Spring Break Glow Up: A 2-Week Plan

6 min read · Glowmaxx

A spring break glow up is a two-week reset before the trip: protect and calm your skin with daily sunscreen, sort your hair and grooming, pack a small glow-up kit, and learn how to take holiday photos in harsh sun. It works the same for March break in Canada and Easter holidays in the UK. One rule up front: this is a no-tanning plan. A glow up should not come with a sunburn.

If you want to know what to fix before you fly, Glowmaxx scores one selfie and gives you three moves for today. Start my glow-up

Two weeks before

Two weeks is the sweet spot. Long enough for sleep and skin to settle, short enough that you'll actually stick with it.

Day 1: baseline photo

Take a selfie by a window, phone at eye level, arm's length. This is your before shot for the spring glow up challenge you're about to run on yourself.

The 14-day spring glow up challenge

Tick it off in your notes app. Miss a day? Don't restart, just keep going.

What's "march break"?

In Canada, spring break is usually called March break: a week off school in March. In the UK, the spring holiday is usually the Easter holidays, and at uni some people get a reading week. A march break glow up and an Easter holidays glow up use the same plan.

Skin and SPF

This is the core of spring break skincare, and it's why we lead with sunscreen.

Sunscreen glow up: the non-negotiables

• SPF 30 or higher, broad spectrum, every day starting now, so you find one that doesn't break you out before the trip.
• Reapply every couple of hours outside and after swimming or sweating. Follow the bottle.
• Don't forget: ears, back of the neck, tops of feet, scalp part, lips (SPF lip balm).
• Hat and sunglasses do half the work for free.

Why no tanning

Tanning and burning damage skin. A glow up without tanning means you come back with healthy skin, not peeling shoulders in every post-trip photo. If you want a bronzed look, that's what makeup or self-tan is for.

Calm skin before the trip

• No new acids, peels or retinoids in the last two weeks before going somewhere sunny. Some can make skin more sensitive to sun.
• Moisturizer that you already know works.
• Got a breakout routine from a doctor? Stick to it and ask them about sun.

Hair and grooming

Hair

• Get a trim about a week before you leave so it looks fresh in photos.
• Braids, twists or protective styles? Book them early enough that they're settled, and ask your stylist about swimming and saltwater care.
• Pack a leave-in conditioner. Sun, chlorine and saltwater dry hair out.

Spring break glow up for guys

• Fresh cut or line-up 3–5 days before
• Beard trimmed or clean-shaven, decided before you go
• One fitted swim short and two good shirts beat a whole suitcase of meh
• SPF on your face and neck, every day (yes, you)

Spring break glow up for girls

• Nails done a few days before so they last the trip
• Brows tidied
• A simple makeup kit that works in heat: SPF first, then less product
• Hair accessories for humid days

Packing a glow-up kit

Keep it travel-size and boring. Boring works.

Spring break packing list (glow-up edition)

• SPF 30+ for face and body
• SPF lip balm
• Gentle cleanser
• Moisturizer
• Leave-in conditioner
• Hat and sunglasses
• Hair ties or durag, comb or brush
• Blotting papers
• Refillable water bottle
• After-sun or aloe gel, just in case

Check your airline's liquid rules before you pack.

Photos on holiday

Sun is beautiful and terrible for photos at the same time.

Holiday photo tips

• Avoid midday sun on your face. It's harsh and makes you squint. Use open shade, like under a tree or umbrella.
• Golden hour: the hour after sunrise and before sunset. Soft, warm, flattering.
• Sun behind you, slightly to one side, then have a friend shoot from a few feet away. Tap your face on the screen to expose for you.
• Camera at eye level or just above.
• Shoulders back, chin a touch forward.

Here's the tricky part. You'll take 200 photos and have no idea which is actually good, or whether the glow-up stuck once you're home. Glowmaxx scores a selfie on skin, hair, grooming, posture and angle, and light and fit, then gives three moves for your lowest score. Same photo, same score, every time, so you can compare before and after fairly. Start my glow-up

Coming back glowing

The glow up over spring break only counts if it survives the first Monday back.

Keep three habits

Pick the three from your challenge that felt easiest and keep them. SPF every morning should be one of them.

Post-trip reset

• Deep condition your hair
• Moisturize skin that took a lot of sun and wind
• Get back to your school bedtime two nights before
• Take your "after" selfie in the same window spot as day 1

Ready for summer next

Spring is a great warm-up for a glow up for summer. If you've got a milestone coming, try our senior year glow-up plan, and when you post the trip pics, grab something from our glow up captions list.

Know what to fix before you fly

Your spring break glow up starts with knowing your weakest area. In the next minute, take one selfie and get a score out of 10 for skin, hair, grooming, posture and angle, and light and fit, plus three moves aimed at your lowest score. Your photo is thrown away after scoring; only the numbers stay.

Start my glow-up

FAQ

How do I glow up before spring break in 2 weeks?

Lock in sleep, water, daily movement, a cleanse-and-moisturize routine and SPF every morning. Get a trim about a week out and pack a small kit. Avoid new products right before the trip.

Can you glow up in a week?

Yes, a little. Sleep, water, a trim, clean grooming and better photo light all show within days. Skin changes usually take longer, so keep expectations realistic.

What is a march break glow up?

It's the Canadian name for a spring break glow up, since spring break in Canada is usually called March break. The plan is the same: SPF-first skin, hair and grooming, and better holiday photos.

What should I pack for a spring break glow up?

SPF for face, body and lips, a gentle cleanser, moisturizer, leave-in conditioner, a hat, sunglasses and a water bottle. Keep it travel-size and check your airline's liquid rules.

Should I tan for a spring glow up?

No. Tanning and burning damage your skin. Use sunscreen, a hat and shade, and if you want a bronzed look, use makeup or self-tan.