Key Takeaways
- 1A real pre travel glow up combines nails, hair, and skincare with quiet choices around money, time, and planning.
- 2Fragrance can work as a daily reminder of your future self, not just as something that smells nice.
- 3Body maintenance like waxing and brow care feels different when you frame it as self respect instead of pressure.
- 4Using a credit card for planned expenses and paying it off builds trust with yourself just as much as it builds credit.
- 5The best vacation prep includes at least one habit that supports your body, one that supports your confidence, and one that supports your long term goals.
If you have ever typed "how to glow up before a trip" while staring at an empty suitcase and chipped nails, welcome to my world. This entire vlog followed me getting ready for a free Royal Caribbean cruise, and I wanted to share what really goes into that glow up. Not the perfect Pinterest board version, the real one. I have spent the last few years sharing my routines, wins, and chaos with hundreds of thousands of you on YouTube, so you already know this comes from real life, not a mood board.
I call this era Lyss 5.0. Same girl, updated software.
So… I Got Invited On A Free Cruise
Royal Caribbean invited me to sail out, visit a brand new private beach club, and create content with other creators. Free cruise, new location, my man, content, food, everything. I did not even know I wanted this trip until it showed up in my inbox. It felt like God tapped me on the shoulder like, “Yeah, you ready now.”
The invite felt huge, but my life still looked regular. Nails bare, hair grown out, no lashes, no suitcase packed. That gap between where you are and where your life is heading can feel loud, and that is where this whole glow up started.
What does a pre travel glow up really look like?
Here is the part nobody glamorizes: a glow up often looks like errands, appointments, and receipts.
I started with my nails. Simple French tips that match every outfit on the ship. I love colorful nails, yet for trips I want something that never clashes. This is not about perfection. It is about removing tiny stress points. If my nails match everything, I worry less about them and focus more on living.
Then came hair. I decided to cut it and go lighter again. Big chop energy, but strategic. I already know my hair grows fast, so shorter hair feels fun, fresh, and easier to maintain around pools and salt water. The lighter color frames my face, highlights my eyes, and makes me feel like the upgraded version of myself, Liz 5.0.
Those choices are not random. Each one supports how I want to feel on the trip: put together, relaxed, and free to enjoy the moment.
How do you prep your body before a vacation?
Body prep for a trip used to feel like a chore. Now I treat it like a gift to my future self.
I booked a Brazilian wax at a studio my nail tech recommended. First timers at that place got a huge discount, so my total was closer to twenty something instead of the full price. The waxer took her time, answered questions, and put me on to toner pads that help prevent ingrowns and dark spots. That part matters for anyone who has shaved for a long time or has sensitive skin.
Wax, brows, hair, nails. On paper it sounds like “maintenance.” In reality, for me, it feels like respect. I may be in a long distance relationship and it might be cold half the time, yet I still keep up with my body for me. The clean, soft, smooth feeling after a good wax or brow appointment hits different when you are already working on your confidence.
I loved that feeling so much that I decided these appointments are no longer random. Wax and nails are turning into my non negotiables.
How do you use fragrance to step into your future self?
One of my favorite parts of this prep was scent.
I have been using travel size fragrances instead of packing big bottles. They are tiny, TSA friendly, and still last a month. I pick scents that match different sides of me. Some feel soft and happy, some feel grown and expensive, and some remind me of my “future self” version.
A little trick that helps perfume last: put it over a thin layer of Vaseline, then spray behind the ears, on the wrists, behind the knees, and lightly on clothes. It holds all day.
The fun part is mental. Certain scents are tied in my head to Liz 5.0. When I wear them, I stand a little taller, talk with more certainty, and feel ready for the life I am building. It is not just perfume. It is a cue that says, “We are her today.”
The errands no one talks about, but matter a lot
Glow up content loves the pretty angles. In real life, there is Walmart, bank runs, and gas stations.
I went to Walmart for travel minis, SPF, hair masks, and makeup replacements. I checked my list, grabbed what I needed, and tried not to let every cute travel bag land in my cart. Discipline in small choices like that builds trust with yourself.
Then I filled up my gas tank with my first credit card for the first time. That tiny swipe represented something bigger. I finally trusted myself with credit. My plan is simple: use it for gas and groceries, pay it off, let the bank see that I handle money well, and raise my limit over time.
For a long time, my nervous system felt stuck in survival mode. When your body feels like it is just trying to survive, things like hair growth slow down, energy dips, and little tasks feel huge. Parts of this prep reminded me that I am not living in that state anymore. I can plan, save, earn points, and enjoy the fruit of that work.
That is glow up energy too.
Packing for two trips in one and staying sane
Packing looked wild behind the scenes. I packed for Georgia and the cruise at the same time. One bag for the drive and days with my family and my man, one suitcase for the ship that I did not want to open until we left port.
The system:
- Separate outfits by category: sets, dresses, chill clothes, swimsuits, cover ups
- Keep tech and skincare easy to grab
- Treat packing as a reward at the end of a productive day
I put on music, spread everything out, and built outfits that match my new hair, nails, and overall vibe. That part felt like a celebration of all the tiny tasks from earlier in the week.
Who is your “5.0” version?
By the time my hair was done, braids were in, brows shaped, nails fresh, suitcase packed, and perfume picked, I felt like a new version of me. Not a stranger. Just the same girl with more care, more structure, and more softness.
Glow ups are not only about looks. Surface changes help, yet the deeper shift comes from how you treat yourself leading up to the trip. I showed up for my body, my money, my future self, and my inner child that still screams Justin Bieber in the car.
So here is my challenge for you:
Next time you search how to glow up before a trip, do one thing for how you look, one thing for how you feel in your body, and one thing for your future money. Stack those little wins. Then watch how different you feel when you zip up that suitcase.
