera or smartphone, a tripod, a ring light, and microphones, as well as apps or software for editing photos, videos, or graphics. Even if you’re not a blogger or influencer, having some content creation basics at your disposal means you can beautifully document your life’s moments – from travel adventures to daily journaling – and share them if you wish.
Why It’s a Glow-Getter: Creativity is a key aspect of self-expression and can be very fulfilling. By equipping yourself with the right tools, you make creative projects (like making a fun TikTok, capturing a family event, or scrapbooking your progress in a fitness journey) much more enjoyable and polished. For instance, a simple ring light can dramatically improve your video call appearance and photography lighting, and a tripod enables solo photoshoots during your solo travels. These tools ultimately allow you to tell your story and curate your memories in a way that’s authentic and visually appealing. Plus, mastering them can even open new opportunities – you might discover a passion for photography or connect with a community online. It’s about empowering yourself to create and share your unique light with the world, which certainly adds to your glow!
My Essentials:
Read More: Journey Solo, Share Globally – The Essential Guide to Travel Tools & Content Mastery – This guide is packed with Cole's go-to tools, solo shooting tips, and insider insights for creating polished, magnetic content as a one-woman show. Whether you're new to content creation or looking to elevate your storytelling game, this eBook breaks it all down in an approachable, results-driven way.
10. Investing in Strategy
What It Is: Investing in strategy means dedicating time and resources to plan out your goals – whether they’re related to career, personal growth, or business – and devising a roadmap to achieve them. This could involve taking courses or workshops to build a skillset, hiring a coach or consultant for expert guidance, or simply setting aside regular “CEO” time for your life to review progress and adjust your plans. In short, it’s about being intentional with your direction instead of winging it.
Why It’s a Glow-Getter: When you approach your life or projects with a strategic mindset, you’re far more likely to succeed and less likely to waste energy on futile efforts. Having a clear strategy reduces stress because you know why you’re doing what you’re doing each day, and how it fits into the bigger picture of your aspirations. This clarity can boost your confidence and resilience, even when challenges arise, because you have a plan to fall back on. Moreover, investing in strategy often means investing in yourself – gaining knowledge, seeking mentorship, and sharpening your vision. The payoff is a more empowered you who makes savvy decisions, whether it’s plotting your career path, starting a side hustle, or balancing various aspects of life. That sense of purpose and direction inevitably reflects outward as a calm, focused glow.
Plan With Intention: Cocooning Season Digital Planner – A guided system to help you map your vision, clarify your priorities, and design a lifestyle that nurtures your glow from the inside out.
Bonus Tool I Love: I use Planoly to map and visually plan my content strategy across platforms. It helps me stay aligned with my goals without burning out, and it’s perfect if you’re juggling multiple brands or passion projects. Batch content, schedule ahead, and reclaim your peace.
In this post, Cole introduces the concept of your “Cocooning Season”, a sacred period of intentional retreat and transformation. She explores how slowing down, refocusing, and nurturing your inner world can become a powerful strategy for rebirth. It’s a must-read if you feel called to reset, realign, or rise into your next era with clarity and grace.
Work With Me: Beauty, Brain & Brawn Consulting Agency – Learn how I help individuals and brands develop and nurture strategic opportunities. This page outlines my approach to guiding clients through the process of strategic planning and partnerships. It’s a great resource if you’re looking to understand the value of strategy and perhaps seeking expert assistance in leveling up your own game plan.
By incorporating these tools into your routine, you can enhance your mind, body, and soul in tangible ways. Each tool in this Glow Guide serves a purpose – from improving your physical appearance and health to bolstering your confidence and creative spirit. Remember, the journey to glowing up is a personal one. Start with the tools that resonate most with you, and build from there. Here’s to investing in yourself and shining brighter every day!
Final Glow Note
This guide is just the beginning. Your glow evolves as you do. Save this post, return to it often, and invest in what feels aligned.
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