I was obsessed with looking fake with huge lashes & ‘criminal’ filler – my glow-down & natural beauty has people stunned
A YOUNG woman has revealed that she was obsessed with looking fake, but has now had an epic glow-down.
In a bid to embrace her natural beauty, Carla Ballantyne ditched her mega lashes and “criminal” lip filler.
And now, Carla has left people gobsmacked after sharing her before and after look.
In a new trend, social media users are sharing their jaw-dropping glow-downs, with many ditching fillers and heavy make-up for a more natural look.
There have now been plenty of glow-downs posted online, but it will be pretty challenging to find one more epic than Carla’s.
A glow-down, similar to the “clean girl aesthetic” trend, is rooted in the idea of “less is more”.
It promotes enhancing natural beauty – rather than covering it up.
With a glow-down, out are long hair extensions, colourful fake nails and mega lashes – and in is learning how to take care of your skin to make it look youthful and radiant.
Before embarking on her transformation journey, Carla wore heavy foundation and contour for a defined appearance.
She also straightened her hair, brushed up her brows, wore fluttery fake eyelashes and lined her already plump lips with lip liner.
But after becoming “obsessed with looking fake”, Carla soon realised she had had enough of the aesthetic and decided to give herself a brand new look.
Sharing the jaw-dropping makeover online, Carla showed off her “criminal” lip filler, prior to going on a journey to become more confident in her own skin.
Seconds later, Carla rocked a much more fresh-faced look, showing off her gorgeous freckles and naturally fair skin.
Now, Carla has ditched the cakey foundation and fake eyelashes, as she shared a selfie after her glow-down, with her hair styled in loose curls.
Four ways to give yourself a glowdown
Thick fluffly lashes are out, so is the fake tan and long nails...here's how to have the ultimate glow-down in four steps...
The term “glow-down” refers to a woman removing what once was the most popular beauty choices, for a more natural look.
Eyelash extensions – Thick, bold “Russian lashes” used to be all the rage, but nowadays, girls are opt for subtle, individual eyelash extensions to lengthen what they already have.
Nails – Gone are the long, plastic talons, more women are favouring BIAB or gel manis.
Hair colour – Remember when everyone wanted icy white hair? Not anymore! Millions of women are trying to go back to their roots (literally), and have soft blondes, and warm gold tones added to their hair, in a bid to achieve the “old money blonde” look.
Makeup – Sculpting your face shape through the art of contouring is no more. Ladies are adding freckles and sweeping blush across cheekbones instead.
Alongside pictures of her after saying goodbye to the filler, Carla shared: “Almost forgot who I was.”
Not only this, but the sunbed user who once had 7ml of filler, which she claimed had started to “drag” her face down, beamed: “Got my smile back too apparently.”
Social media users gasp
The TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @carlaaballantyne, has clearly left many open-mouthed, as it has quickly amassed 583,100 views.
Not only this, but it’s also racked up 65,400 likes, 254 comments and 784 saves.
Such beautiful eyes, the lashes hid them away
TikTok user
Social media users were left open-mouthed by Carla’s natural beauty and many eagerly rushed to the comments to express this.
One person said: “Naturally beauttt.”
Another added: “When I saw your natural face I AUDIBLY gasped. you’re so insanely GORGEOUS.”
A third commented: “So much younger and prettier.”
Top 40 beauty tips that have been handed down from generations
1. Never go to bed in make up
2. Moisturise daily
3. Don’t pick at your spots, to avoid scarring
4. Get enough sleep to prevent tired-looking skin
5. When it comes to make-up, less is more
6. Trim your hair regularly to prevent split ends
7. Don’t forget to moisturise your neck and décolletage
8. Drink a big glass of water each morning to cleanse and rehydrate
9. Gently pat your face dry with a towel instead of rubbing to avoid irritation
10. Avoid using too much heat on your hair to prevent damage
11. Remove makeup gently, especially around the eyes
12. Use a lip balm to keep your lips soft and prevent chapping
13. Put cucumbers on eyes to help reduce puffiness
14. Choose a foundation that matches your neck to avoid a mismatched face
15. Wash your face in cold water after cleansing to close pores.
16. Rinsing hair in cold water to increase the shine
17. Wear sunscreen/SPF protection every day, no matter the weather
18. Use a cold spoon to reduce under-eye puffiness
19. Use petroleum jelly to tame brows and moisturise lips
20. Test skincare products on a small patch of skin before using them all over your face
21. Never spend longer than 30 minutes in direct sunlight
22. Exfoliate your skin regularly to remove dead skin cells
23. Wear gloves on hands and socks on feet after putting cream on overnight
24. Wear brown mascara for a less harsh look
25. Apply blush to the apples of your cheeks for a natural glow
26. Wash hair in beer to make in shiny
27. Invest in a good quality eye cream
28. Keep your makeup brushes clean to avoid breakouts
29. Apply eye cream to reduce puffiness and dark circles
30. Apply a heat protectant before using styling tools on your hair
31. Brush your hair 100 strokes per day
32. Head massages for hair growth
33. Deep condition your hair weekly to keep it healthy and shiny
34. Wrap hair in a warm towel to enhance a hair treatment
35. Use a silk pillowcase to reduce hair frizz and skin wrinkles
36. Use a facial mask once a week for deep cleansing
37. Use a gentle, non-comedogenic cleanser to prevent clogged pores
38. Exfoliate your lips using your toothbrush
39. Use mayonnaise as a hair conditioner
40. Use a primer before applying foundation for a smoother finish
Meanwhile, someone else beamed: “Finally the most inspirational trend. Natural beauty will always win.
“It’s really really sad that so many girls think they look better with filler. You’re absolutely stunning.”
Not only this, but another woman recognised: “Such beautiful eyes, the lashes hid them away.”
At the same time, one user penned: “You’re literally the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen.”
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