Quick outline:
- What LTB is, in plain terms
- My week-by-week run
- What worked vs what flopped
- Safety notes, costs of time, and who it fits
- Final take
Note: This is a fictional first-person review of a made-up program called “LTB Looksmaxxing.” It’s written like a day-in-the-life story for creative purposes. Please see a real pro for medical or grooming advice.
So… what even is LTB?
Think of LTB as a simple plan that says, “Hey, do these small things each day. Your face, hair, and style will look a bit better. You’ll feel a bit better too.” It has checklists. It has short how-to guides. It pushes basics: skin, hair, teeth, sleep, posture, clothes that fit. Nothing wild. No scary hacks. Honestly, that was the hook for me.
If you want a glimpse into how intense the broader looks-optimization culture can get, skim the brutally honest Wired piece, "Confessions of a Black Looksmaxxer"; it shows the far end of the spectrum that my mellow LTB approach tries to avoid.
If you’re curious about how this kind of schedule pans out start-to-finish, check out this detailed LTB Looksmaxxing first-person review for extra context.
You know what? I didn’t want a brand-new face. I just wanted to look awake in photos. And not dread the mirror at 7 a.m.
A quick side note: the concise how-to sheets over at Sharpman echo the same “basics first” vibe and gave me a handy cross-check while I was lining up my gear.
Week 1 — Mirror shock, meet plan
Let me explain what I did first. I took a “before” pic by my window. Soft morning light. No filters. Oof. Puffy eyes. Flat hair. Red chin.
LTB told me to start with a few simple wins:
- Haircut: I got a mid fade with a bit of texture on top. My barber thinned the crown, so it didn’t puff out.
- Brows: cleaned the unibrow area; no skinny lines. Just tidy.
- Skin: gentle gel cleanser at night; 2% salicylic acid every other night; plain moisturizer; SPF 50 in the morning.
- Teeth: floss at night; soft brush; mouthwash only once a day.
- Sleep: phone out of the room; lights out at 11; blackout curtains.
Tiny stuff, right? But when I woke up on Friday, my face looked less puffy. A friend at school asked if I changed my shampoo. I laughed. Close.
Week 2 — Bread-and-butter body care
This week was about body basics. Not crunches forever. Real moves. Three short workouts:
- Goblet squats, incline dumbbell press, rows, Romanian deadlifts, planks. 3 sets. That’s it.
- A 20-minute walk daily. Sun on my face. I listened to a podcast and waved at a neighbor’s dog.
Protein target was simple: one palm of protein each meal. I’m 150 lbs. I shot for about 100–110 grams a day. Nothing strict. Eggs, chicken, Greek yogurt, and yes, a burrito now and then.
Posture got some love:
- Wall slides, chin tucks, and band pull-aparts.
- I lowered my backpack straps, so it didn’t yank my neck.
Style? LTB nudged me to basics that fit:
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Tapered chinos, clean white sneakers, a soft tee, and a denim jacket.
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Curious about taking your look in a darker direction? I skimmed this breakdown of gothic fashion that actually worked for men and borrowed one or two texture ideas.
I learned to cuff pants once and steam my shirt. Wild how that helps.
My neighbor said, “New haircut?” I said, “Kinda. New me—sort of.”
Week 3 — Grooming tweaks and tiny tech tricks
This part felt fun. I set my beard stubble to 3 mm with a simple trimmer (think Philips Norelco type—any decent one works). Cleaned the neck line with a razor, two fingers above my Adam’s apple. No sharp edges. I used a matte clay (Hanz de Fuko style) on dry hair. A dime-sized bit. Press, then pinch for texture.
Skin got calmer. Red spots faded. I used Crest 7-day whitening strips before bed. I put Aquaphor on my lips at night. Small shine. Not greasy.
Photos improved too. LTB said:
- Hold the phone at eye level.
- Face a window; don’t stand behind it.
- Smile with your eyes a little. Count “one-two-three,” then blink.
On Zoom, I set “touch up” to very low. Warm lamp at 10 o’clock. It didn’t look fake. The barista said, “Love your jacket.” I said, “Thanks! Thrift store find.” Win.
Week 4 — Confidence, but keep it calm
This week felt light. I wasn’t chasing a new jaw or anything wild. I just moved better. I stood tall. I breathed in a 4-4-4-4 box when I got nervous. That fresh confidence even nudged me into a few events; a quick read on speed-dating advice for men saved me from first-time jitters.
That extra swagger also made me curious about how my upgraded look might play in more private, tech-based settings. I came across this no-nonsense guide on "trying webcam sex" that lays out consent tips, lighting tricks, and budget gear recommendations so you can experiment with online intimacy safely and smoothly—no awkward guesswork required.
On the flip side, I wanted to see how the new me would fare in real-life hangouts around town rather than just online experiments. South Bay readers who share that itch might bookmark Torrance hookups—the page rounds up the liveliest spots, time-saving icebreakers, and quick safety checks so you can turn those freshly gained looks and confidence into an actual night out, minus the endless swiping fatigue.
I kept the same steps:
- SPF every morning. Moisturizer every night.
- Three short lifts. One longer walk on Sunday.
- Clothes that fit. Colors that go together: navy, white, olive, black.
Sleep hit 7.5 hours most nights. My eyes looked clear. My hair sat right with no helmet head. I smiled more, which sounds cheesy—but it worked.
The good stuff that actually worked
- Haircut and tidy brows: fast win.
- SPF and salicylic acid: fewer breakouts, less shine.
- Sleep and walks: face looked less puffy. Mood up.
- Short lifts: shoulders stood out a bit; shirts fit nicer.
- Fit clothes: no more boxy tees. Simple beats loud.
- Gentle beard line: cleaner jaw look with zero stress.
The things that flopped (yep, I tried them)
- A jaw-chew gadget: made my jaw ache. Tossed it.
- Over-exfoliating: I used glycolic acid and salicylic together one night. Red, tight skin. I cut back.
- Too much cologne: one spray is fine. Three is a headache.
- Shirt with a big glossy logo: looked cheap in photos. Simple wins again.
Safety talk (because, please)
- Skip scary trends. No DIY face hitting. No sketchy pills. Don’t mess with your bite.
- See a dermatologist for skin meds. See a dentist for whitening beyond strips.
- Don’t starve. If you want fat loss, make it slow and steady. Water and sleep matter more than you think.
For a macro view of how the search for “perfect” looks can veer off the rails, the Stan Untold documentary snapshot, "Toxic World of Perfect Looks", is a good reality check on why moderation (and professional guidance) matters.
Time and cost
- Time: about 30 minutes a day for walks and care. Lifts took 40 minutes, three days a week. Haircut every 4–6 weeks.
- Money: I used basic drugstore products. One mid-price trimmer. Thrifted a jacket. You don’t need designer stuff.
Who it’s for
- First-timers who want a clean, natural look.
- Folks who like checklists and simple rules.
- People who want to feel good in photos without going extreme.
Not a fit if you want surgery talk or heavy, strict routines. That’s not this lane.
Little tips I’d keep
- Take pictures in the same light, same time of day.
- Wear one “hero” piece (like a denim jacket) and keep the rest simple.
- Steam your clothes. It’s magic.
- Two hands of veggies per day. One palm of protein per meal. Easy math.
- If your skin gets angry, strip it back to cleanser +