How important is it to you what you look?

[Worriedagainmum]

In terms of appearance etc

It used to be before I had children. Now I don't have enough time and I look a right mess - my hair in particular is a frizzy curls and always took a long time to style well or straighten and now I have time for neither. It drags me down if I look in the mirror so I just avoid it now really

I suppose that is where society has reached, people that actively looked deformed with botox and fillers are better thought of than someone who does not need that stuff and looks like a normal person. Kid yourself all you like but 90% of people with those treatments look completely ridiculous. And no it does not make anyone look younger. Just worked on.

I'm trying to make more of an effort, I think I was waiting to lose weight to start paying attention to my appearance again, but that's a hard struggle and long game, so going to start investing in decent clothes and spending a bit of time getting my hair and makeup sorted. I've ended up looking a right scruff, and I don't want to do that anymore. But I would never do Botox and fillers and stuff even if I had the money, it's not for me. I would like to get back to doing simple gel polish on my nails (at home) as they don't chip and can wear a nice bright colour, and if I can find the money in my tight budget, then would love to get lash lift and perm and eyebrows done professionally, and then just wear BB cream and maybe some lipstick otherwise. At the moment having to settle for mascara and home tweezing and tinting which is ok but not quite how I want it. I'm thinking of dying my hair a bright colour, but keep chickening out, and also can't decide what colour to go for. I would really like to start forming more of my own style, and dressing more alternative, as well as getting some tattoos and more piercings. Not for everyone I know, but it's how I present myself and shows who I am better. The music I like, my interests, my sense of humour, all a bit outside the norm and on the darker side. Also I love bright colours and they spark joy, so starting to wear more colour again although I've become a little scared of it! And when I wear black going for glamorous not plain IYSWIM.

Very little. Never had any beauty treatments or dyed my hair. I think I look fine. Not amazing, not dreadful, just normal. I'm 43 and think I look 43 but I don't take much notice.

My hair has started to annoy me. It is getting thicker by the day and turned into a gigantic bush on my head. Vaguely considered researching some kind of treatment/expensive shampoo to deal with it but couldn't be arsed again so went back to the Tesco shampoo and tying it up.

I like to look clean, tidy, bit of makeup, hair cut and coloured to suit my skin tone, decent clothes, but that’s about it. I feel quite sorry for women who feel the pressure of the beauty industry - it’s immense now compared to what I grew up with

Incredibly vain. More so as I get older. It’s not about thinking I’m gorgeous; I’ve never particularly liked the way I look. It’s just that now I have to do more and more in order to feel acceptable to myself.

I’m the one checking myself in every mirror I pass. But I’m not admiring - I’m looking for flaws and making sure I don’t look heinous.

Never been particularly bothered. Probably due to my job, the surviving instinct was far stronger than hair and makeup!

Now circumstances have changed and I’m buying kinda nice clothes, washing and straightening my hair more frequently.
Beyond that, because it’s still not important to me, I don’t do anything else.
It just doesn’t cross my mind, that said I do very often admire people who are lovely turned out. Smart clothes, makeup that looks like art and sleek sane hair and wish I could look like that.

To add, my phone contains not one single selfie. Not even my own mother has a photo of me as an adult, I will not be on photos ever.

I care but only to a certain degree. When i was younger I cared more. As I've aged I've become more confident in my own skin.

I would never get eyebrows/nails/lashes etc done on a regular basis but I look after myself with diet, exercise, skin care etc. I would no longer spends hours getting ready doing make up/hair etc for an event. I prefer a much more natural look too now which helps.

Some days, I brush my hair before I go out!

Seriously, I colour my hair when I can afford it, get my eyebrows done similarly. I'm a very plain looking person and well aware of it. If people don't like my appearance, that's their problem. I can't be arsed to make a huge effort just because society implies I should, and that it would please others.

Agree with your statement about young women nowadays wholeheartedly! I find the whole thing absolutely mad.

I similarly was always naturally attractive when I was younger. Obviously age is changing this but I don't especially care. I don't make a huge amount of effort on a day to day basis. If I go out I make more effort and it's nice to feel more done up.

I used to not care at all, or at least say and act as if I didn't care. Underneath, I lacked self esteem and therefore rejected the idea of all of that.

