Calling all you got it together stylish well groomed Mums.

[seb1]

How do you guys, find the time and motivation etc, I think need help. For example how do you ever find time to let your nails dry, shop without kids, hide the grey, know what products are not shite. I think what I am looking for is "flylady" for style and beauty. So is it time, money, organisation, the will to live I am missing, and have been. it takes me a while to get my arse in gear, for the last 42 years. Ideally you are all going to tell me 5 mins morning and night and an sorted. .

[madammecholet]

I internet shop for everything and have shellac nails which last 3 weeks. My only guilty time pleasure is having eyelash extensions every 2 weeks and I do go away on girls weekend shopping trips about 3 times a year, to both drink and be merry, remember who I am, and shop.

Other than that. My time is not my own :)

[ruffletheanimal]

i think you just have to shoehorn some things back into your life when the pressure eases up a bit (if it does, that is. mine has)

my nails are those gel things that last weeks and weeks.

as for knowing what to buy if you ever do get time out... i buy a magazine very once in a while (not too much tho) and i can glean what i like out of whats going on in the wider world in terms of styles/fashions.

tbh, 5 mins morning and night is a bloody good place to start if you've not been taking that time for yourself.

[cyb]

I do my nails while I twitter

Shop late night Thursadys but mainly online or at weekends when Dad is on duty

get my gear out for work the night before

[Jessicaalbastwin]

I do all My shopping on the internet, very rarely go shopping. I have a mobile hairdresser who comes and does My hair every 6-8 weeks. I also have a beauty therapist who comes every two weeks to give Me an Indian head, shoulder massage also have a full facial from her, I don't have My nails done as I don't like false nails or even nail varnish on my nails, apart from toe nails. My sister does My threading for me, the Indian way.

[seb1]

I have just ordered myself some great bum jeans from Asda, for store delivery (no charge and won't miss the courier) will bring home try on and take back to store if they don't fit.

[ihatethecold]

pluck my eyebrows whilst kids are in the bath,
do my nails whilst watching telly at night,
5 mins morning and night doing cleansing / moisturising.
i dont think many women have much time so think little and often.

[FrancesFarmer]

I have to so it. I feel utterly miserable if I think I look frumpy.

I shop on-line a lot, like others here, and I've learned a lot from trial and error over the years so I've a pretty good idea what works for me and my lifestyle.

I follow fashion blogs of people whose style I like too - they're good light reading and a source of inspiration.

Five minutes here and there and it all adds up.

[virgiltracey]

Another vote for internet shopping here. Its the only way I have time. I buy pieces that will hopefully not date too much and know what suits me. Places like ASOS are fab since the website will show you whats on trend and you can just send back if its no good (have to say quality on a lot of it is not great and so a fair amount goes back!).
I do a beauty task a night in front of the tv. Sunday zap facial hair with ipl thingy from boots , monday bleach whatever facial hair didn't go away with the zapping, tuesday do eyebrows, wednesday face mask, thursday nails, friday hair treatment, saturday and probably more .

[ILoatheMickeyMouseClubhouse]

I have my hair trimmed every 8 weeks or so, usually on a Saturday when DH is home to have the children, or during the week if my mum can babysit my youngest for an hour or so. I have my eyebrows and top lip waxed every 8 weeks, and usually my lashes tinted too, I go to a beauty salon's late night opening for this.

I tend to buy clothes if I just have my teenager with me and not the other two, or I buy online. I shave my underarms/bikini each time I bath or shower and only do my legs once a week as the hair on my legs is sparse and fair so I don't need to do it more often. I wear make up every day and straighten my hair, it only takes me 10 minutes each morning to do both though and it makes me feel so much more presentable that I otherwise would.

[Collision]

Get up slightly earlier and sort out hair.

Keep nails short. I filed and painted mine last night while I watched a film.

Shave legs whenever you shower.

I dont do facials or massages really. I do wear makeup but only have a quick 2 min routine.

Get DH on board at the weekend to have children while you go out on your own for a couple of hours.

Keep wardrobe simple and jazz outfits up with scarves and jewellry.

[PinotScreechio]

Do ocm so you don't need facials.

Keep nails short and painted dark.

Use moroccanoil so I can let my hair air-dry and not get frizzy.

Prep clothes the night before.

Smile lots so no-one minds that the rest of me is shabby!

[Sleepwhenidie]

I do a bit of mani/pedi type stuff while watching kids in the bath or watching tv, its more maintenance though, I keep fingernails short (which Imho is more stylish and less ageing anyway), rarely have coloured varnish on fingers as it chips too quickly...must try shellac, when I get a chance!

Internet shopping-yes yes yes. I would estimate that 75% of my wardrobe was bought online.

Hair, colour every 6 weeks and cut every 12. A cut that doesn't have to be blow-dried to look ok, often I let it dry naturally, especially in summer. Childcare arranged well in advance for these appointments.

