To find beauty treatments a bit cringe now

Ha we only said this recently, went to a party of a friends girlfriend, herself and all her friends looked the same, their clothes make up and hair were the same no one had anything different. my husband actually commented how much the same they were, curly hair same style of make up and same style of clothes. I, luckily, realised after that all my friends look and dress different. What suits them and looks fab doesnt suit, some go all out glam and some just like natural, its great - no pressure to do anything

I did an NVQ in Beauty Therapy, at evening classes, years ago and realised how easily you can be well turned out and what works. I hate the drawn on, plastic approach to beauty and all it does is feed insecurities, rarely looking better imo. It's even got so a friend's daughter, slim and pretty, has flown abroad for a breast enlargement and they've sold other invasive cosmetic surgery at the same time and she is 32!! What has been done that women think they need to cut bits off / stick fillers in to themselve, to feel good about themselves! Don't get me started on 11 year olds wanting to buy expensive skincare!

Having been around the industry for a long, long time it’s just that. It is a business and it’s all about selling.
I can remember when boob jobs started taking off (if you see what I mean) and some women got the biggest possible as a status symbol. Looked ridiculous.
The thing is, if you do anything subtly people don’t know. That’s the point. But once you change something ever so slightly, your eyes get used to it, so you think to fix it you need more.
I find the extreme measures troubling. I know women under 40 going for full facelifts. These images of Miley Cyrus… such a naturally pretty girl. Clearly her nose has changed, but it’s these square jaws and fat removed from cheeks I find disturbing.
If you’ve got the money and want to spend on your appearance go for it. But go to a reputable doctor, and go easy.
I don’t bother with any aesthetics although I dabbled a bit in my 30’s. People do ask as they know what I do, but I’ve got to point where I would rather spend on my hair, and good skincare, and nice clothes than lip fillers.
Sometimes I see young girls of 18/19 and their faces look almost aggressive, and I don’t like it.
And don’t get me started on people who go on sunbeds and then use Botox. Katie Price is a shining example of that.

I don't live the 'enhanced' look at all.
But, I've never really been into make up, beauty treatments or having my hair cut or dyed on a regular basis. I walk on the scruffy side of life!

I get my brows tinted every few weeks or they become non existent I have the occasional manicure and facial. I love a massage and try to have one every couple of months. I don't know many people who have more than an a few standard beauty treatments. Most don't have any.

I know live and let live but I can't help to take an interest because as a woman I'm a target for these treatments too

By all means take an interest, but I would say that the extent of your interest should be 'do I want this or not?' rather than 'women who do want it look 'cringe' and are wasting their money'.

You're capable of making your choices and they're capable of making theirs.

I've never had Botox or fillers or lash extensions or any brow treatments.

I do, however, get my nails done because I love looking down at my fingers when I'm typing and seeing green/blue/black/red/whatever nails, and I get my hair cut regularly and sometimes coloured. I also have tattoos. I don't think getting fillers or whatever is actually any different - it's all just things people do to make themselves happier when they look in the mirror, basically. It's just that people have different aesthetic preferences/tastes.

Not many of them are to my personal taste. I think some nice, short gel nails look good and of course you can’t go wrong with a good hair cut or a facial, but the rest I always think look a tad… tacky (sorry!). Long gaudy nails and gigantic spider-leg-lashes don’t look good on anyone. And what’s funny is it seems - largely - to be those with less expendable income splurging on these treatments. Still, to each unto their own I suppose!

I don't begrudge woman paying for beauty treatments, the kind of stuff that I would get done is all quite basic (the odd facial, brows tidied, the odd pedi, I quite like a lash lift and tint with my own lashesetc ) and I do my own gel nails.

But I do worry about some of the people who carry out the treatments and how they qualify in the first place. I have seen a lot of bad work done on friends - dark eyebrows on women who obviously don't suit black/dark colours, lips that look out of proportion to their faces, fillers that are just obvious etc. If I was going to get work done I wouldn't go to just anyone.

I look at photos of me with and without make-up, and you can see a big difference. It's subtle make-up, I am not into TOWIE looks, but I look older and so much more tired without make-up.

For me, it's worth spending money to look brighter and better.

I don’t know about fillers but I used to do nails and lashes pretty regularly. Then I had bald eyelids and thing nails.

so I stopped. But I did enjoy it. I loved to clack my nails like a witchy witch.

If it's done right, you won't KNOW the other women is having botox, that's the whole point.

I stopped wearing all makeup during the pandemic and didn't start again. Last time I wore it was on the 1st date with my now husband. Didn't wear it on the 2nd and he didn't notice so that was that! It has had absolutely no negative effect on my life.

