5 Steps To Looking Wealthy Without Being Rich

There are two myths out there about the way people look:

1. Caring about how you look is vain

2. To look good, you need either good genetics or money

Before I give you very practical advice on how you can improve the way you look today with hardly any money, I’m going to debunk these myths.

I used to think that if you want to look good, you either need good genetics or you have to spend a lot of money upgrading what you’re born with — expensive clothes, high-end products and plastic surgery.

But I have been getting a lot of compliments about how I look lately. More than I ever have when I was:

• doing my nails every 2 weeks

• getting my hair done every 2 months

• keeping up with the latest make-up trend

• spending all my paycheck on brand name items.

Now I make $3k/mo so I can’t afford any of those things. I hardly ever get out of my pajamas. 

And I look and feel better than ever.

If I forgot about my age, I’d say I feel around 21–22 years old but without all the self-esteem issues and 300% more energy.

So obviously, needing money to look good is a myth.

But is it vain to want to look good? Isn’t it only what’s inside that counts?

There is some truth to this.

Make-up, expensive clothes and even plastic surgery are ways people try to improve their confidence but it’s all in vain.

It never truly works.

Nobody ever has enough shoes, a nice enough car or is happy with just one plastic surgery.

But to not care about what you look like on the outside is a cop out.

What you look like outside is a direct representation of what’s going on inside.

If it’s only the inside that counts, why are you drinking alcohol and eating fast food?

The hollowness in your eyes, the acne on your face and the excess fat on your body or lack thereof is a direct testament that you’re not taking care of ‘what counts’ but want to feel good about it.

Looking good comes hand in hand with feeling good.

When you take the effort to take care of yourself — not through quick, superficial fixes but to the tune of what’s happening inside your body — you not only gain newfound confidence but you radiate a sense of self-respect that attracts people to you in ways money can never buy (what kind of people are attracted to social status and money anyways?)

Plus, it helps remind people around you to take care of themselves.

So let’s get to the good stuff.

I’ll first tell you 3 things that you need to do from the inside. They’re obvious but also too important to skip.

Then I will tell you 2 things you can do from the outside that I bet you didn’t know.

1. SLEEP

At least 7–8 hours of sleep. This is not negotiable.

Sleeping is not something you ‘get done’ when time permits. It’s the most important driver of your life.

Chronic lack of sleep:

• increases stress and irritability

• decreases productivity and creativity.

• weakens your gut microbiome and immune system

But you’re not only feeling bad and making worse life choices. You also look like shit while doing it:

• puffy eyes

• poor complexion

• droopy face & wrinkles

There is no such thing as “I have so much to do I have no time to sleep”. 

It just means you’re not good at prioritizing and getting rid of bad habits.

First learn as much as you can about sleep and how to do it better. When that is clear, it gets easier to prioritize.

We tend to assume we can do a lot of things. 

But it’s not just the hours that count. How those hours are spent are equally important.

Are you optimizing the hours you put in to sleep?

A good place to start is here.

2. SUNLIGHT & WATER

A lot of people avoid the sun completely because of UV light. They don’t realize that they need a lot of sun very early in the morning.

Getting sunlight as soon as you wake up helps you:

• regulate your circadian rhythm (so you sleep better)

• naturally produce melanin (so you tan better)

• boosts mood and energy (so you look happier)

Vitamin D from sunlight also promotes skin growth, repair and reduces the appearance of wrinkles.

Getting enough water helps your skin look:

• soft, smooth and plump

• increases elasticity which reduces wrinkles

• detoxifies and prevents build-ups that lead to acne and dull complexion

3. EXERCISE

Imagine if you could turn your Toyota Corolla into a Lambo by just washing it every day for 30 minutes.

Would you do it?

And if you would do it for a car, why wouldn’t you do the same for your body?

When you are in good shape, it doesn’t matter what brands you wear.

You make the clothes look good.

Those are the most obvious ways to build a better appearance from within.

There are 2 more things that enhance a person’s level of attractiveness.

4. TEETH 

Your smile is the first thing anyone notices. And it’s not just about how straight or white your teeth are. But how healthy your smile is. 

It’s one of those things people don’t know to look at, but get the “impression” in the back of their mind. 

A healthy smile goes beyond white teeth. Are your teeth clean? Are they free of plaque and calculus? Is your gum healthy and scalloped or are they blunt, swollen and red?

How to improve your smile:

• floss daily (this will take care of your gum)

• brush with baking soda & hydrogen peroxide if you want whiter teeth

• drink anything except water through a straw to prevent staining

5. SKIN

I’ve talked a lot about how to improve your skin. It’s because it makes up 80% surface area of your face.

The complexion of your skin has everything to do with how your face looks.

To further prevent clogged pores, saggy skin, uneven skin tone that contribute to an older, tired look, you can follow my super cheap and simply skin care routine:

• Cleanse twice before bed. Use an oil based cleanser (I make my own) and non-oil base cleanser (Cetaphil)

• Dry your face and apply witch hazel

• Finish off by rubbing a piece of aloe generously

That’s it. That’s all I do. Another obvious factor is your diet but that deserves its own letter.

Taking care of your body and keep it in the best possible shape is one of the greatest ways to honor yourself.

It also shows respect and gratitude for the very thing that carries you through every part of life.

Your body is the vehicle you use to interact with the physical world. 

The condition of your vehicle determines not only where you go but who you attract and the quality of your interactions.

Take the effort to take care of yourself. Don’t wait.

If you haven’t seen it yet, take it from me:

Everything in life is interconnected. If you rush and skip through the steps of laying the right foundation, you will never build anything long lasting.

Thank you for reading. Here’s what you do next:

1. Clap for my article on Medium here

2. Let me know which one of these methods you are already doing or will try

3. Have a fantastic day

Chao ❤️