Right, after having my 3rd and final baby it is time to get my mojo back. What would your top 5 getting your mojo back beauty investments or routines be?

[savebraveted]

Much as I love my wonderful boys, I am very much looking forward to ds(1) going to nursery next year and I have decided to concentrate on me a little bit more. I am completely fed up of never having time to blow dry my hair, put on make up, go for manicures etc and I feel pretty frumpy and end up most days looking a complete state and smelling of baby sick. A lot of my hair fell out after the birth and my skin is not looking great after so many sleepless nights.
Usually I like to look after my appearance and am willing to spend a bit of money now I am coming through the other side of the baby tunnel.
What would your main beauty mojo injection suggestions be?
I am thinking:

1. Invest in some good skincare products and start having regular facials
   
2. Get my hair professionally blow dried a couple of times a month
   
3. Start regular Pilates classes
   
4. Eyelash extensions and regular manicures
   Anything else that really makes a difference?

[blurredlines]

Eyebrows make a huge difference too!
I think if you have a good base ie eyebrows , hair coloured good cut etc it will take less time to get ready.
To be honest I've tried every nice face cream going but the best thing for me is remembering to take make up off at night and the hot cloth cleanser. I also plan my outfit the night before to save time too.

[nomdemere]

haha. My mojo is finally beginning to return after 3 DC. The single biggest factor - sleep. Didn't have any for about 7 years and was a wreck. Now I'm getting 8 hours a night, the weight is dropping off and my skin looks like a human being's again. Maybe not a beauty queen, but feeling a lot better!

[nomdemere]

oh, and my best skincare advice is to have a child with eczema, and wipe the excess cream on your face after applying it. Works wonders!

[leedy]

Eyebrows! Have never bothered with eyelash extensions or blow-dries or manicures even pre-kids, but I find having a good eyebrow shape instantly makes me look more "done" even if everything else has gone arseways that day.

Good haircut that doesn't require loads of maintenance/styling/products, some form of exercise that you actively enjoy doing (I like Pilates as well but if you don't like it and are just going because you feel you "should", you won't keep it up - speaking as someone who once had an unused gym membership for nearly a year...), a minimal but effective makeup regime for mornings (I'm currently "bit of concealer, tinted moisturizer/light base, blusher, lips, go").

And heh, yes, more sleep really made a difference. Or in its absence, blusher. I didn't realize until I had kids that sleep deprivation makes me turn grey....

[KiaOraOAotearoa]

Operation renovation thread does something very similar, look it up on mn.
In a nut shell:choose 20 things and keep at it.
I shred
Have hot water lemon in the morning
Take vitamins
Thread eyebrows every 4-6 weeks
Book hair 2-3 appts 6 months in advance
Sunday night is face mask, foot massage, manicure/pedicure, hair treatment
Booked 3 facials a year in advance
I do the 33 items wardrobe thingy ( coat, jumpers, dresses, tops etc. I don't include underwear and shoes)
I replace the eyeliner, concealer, mascara and bb cream/foundation every 6 months regardless.
Hot flanel every evening
Floss teeth/shave legs (insert whatever you wish you got a grip on and want to do it regularly as opposed to whenever you remember)
Etc etc.
Come and join us :)

[frankietwospots]

Definitely agree with blusher - I wouldn't even put the bins out without blusher on! I use Liz Earle and Bobbi Brown powder blushers. I think cream blushers look more 'radiant' but they don't last very well on my skin.

If you don't have time/funds for regular manicures (and beware of Shellac etc.. as they can wreck your nails and make them weak), then I would recommend CND Vinylux which is a varnish that lasts a week, providing you use a top coat. I buy it off ebay (only have sellers with 100% feedback as this ensures the product is genuine) and I use a Sally Hansen top coat. It's fab!

Skin care-wise, I've used Clarins, Clinique etc.. over the years but have found that using a facial oil before bedtime is quite effective. I'm currently using Superdrug's own Vitamin E face oil.

[superzero]

I've got 3 under 5.Once breast feeding ended;

1. ebay/charity shop all pre-baby /maternity clothes that will never fit again.Use the money to buy new things that fit.
   
2. mobile hairdresser ,cheaper than salon& more convenient
   
3. regular eyebrow shaping & sometimes eyelash tinting
   
4. Pedicures with Barry M Gelly in summer,last ages but can touch up yourself
   5)exercise at least once per week,if you have a partner around not much to ask for 1.5 hours to yourself.For me ,it is swimming.
   5)Regular nights out with friends or with partner wearing inappropriate footwear as no buggy to push and so can dress up without risk of sticky fingers.Even if you come home at 10.30 feels like you have a little bit of your life back.
   
5. make-up daily but have cut down to 2 minutes with BB cream,Nars Multiple blusher stick and eyeliner

[heidipi]

Maybe try eyelash tinting before extensions - I've had it done about 4 times now (every 4 weeks), it takes 15 mins, costs about a tenner it makes such a big difference. I usually look tired and old without mascara but I actually look human AND awake without make up now.

