I need to make over myself

[helpmemakeanewme]

Im a 24 year old frump my youngest is 2 I no longer have that baby excuse. Have recently moved house, got a new pt job, and am trying to eat much healthier and exercise more. My nails are chipped, my skin is greasey and I have to force myself to do foundation at least, my hairs ok doesnt need coloured or cut but its such an effort to do anything but shove it up in a bun.

How do you get the energy to make yourself look nice? What sort of items of clothes should I buy to stop me looking so frumpy? I want to look nice. Its bringing me down.

Have name changed as am so embarassed at being such a frump

[shhhh]

Im a mother of 2 and I class myself as young at 29, and although not mega glamorous I do ensure hair/makeup/nails are always looking good iykwim.

IMO I think that to make yourself feel good then you need to look good. I find if Im having a down day its usually because im still in my tracksuit at 11am minus makeup. .
I also get hair done every few months and nails done every 3-4 weeks.

A shower, splash of make up and looking good usually does it for me.

Oh I also think fake tan is a god send. I can feel crap but when I look tanned I feel like a goddess..

[maidamess]

Ok first things first. File your nails and begin to put hand cream and cuticle cream on in the evenings when you are watching telly.

Go to Boots and get a cleanser suitable for your skin. It doesn't have to cost a lot. Make sure you get a light moisturiser too.

Ask advice at the make up counters (not the scary orange faced ones) for quick one step make up, like an all in one cream to powder foundation. get some mascara and some lip gloss. You could do the lot in 5 minutes.

Hairwise, if you are just pulling it into a bun everyday why not get it cut into a bob, or get layers cut into your existing style.

clothes...Start with the basics...a good pair of jeans, dark navy. You can wear Converse style sneakers with thiese, or dress them up with heels. Make sure they are not too short.

Tops...well what kind of things do you like? Are you slim, or do you wish to cover bits?

I reckon getting a decent long jacket, like a patterned cotton mac, can jazz up any boring thing underneath.

Hope I havent bored you into submission!!

[Anna8888]

You need to make time in your day/week to pamper yourself .

Make sure you have a long relaxing bath every day, wash your hair and exfoliate your whole body, moisturise, pedicure and manicure.

A really good haircut can work wonders for the morale and encourage you to make the most of yourself. Eyelash dye is a great quick fix too.

[maidamess]

I guarantee if you invest a little time and effort in yourself you will no longer feel like a frump. Its medically impossible.

[foxythesnowfox]

Agree with Shhhh, a bit of make up works wonders. Personally I favour a red lippy from the Lipfinity range, because it lasts all day. With some mascara, job done.

A balcony bra. I know Trinny and Susannah bang on about control pants, but they do help (and you can get them cheap from TKMaxx).

Wedges, not heels. Next have some in the sale online.

Can you put one night a week aside to play? Paint your nails, de-fuzz, wash and blow dry your hair? Have a nice long bath with a glass of wine and have a pamper.

I don't think its what you buy, but what you do with what you've got.

[helpmemakeanewme]

Thanks so much. I hardly do anything for myself, so I guess its no surprise.

Going to have a bath tonight and try to defuzz and also do my nails

How long does it take you all to get ready in the mornings so your happy with what you see?

[MrsBadger]

A refreshing shower does me as much good as a relaxing bath and is quicker

other top tips:

• Never ever wear sportswear unless doing sport, or fleece unless hiking.
• If your skin is in poor nick don't stress about wearing makeup all the time to cover it up, but rather get a good cleansing routine going to help it look better without makeup.
• Accessorize. A chunky bead necklace in a coordinating colour turns jeans and a plain top into an Outfit.

[shhhh]

It takes me around 30 mins to get myself ready and that inc shower and make up. I usually tie my hair back (got extensions atm) unless I have straightened it the night before iykiwm.
I only wash my hair at night (usually every 2-3 nights) as I don't have time to dry and style during the day.

Im lucky in that my lo's (3 yr and 17 months) will happily sit in the cot/room and play while mummy gets dressed.
In fact dd actually said this week "upstairs now mummy, you need to put your make up on" .

I agree you need to make time for yourself and do it at night, pamper yourself now and then and if you do some things as you go along (fake tan after a shower daily) then it makes things a bit easier..5-10 mins a days is better than an hours or so a week iykiwm...

[MrsBadger]

mornings: 20min at home (shower, shampoo, condition, exfoliate, rinse, moisturise, rough dry hair), 10min in car before going into work (comb out hair, makeup)

[foxythesnowfox]

Don't put coloured polish on your finger nails. Clear only, because chipped nail varnish is yuk!

