I Tried “Looksmaxx” for 60 Days — Here’s What Actually Worked

Posted bysarymervyn

You know what? I didn’t expect much. I’m a busy human with a face that’s… fine. Not model-level. My skin is combo. My hair frizzes when I even think about rain. I’m 5'5", pretty average, and I drink my water… most days.

But I ran a two-month “looksmaxx” sprint and tracked everything. Products. Routines. Little tweaks. Some things helped fast. Some flopped hard. I’ll tell you what I used, how it felt, and what changed on me.

Let me explain, nice and simple.

Wait—what is “looksmaxx,” anyway?

It’s just trying to look your best with what you’ve got. No magic. Mostly grooming, style, sleep, and small habits. I treated it like a test. If it didn’t help in two weeks, it got cut.

If you want to see what happens when you let algorithms pick the moves for you, my buddy’s one-week looksmaxxing AI experiment is a wild ride.

I kept receipts. I kept notes. And I took pics in the same window light at 8 a.m., because lighting lies.

Skin: My biggest win (and a tiny fail)

I kept it boring, which was the point.

  • CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser (twice a day)

    • Feel: Slippy, no scent. Didn’t sting.
    • Result on me: Less tightness. Makeup went on smoother.
    • Con: Doesn’t remove heavy sunscreen on its own. I needed a microfiber cloth at night.

  • La Roche-Posay Anthelios SPF 60 (every morning)

    • Feel: Thin, a bit shiny at first.
    • Result on me: Zero burns, fewer dark marks by week 4.
    • Con: Shiny nose in photos. I tapped it down with cheap translucent powder.

  • Differin Gel (adapalene, nights 3x/week)

    • Feel: Light, dries fast.
    • Result on me: Fewer clogged pores by week 3. Blackheads looked smaller, not gone.
    • Con: Peeling for 10 days. I used Vanicream moisturizer to calm it.
    • Nerd note: The Nevada Medicaid Acne Drug Class Review lists adapalene as a go-to first-line option, so my pick wasn't just hype.

  • Vanicream Moisturizing Cream (night)

    • Feel: Thick, no smell, no sting.
    • Result on me: Calm cheeks, less redness.
    • Con: Heavy for daytime under makeup. Night only.

The tiny fail? A random TikTok toner. It smelled like a fruit gummy and did nothing. I tossed it after day 5. My skin liked simple, not spicy.

There’s an entire PSL-focused looksmaxxing routine making the rounds, but I stuck to the basics.

Hair and brows: High impact, low effort

  • Revlon One-Step Volumizer (the oval brush dryer)

    • Use: 10 minutes on damp hair, heat protectant first.
    • Result on me: Smooth ends, soft bend. I looked “put together” without trying.
    • Con: Gets hot. When I used it daily, my ends got crunchy. Every other wash worked better.

  • Olaplex No. 3 (once a week)

    • Feel: Creamy. Rinse well or it feels tacky.
    • Result on me: Less breakage around my face by week 4. Baby hairs behaved.
    • Con: Pricey. I only used a small dollop.

  • Kitsch satin pillowcase (see more benefits of satin pillowcases)

    • Result on me: Less frizz in the morning. For real. Not huge, but I noticed.

  • Brow threading (every 3–4 weeks)

    • Result on me: My eyes looked more awake. I asked for “soft, not sharp.”
    • Con: It stings for 30 seconds. Worth it.
    • If you’re curious, I basically followed this eyebrow looksmaxxing play-by-play.

  • Clear brow gel (any drugstore)

    • Result on me: Lifts my face. Tiny thing, big change.

Teeth and breath: Clean is hot

  • Oral-B electric toothbrush

    • Result on me: Smooth teeth and fewer coffee stains near my gums.
    • Con: Loud. My dog hates it.

  • Crest 3D Whitestrips (7-day pack)

    • Result on me: One shade brighter by day 5.
    • Con: Tooth zings on day 3. I skipped a day and used Sensodyne.

  • Water flosser (cheap cordless one)

    • Result on me: Game changer for my tight back molars. No bleeding by week 2.
    • Tip: Use warm water. Cold water made me jump like a cartoon.

  • Tongue scraper

    • Result on me: Fresh breath lasted longer. Kind of gross, kind of great.

On the flavor front, the PSL-in-looksmaxxing experiment convinced me that even scent cues can boost the ‘clean’ perception.

Style tweaks that did more than I thought

Here’s the thing: fit beats fancy. For smarter fit tips and outfit formulas, the free guides on Sharpman broke it down in pictures, which helped me nail sizing faster.

  • Uniqlo U crew tees (black, white, gray)

    • Fit: Straight, not baggy. I sized up one for a clean line.
    • Result on me: Simple tee + neat jeans looked… sharp. That’s the word.

  • Levi’s 501 (light wash)

    • Tailored the hem 1 inch. Cost me $12 at the dry cleaner.
    • Result on me: Legs looked longer, even in flats.

  • White sneakers (Adidas Stan Smith)

    • Result on me: Clean, fresh vibe. Works with dresses, shorts, whatever.
    • Note: Magic Eraser kept them bright.

  • Thin belt, same color as shoes

    • Result on me: Pulled outfits together with almost no thought.

  • Simple jewelry

    • I wore tiny hoops and one thin chain. Not flashy. Just neat.

Grooming extras that made me look “done”

  • Panasonic nose hair trimmer

    • Result on me: Instant tidy. No nicks. I check weekly. Takes 30 seconds.

  • Native deodorant (coconut & vanilla)

    • Result on me: Smells like vacation. No white marks on black shirts.
    • Con: On hot gym days, I needed a reapply.

  • Fragrance

    • Day: Glossier You. Soft, skin-like. People said I smelled “cozy.”
    • Night: Ariana Grande Cloud. Sweet. Got compliments from strangers, which is wild.

  • Makeup quick kit (5 minutes)

    • Tinted moisturizer, brow gel, cream blush, curl lashes, clear lip oil.
    • Result on me: Awake, but not “makeup-y.” Photos looked kinder.

Body, posture, and “you look taller?”

  • Steps: 8,000 a day. I walked during calls. My face de-puffed a bit.
  • Kettlebell goblet squats (20 lbs), 3 sets of 12, three days a week.
    • Result on me: Better shape in jeans by week 4.
  • Planks: 45 seconds, 3 rounds, every other day.
    • Result on me: Core felt tighter. I stood taller without thinking.
  • Posture strap (15 minutes at my desk)
    • Result on me: Trained me not to turtle-neck over my laptop.
  • Water: One large bottle before lunch.
    • Result on me: Less snacky, lips less dry. Simple win.

All of that lined up surprisingly well with the advice in this HTN looksmaxxing story that ties posture and daily movement to healthier blood pressure.

Sleep and screens: Boring, but my face thanked me

  • 7.5 hours. No phone in bed. I charge it in the kitchen.
    • Result on me: Eye bags faded by week 2. Not gone. Softer.
  • Eye mask + box fan for noise.
    • Result on me: Faster sleep. I stopped doom-scrolling. Shocking, I know.

Photos and lighting: Look better without filters

  • Face a window. Put the phone at eye level. Timer on 3 seconds.
  • Turn your body slightly. Chin forward a tiny bit. Not down.
  • Dab shine on the T-zone with tissue. Good lighting + less glare =