On the one hand, I feel like the world has gotten not only a lot more accepting of, but even inclined to celebrate, women of every shape and size.

On the other hand, industries like fashion have been slow to adapt, and so accepted or not, navigating certain aspects of life as a curvy girl can still be a little bit difficult at times – or at least, not as easy as it could have been.

If you know exactly what I mean, here are 8 hacks you’re going to want in your life!

8. Use self tanner.

We all know two things – we look better/thinner when we’ve got a nice tan and actually tanning ourselves in the sun or in a tanning bad isn’t good for our health.

Luckily, self-tanner is a thing and if you find the right one for you, we promise you’ll never look back.

7. Work on contouring.

New (to you) makeup tricks like contouring can be daunting to learn, but it really can make a huge difference in defining the bones in your face.

It will make your face appear slimmer, allowing you to drop a few pounds in those selfies without skipping a meal.

6. The hair-tie trick.

If you’ve ever been pregnant, this one will be familiar to you – it allows you to get just a few more weeks out of your regular pants before maternity clothes become essential.

You slip a hair tie around the button, then through the slit, and you suddenly have 2-3 additional inches of stretch in those pants – and who couldn’t use that?

5. Invest in your undergarments.

Spanx are the brand you’ve probably heard of, but there are lots of options out there when it comes to body-shaping. It might take some trial and error to find ones that are both effective and comfortable, but when you do, you’ll see a big difference.

As Bridget Jones taught us, they can be awkward if you bring your date home, but otherwise you should definitely given them a try,

4. Wear your hair down.

Ok, so I am as big of a fan of the messy bun as the next person, but if you’re going out or have an interview or otherwise want to look your best, wearing your hair down will help slim your face.

Combine it with contouring, and you’ve got a recipe for success.

3. Easily prevent chafing.

If you’re not someone who was blessed with a natural thigh gap, then you know what I’m talking about here – you wear a cute dress or a short romper on a hot day and end up with red and sore thighs by the time you get home.

Baby powder is the cheap and easy answer, my friends, so invest and keep it in your bathroom (and maybe a travel bottle in your purse, too).

2. Buy the correct size.

We all want to see a size on our clothes that makes us feel happy, but the truth is that if you buy the size that actually fits you, you’ll not only be more comfortable but you’ll look slimmer, too.

If you have to squeeze into it, people can tell. I promise.

1. Take selfies from the correct angle.

A selfie that’s taken from level or below your face is never going to be the most flattering – I mean, we’ve all accidentally turned our camera on in that position and terrified ourselves, right?

If you want a great selfie, take it from an angle above your face and watch the magic happen!

Here’s the full original video if you’re more of a visual learner – it’s super helpful!

Go forth and conquer, ladies. You’ve got this!

If you’ve got other hacks that have worked for you as a curvy lady, hop in the comments and share with the rest of us!