How do I stop looking awful all of the time

[redex]

I just look hideous constantly.

I look tired, my hair always looks dull, lifeless and oily no matter what I do to it.

My skin is always full and dry yet greasy looking at the same time.

Whatever make up I apply (cheap or high end) looks shit.

My clothes are awful. I just feel hideous constantly and no matter how much I try, nothing works?!

Are you tired? Do you need more you time? Self care? Book a facial for your skin. Think about diet, what is making you feel this way? Is it more about self esteem?

I honestly feel like I've looked awful most of my adult life no matter how much or how little effort I put in?

Some people just glow and I look like a sack of spuds 😂

Your not alone

Make up - liz earle face wash and moisturiser or a tinted one. Always use a primer. Clinique foundation and pressed powder. Use brown eyeliner and mascara if your 30s and up or so as black can look harsh. Highlighter on brow bones and just above cheeks. Use a peach blusher not a pink one and a Matt lipstick or a clear gloss one or the other.

Hair - use a hot brush to dry it, always use good shampoo and conditioner and heat defence and stay away from oils if you have greasy hair KMS is brilliant. Put in dry shampoo every time before styling for that lift. A few high and lowlights together and a nice cut gives you expensive vibes.

As for clothes good pair of jeans are a must a dark and a light pair and go for basic tops like a plain white or black t shits and then accessories and cardigans, oversized blazers and a statement bag with a nice simple pair of shoes gives you the elegant look. If you want more dressy monochrome is the way forward so pick a colour like beige for example and get a an outfit all in similar beige and you will look great

Also having your nails done a nice watch and a lovely perfume are winners too

What is your diet like?

What’s your lifestyle like? Diet, alcohol, sleep, exercise, water, smoking, junk? All of these are important for how you look.

I think when you're feel like this it comes down to sleep, diet, exercise and also having some fun in your life to put a spring in your step. Skincare helps, a bit of makeup helps, a good haircut helps a lot, but if you are really looking awful (which you probably aren't) then you need to go back to the fundamentals.

How’s your diet? Do you cook healthy food from scratch? Do you take supplements?

Book a make over at a beauty counter. They are free. Then buy a few products.

Book a personal shopper at John Lewis and try lots of outfits. Its free I think if you buy something. It will give you ideas and confidence.
Get new underwear which fits properly. Get a bra fitting
How you look comes down to diet and exercise, well fitting clothes and the right products. Sounds like your shampoo and conditioner isn''t working for you. Get a really good haircut and ask for advice.
You need a good quality cleanser and moisturiser. Get your eyebrows professionally plucked and tinted if needed.
The rest of it is about happiness I think. If you are miserable it shows in your face.

No to supplements. What do you recommend?

Diet is generally good - mostly home cooked food and plenty veg. I do have a couple of takeaways a month and do enjoy a few glasses of wine on a weekend too so maybe removing that is my answer!?

I'm generally stressed out if I'm honest. Running around after the kids, working full time but isn't everyone?

Give up alcohol and drink more water or herbal / fruit / mint tea

focus on gut health - probiotics, healthy diet etc as this will hugely improve your skin.

Exercise

good hair cut and colour if needed

eyebrows shaped and neat

nails - neat, clean and polish if you like it

For winter a nice coat and scarf. Even if you feel a mess throwing on a smart coat and scarf instantly makes you feel more put together

I’m pretty hideous in my natural state, but manage to look pretty ok by the time I walk out the door :)

get a fresh skincare regime going, use oils, serums, whatever makes you feel fab

glowy makeup, Charlotte tilbury flawless finish, nars, but of colour in lids, cheeks, lids

hair conditioner intense once a week

buy a new outfit, stick to a uniform, the best jeans, the best boots etc

domt be so hard o n yourself

How old are the kids? I despaired at how I looked too and then once they got to about 5 and could dress themselves etc I suddenly had more time to do wildly indulgent things like blow dry my hair

Kids are 1 and 4 and both follow me around the house like I am about to up and never return 😆

Any recommendations for any lovely shampoo / conditioner and face moisturiser?

Honestly - drinking more water helps massively. Drink around 8 glasses per day.
Cleanse and moisturise skin morning and night.
But exfoliate around 3 times per week. Exfoliating and then moisturising your skin will make such a difference.
It makes full looking skin look so much better.
I watch a lot of trinny Woodall videos and she has advice for every type of skin issue!

I've found that decent skin and hair care make all the difference. I use serum, Japanfusion cleanser and moisturiser from Beauty Pie and my skin is completely different now, it's evened out its tone and I need far less foundation etc which also helps. Tinted lashes and well groomed eyebrows also make me feel day ready with no effort.

I use

Posted too soon.

After years of cheap shampoo I now use Fanola shampoo and mask once a week (recommended here) which takes any brassiness out of my hair and has really improved its condition. Also lets me go longer in between colours too.

For clothes, well fitting jeans, good boots and/or clean trainers. Decent coat and scarf. In the autumn/winter I live in jeans and patent DM Chelsea boots, not the most exciting but they don't date and are a good mix for either casual (kids football and school run) or kids free

I promise I don't work for them but my overall well-being (plus skin and nails) are next-level since I started taking Phizz tablets. I chuck one in 1ltr of water in the morning and the same in the afternoon (always drank that much water anyway). Electrolytes and lots of B vitamins.

@redex I mean by all means try this stuff but I wouldn’t be surprised if you don’t have more kids if in about 3/4 years you catch yourself in the mirror looking actually pretty well together 😁

We've all been there , I bet you look better than you think

Sorry you feel like this. Are you having a hard time? It can make you feel negative about your looks. You need to love yourself more. Have a nice bath with candles and champagne and meet your best friend. X

I'm generally stressed out if I'm honest. Running around after the kids, working full time but isn't everyone?

It sounds like you're run down from stress. As a starter take a good vitamin B complex supplement (stress rapidly depletes vit B but your body needs it to cope with stress so you have to add in extra) and drink more water.

Also get your iron levels checked.

Skin is a pretty simple one. You need vitamin C serum, a good spf and a retinol to use at night. Throw in a good plain moisturiser (CeraVe would be my pick) and you should start to see some good results. No need to break the bank with it either. The Inkey List, The Ordinary and CeraVe are all a good price and easily sourced in Boots.

Hey OP. Tell us about the best buts of how you look. Name at least three!

Lol. bits obviously.