I am close to completing a course of laser hair removal on bikini line and underarms, whizz razor over legs in shower every day.

Second vote for good selection of nice scarves, a few pieces of nice jewellery and great boots/bag/coat/sunglasses makes all the difference.

Make up routine super quick, mascara as a minimum but full face takes me about 3 mins and I keep lipstick and powder in handbag and use it!

[madammecholet]

Did you know 1 in 3 british women do all their fashion purchasing on the internet....the highest percentage in the world... ....is that because we are the busiest or make less time for ourselves I wonder??

[rockinastocking]

I think it helps to have beauty stuff around the house so you can do things when they occur to you, otherwise you don't get round to it.

For example, I've got tweezers near about three of my mirrors, upstairs and down, so I can pluck out a bristle when I spot it, or do my eyebrows in a quick minute after a wee.

I use clear nail polish and keep that in the kitchen so I can do it when I remember rather than having to make a special trudge upstairs.

Cut and colour every 4-6 weeks is essential. If my hair looks passable, everything else is okay.

Scarves, scarves, scarves. Make an outfit look like you did it on purpose.

See also a good pair of boots. Fly for preference.

[MissBeehiving]

Have a mobile hairdresser for cut and colour every 6 weeks for cut and 8-10 for colour. Do treatments at home. Have a cut that is low maintenance - mid length layered.
I manicure my own nails once a week, on a Sunday night, and it lasts for the whole week at work.
Internet shop for clothes/accessories and have a wardrobe where lots of stuff goes together. Also wear a lot of dresses, which are dead easy.
Do oil cleansing, eyebrows threaded in Superdrug when I'm passing.
Makeup is 10mins and hair is 10 mins in the morning.

[Gumps]

I have just had my 3dc and the thing that has kept me looking human is bb the miracle balm that is being advertised everywhere at the minute. It's awesome - moisturiser and foundation done in 30 seconds with a glow thrown in. Mascara always a must too. I agree if hair and eyebrows and nails look tidy then everything else can be ignored. Good boots a good coat and a big scarf = sorted for winter. The £10 animal print bargain scarf suggested here from eBay is brilliant.

[Jessicaalbastwin]

Basically I think online shopping is the way, it's convinient especially if it's free delivery, and also being a mum it can be quite difficult shopping around with a LO.

[cangaroo]

Hi am reading the this with interest. Which websites do you use for clothes shopping? I don't feel that I have found my look really, and wanted some inspiration!

[Conundrumish]

Gumps* what is this miracle balm?

[Conundrumish]

Should have been Gumps, obviously!

[yellowraincoat]

Do messy hair as much as possible. Stick a few kirby grips in to make an "up" do, doesn't matter if it's not freshly washed, in fact it helps it stay up. Doesn't matter if a few bits fall out, looks better that way.

It also looks sexy and glamourous.

Buy all clothes online and send back if you don't like them.

Do make up on the tube

[worley]

cangaroo... ASOS.com is good, and Dorothy Perkins have way more online than in store. i love T shirts from truffleshuffle.com nag good old boots online store is useful

[worley]

*and not nag

[MissBeehiving]

bb cream here I love it too

[TattyDevine]

I dye my own roots at home. I never have any greys! I also recently started doing my own Brazillian blow dry/keratin treatment. I love hair.

I curl/wave my hair with GHD's, I only wash it every 2-3 days, 3 times a week max. The curl/wave lasts, though I'd generally wear it up and tumbling and slightly messy on the last day if not before because that style suits my style personality anyway.

I paint my nails once a week, on a Thursday night, generally. I use stick on "totally bare" by Elegant touch, about £4 from Tesco or Boots, and because its an artificial surface the polish lasts all week. They are short and square and look pretty natural or at least like a salon fake as opposed to a scary talon. The Kiss ones are talons though. Broadway ones are also good.

I shower each morning but tend to wash my hair in the late afternoon/early evening when it needs it and style it the next morning with GHD's to do the loose wave which only takes 10 minutes.

I got my colours done recently and don't need as much makeup now, my makeup barely takes 5 minutes. I dab Becca Shimmering Skin perfector in Opal all over my face, mattify it with powder mineral foundation (not Bare Essentials, a matte version), MAC Ladyblush, slick of mascara, bit of Becca eyeshadow, Becca brow powder in Auburn and Mac Crosswires lipstick more often than not unless I'm wearing red. Then I will wear red lipstick.

Do my toenails on a Thursday too. Use Paula's choice 10% Alpha Hydroxy acid body lotion on feet, keeps them from forming a crust. eww. Use Paula's choice 5% on my face most days and 10% once a week, which means I don't have to do much else. SPF 40 or 50 most days, minimum SPF 15 every day.

Brush, floss, mouthwash every day.

Epilate once a week legs and pits.

Bikini every 3 weeks or when getting major vibes

I don't tan since getting my colours done.

If feeling fat then no booze during the week and no carbs after lunchtime and long bike ride on weekend.