Whereas I only use mascara on upper lashes, tinting does top and bottom so you get natural looking darker lashes without mascara clumps, smudges, running etc. Seems to make eyelashes look fuller too. With fortnightly eyebrow and tache threading this is my personal fave thing to get done now, and so cheap it hardly feels like an indulgence.

[Petal02]

Use Dove Holiday Skin (or the Johnsons version) every couple of days just to take the whiteness off your skin

Don't leave the house without mascara and lipstick/gloss

And one of the following:

a. an eye catching scarf
b. a bright coloured bag
c. pretty ballet pumps (assuming its not raining or snowing)

[foxdongle]

For me-
walking a lot,
drink lots of water,
always wear make-up,
regular hair colour and cut
lots to look forward to-going out /holidays etc

I've gone off face creams though do use suncream and argan oil and do my own facials- my skin and purse have definitely benefitted.

[Fabulassie]

I think your list looks great. I'd do some research on the eyelash extensions though. They can be tricky to maintain.

Pilates is great - but if you really want to get your body back into great shape, try weight lifting. Seriously, it does wonders and it's a pity more women don't do it.

I do think you'll be happy if you get your hair done to a high standard, as well. That plus good eyebrows wins you more than half the battle. xx

[kaykayblue]

I'd skip the pilates and go straight for hiit routines.

Burns a billion times more calories, and you work against body weight (or weights in some videos) which will help you tone up.

But aside from that - healthy diet and SLEEP!!

[HandMini]

Sleep. Sleep. More sleep.

Loads of water (fill huge bottle / jug at start of day, and it must be empty by end of day.

Blow dry really thoroughly on Mon and Thurs, with mousse, heat styling products etc. This gets me through Mon and Tues with nice losse hair and on Weds I do an updo. Repeat Weds - Sat. Sunday I go swimming so usually just stuck wet hair in a bun.

Exercise - the best thing for my skin (something to do with circulation) and of course weight. But once a week isn't really enough - try for every other day (Shred is on Youtube!)

Sorry the above are so boring, but they are worth hundreds if pounds of products and clothes!

[CleanLinesSharpEdges]

Have LVL lashes rather than extensions. It's all your natural lashes and the results last about 6 weeks. Wide awake looking eyes and good eyebrows always make me feel great.

[savebraveted]

Ah such brilliant and inspiring replies! Love the idea of eyebrow threading. Doing exercise on YouTube is a good idea - maybe Zumba??
Sleep will hopefully start happening soon when his lordship (9 months) decides he is ready to sleep all night! I know it will make a big difference.
Soo sick of all the wispy bits about my face where my hair is all growing back - don´t know what to do with it!
Need to get a good capsule wardrobe - Boden style - any less expensive alternatives?
I have hot cloth cleanser - going to stick at it. Clarins facial oil for afterwards? Makes me feel a bit greasy.
And how OH HOW do I really really get rid of blackheads??.
(This all makes me sound disgusting - I do scrub up quite well when I have the time to do it properly!!)

[frankietwospots]

Re: facial oil - I don't think you need to spend a lot to be honest. I'm sure the Clarins one is lovely but I've found Superdrug's Vitamin E one really good and I've also heard that the Sanctuary one is good too. Yes, you do feel a bit greasy but think of the good it is doing your skin while you sleep. It will all have sunk in by the morning!

[Shenanagins]

The three things that have worked wonders for me are, exercise, fake tan and eyebrow threading.

[Fabulassie]

For me it's been: exercise, eyebrow threading, and botox. Actually, botox is tied with getting my hair done at a really good salon.

[GeorginaWorsley]

It's a while since I had a baby,DC 4 now nearly 9, but I agree with all the people here who have recommended exercise.
I used to do no real exercise at all, bar a bit of walking.
I started shredding in Jan this year and have never looked back.
now do various classes at gym, run, shred, etc.
my skin is so.much better, sleep well, dark circles gone.
I drink loads of water too especially during classes.
appreciate going to gym or classes not easy with young children but shred very doable at home.

[kaykayblue]

Completely agree that youtube is so much easier to fit everything else around. Especially as you can hit pause for a few moments, and then come straight back to it if you need to.

If you like dance workouts, and don't mind feeling like a complete twat, then I would recommend one. The "pump it out" section is relatively intense, so maybe build up to it if you find it too hard.

[PerpendicularKitten]

I find keeping the same good hairdresser and going in regularly for a cut/cut and colour and blow dry helps, keeping the rest of my hair neat helps me cope with the wispy bits. Anti-frizz shampoo etc also helps.

Walking is good. Spanx make you feel better and buying new jeans/clothes when the current ones get to big helps, there is nothing worse imo than wearing clothes that don't fit.

I also buy make up and other beauty bits on Ocardo, a bit odd but sometimes it is that or nothing when the DCs are very small.