So I do agree but then in the same way I find it kinda cringe thinking how much time and money I spent putting on then removing makeup (and I bought the cheap stuff) and you think other things are a bit cringe. But I'm sure the people who do them find something else even more cringe. So there's no real right and wrong.

Reading the person up thread who gets tattooed eyebrows and false eyelashes so they don't have to worry about them on holiday does make me a bit sad though. Not sad for them, just the idea that you 'have' to have these things.

Yep agree with this. On all points!

I do get my nails done from time to time, might have a lash lift occasionally, and waxing but that’s probs the extent of it.

I do think when you really think about it, it’s all a bit mad isn’t it?! So if I go for gel nails, I’ll go and spend time having them carefully put on and cured under a special lamp, and then two or three weeks later, I’ll go back, have them filed off and chucked away and then start again?! 🤷🏼‍♀️🤣😵‍💫

I think more than ever, some people are consuming vast amounts, possibly driven by social media, and thinking it’s normal. It’s not! I've been reading Less by Patrick Grant, and everything he says in there about consumption makes perfect sense and is actually quite sad and upsetting when you really think about it!

I agree. Most young girls all look like dolls. Big fat lips, huge eyelashes etc. I get my hair cut 2-3 times a year but my only indulgence is shellac nails every 3 weeks and a pedicure every 6 weeks.

I'm in my 30s, I get my hair dyed approx 3 times per year, and get my eyebrows shaped probably as often, maybe 4 times a year. I personally couldn't be arsed with the rest of it. There are a lot of fashion trends I don't bother with. If people get hooked on the latest fashion trends, that's the way they will be regardless of if it's a more natural look or an overly groomed look. It'll come in waves like all fashion trends. But the thing is the people who get all these things done will probably still get them done but just to a more natural look rather than excessive like it is at the moment. Each to their own.

As for individuality, look at pictures throughout the years, people have rarely celebrated their individuality. When I look at pictures or videos from the 60s, 70s, 80s, everyone is wearing the exact same clothes and has the exact same hairstyle! If anything there are more trends to pick from these days so there is a slight variation.

It's the usual competition between women who care about such things, although as usual it's hard to tell what they're actually competing for.

Presumably not men, since most men don't even notice such things, and the ones who do tend to be gay.

Might just be jobs and promotions these days. "I'm more likely to land this position if my eyelashes are 2mm longer" etc., whether or not it really makes any difference.

I feel sad for young women (and men for that matter) The unrealistic expectation to have perfect white teeth, smooth skin, huge lips, arses and boobs; for men to be muscley. The beauty industry had always weighed heavily on women but it's worse now, and also affects men. It must be exhausting trying to keep up with it all. But I think that's the point: keep them all occupied with those shit and they won't have the energy to focus on other things. I read The Beauty Myth when I was young and it made a real impression on me. It's all so much worse now with the Internet. It makes me sad. I also think they look awful - but I'm old so I would. I just miss seeing more variety and more natural beauty.

Is it that common outside of Instagram. Most women I know wear no makeup or natural makeup. They do dye their hair but other than that no one I know has lash extensions or botox..Nails yes..

I am 32 and in London. I even feel self conscious sometimes for being fairly vain as I wear makeup (12 products which takes 7 minutes) every time I go outside and often at home as well. I also cleanse and moisturize my face, use spf serum, condition my hair, brush my hair and use box hairdye but am extremely lax about hair removal (usually wear sleeves so shave armpits and legs, trim brows/lip hair v occasionally and never shave down there). And that's all the grooming I do.

I hate the way most young girls look the same. They don't smile in photos, they pout with oversized lips.
I get my hair coloured every I weeks, get a facial 3 times a year as a treat to myself that's it.
I don't think the Instagram look makes women look groomed and polished.

Why can't young women develop their own style instead of being brainwashed by influences

How did we manage to grow up without influencers?

Famous people who keep it subtle are a perfect advert for doing it right, and why not improving what you can?

Not so long ago it was "chavy" to change your hair colour, now it's the norm.

I think we are lucky to have the luxury to have cheap ways to improve our appearance if we want to.

I hit peak a while ago when someone asked me if I was worried about my hip dips! I didn't even know what they were and when I googled it I realised that no matter what I did there would always be something that someone would think i needed to work on.

I've given up, not that I did that much in the first place. I'm naturally slim, have nice teeth, I keep myself clean and that's about it. I'm 47 and frankly done with these ridiculous beauty standards that women are supposed to aspire to, I'm.so much more than what I look like!

He will be involved with someone one day who will subscribe to some kind of beauty standard, and I'm sure he will shave and wear deodorant