Decide what you are going to wear the night before, and it really doesn't take very long at all.

Definately agree about accessories. Its something I just can't seem to master, but I always can't fail to notice and be impressed when others are wearing them. Seems to just add finishing touches and a bit of thought to what they are wearing.

[foxythesnowfox]

Use a body moisturiser with tanning in, or add a blob of tan to your regular moisturiser to save the effort and make it easier to slap on.

Sorry, am just sending random thoughts.

I do love a thread like this, I get all inspired to wash my hair and shave my legs

[slim22]

What Anna said.

Start with impeccable grooming.

10-15 mn every night after kids in bed. Honor yourself.

exfoliate and moisturize body ( easy: buy an exfoliating shower gel + body oil to slap on damp skin straight out of shower) that's 5mn tops. Nice soft skin
shave legs & rest in shower 5mn - or better wax cold strips 15mn every 2 to 3 weeks.

Get a good simple face routine. gentle wash and light moisturizer. Invest in a good treatment serum for blemishes rather that clogging skin even more with foundation.
How about tinted moisturizer + a light dusting of mineral loose powder instead?
Touch of slightly tinted lip gloss, there you go!
There are lots of good products out there for every budget.

mani and pedi and facemask while watching TV/listening to music. Keep nailstrimmed short with neutral pink/beige. OK to be bolder with toenails.

have hair shoulder length or in a bob and get nice hair-clips to just pull front away from face. Keep squeaky clean. NO LAYERS please. nightmare to grow out and tie back should you need to!

Clothes start by simple overhaul.

Good cut trousers/jeans. Nice belt.
simple fitting tops.
feminine pumps.
nice pair of earings.
For starters keep colors simple (white/black/beige/browns). Avaoid too many patterns.
Build up on it with 1 occasional splash of color ( cardi/scarf etc...)

[shhhh]

lo, at mrsbadger..10 mins in the car. . Always wondered who those women were who yo saw stopped at lights applying lippie .

Crumbs, I couldn't risk it..! what if I broke down before i'd applied my lippie and needed the AA ...

[foxythesnowfox]

love my Braun Silk-Epil for de-fuzzing. Quite pricey, but effective everywhere and lasts for weeks. Plus makes re-growth much finer. Can do it all from toes to tash. (and I have to )

[slim22]

20 mn in the morning.

shower 5mn: wash face + exfo shower gel & body oil

face toner and cream / deodorant / dress 5mn

brush hai and apply minimum face (touch concealer/powder/khol eyliner/lip gloss) 5mn

accessorize 5 mn

[MrsBadger]

not at the traffic lights, in the carpark of course

[NB MrsBadger does not condone texting / programming satnavs / making up whilst driving. Eating breakfast, singing If You're Happy And You Know It and scrabbling under the passenger seat for dropped sippy cups are allowable.]

[shhhh]

how about trying to find the etch a sketch that ds has just launched at you whilst driving...

[helpmemakeanewme]

lol at driving activities.

well i have just had a lovely bath and spent the whole time thinking about how good im going to be. now sporting defuzzed body and fake tan on, doing nails now.

cant wait to go shopping tomorrow

[bikerunski]

I overhauled my wardrobe a couple of years ago when I was feeling frumpy and ditched:

Anything that didn't fit.
Anything too knackered to mend.
Anything old, stained and/or faded.
Any shape or colour that really didn't suit me.

Then mended what could be mended, dyed some old faded trousers back to black, polished shoes etc and got exisitng wardrobe clean and tidy. Then I gradually bought a few new bits and pieces. Having decent clothes (not expensive, but clean and tidy) always makes me feel better. Just need to learn to accesorise now....

[TheProvincialLady]

You know, at 24 I bet you have to put a lot less effort into this looking gorgeous lark than many of us on MN . The number one thing you can do to look and feel better is to have some self confidence, walk tall and smile. It's free and you don't have to do it in the car

[Luxmum]

Hello,
what I found helped was DEFO getting a new hair cut, I now sport a lovely neat POB/bob which is so nice, instead of always wearign a pony tail. I got some nice indigo bootcut jeans, and am trying very hard to only buy clothes which suits me, so no v necks, no baggy tunics, no skinny jeans, no black (the most useless, impractical colour to have with small kids). You need to think about that too, what suits you, and slowly get things over time. I also endorse the necklace/accessories thing, it helps bring it togeather and brightens up a pair of cheap jeans when you have a nice belt to go with it. God bless sales. Good luck, and hope you feel better about yourself.