Now, I feel I've embraced my womanhood and physicality much better, which makes me feel more attractive and am much less rejecting of the whole concept of 'making an effort' etc. I now enjoy shopping for clothes and dressing for a night out. Still don't get intense about it though (ie beauty treatments/ caring about fashion or brands, interventionist cosmetics etc).

Because I only started building my confidence and enjoying my looks in my late thirties I do feel robbed of that wonderful time when objectively I had a good body/ youthful looks! Back then I was just oblivious or incredibly self critical.

Now I have some wrinkles and a squiggly mummy tummy, but I can still love myself and rock the odd outfit (in my eyes at least!)

I'm really not sure this is true. I think good looking women (especially if they have clearly made an effort) get judgment and jealousy from some other women, and get sleaziness from many men. It's possible they get a more attentive service, but not necessarily a genuine friendliness.

I think if you are clearly washed, reasonably healthy, and friendly yourself, you normally get friendly back.

I don’t really care about looking nice, it’s more about feeling nice.

I like skin care, I wear makeup and nice clothes, I dye my hair and get regular cuts but it’s to feel good.

I don’t think I’m attractive or unattractive, I’ve never really considered my place on the scale but if I’m going out and I think that I look good in my nice outfit and makeup then I’ll feel good.

I’m not a ‘looker’, never have been so I’m not vain tbh. I’m clean, I wear a bit of make up to try and improve/enhance my features a bit. I’m not a follower of fashion or trends but I like to look nice out and about. Have my hair cut regularly. I’m never going to be a model but that’s ok.

I’ve always looked young due to genetics and face shape so it’s a bit sad watching my face age/start to sag, not so much wrinkles. It’s weird. I do check myself that I’m fortunate to be living long enough to age . I’m not interested in Botox/fillers etc but I do look after my skin through diet, basic skin care and of course spf.

Enough to wear nice clothes and jewellery, keep fit and slim, have my hair in good condition, properly look after my skin and teeth, wear makeup.
Not enough to get Botox, although some of my friends are, or to carry on having highlights.

As long as I am showered, my hair is clean, my teeth and nails are clean, clothes are clean and in good condition then I am happy. Dont care for makeup, acrylic nails or polish, wouldn't waste my money of botox, brows, lips etc I am not a sheep, so many woman nowadays have the same look no individuality.

I'm in my 50's and I feel pretty and attractive. I don't bother with makeup and grooming much as I don't think it adds much. I look happy and friendly. That more important than looking all dressed up. I guess I'm vain in that I really like the fact I feel pretty (hopefully no on in really life would ever think I'm vain though!)

I’m mixed race and have rather amazing skin, thank you diverse gene pool. I inherited my white Mothers cheekbones and my Asian Dads skin tone. My eyelids are slightly darker naturally.

I got a few lines post menopause which was 52 for me, before that zero. I still don’t have that many, will never do any sort of Botox or fillers. I also have very sensitive skin and am allergic to perfume for that reason I have never been able to try products, just mainly moisturiser. I had a medical for a job in my twenties and told Dr about my sensitive skin, he said women should stop putting ‘all that crap’ on their faces sensitive or not as so bad for your skin. You see how men age better often, they don’t wear make up or muck about with their faces much at all.

Where do you live that people are this nasty?! I'm in London and was more than average attractiveness in my 20s. I'd say you do get better treatment - people (both men and women) are smilier and more helpful. Now I'm mid-30s and a couple of stone overweight and sleep-deprived from having a baby and feel like I'm a bit more invisible. I'd like to be vainer again, but don't have the energy right now... I'm confident that will change soon and I'll get my figure back and spend a bit more time on my hair/skin.

.You see how men age better often, they don’t wear make up or muck about with their faces much at all.

I don't think men age better, rather that it's more 'acceptable' for them to age, sadly.

It matters in so much as I want to look presentable and would feel really self conscious of say a massive spot, I'm about a stone heavier than I'd like to be which I'm very self conscious of. But I'm not high maintenance; I get my hair done about 4 times a year and my nails done every few weeks, but other than that I'm largely make up free day to day. I guess I'm confident enough in myself naturally, mostly, but would feel very self conscious of anything outside normal.

I don’t get any cosmetic treatments (except having my hair cut and eyebrows waxed, but nothing like fillers) but I would much rather be friends with somebody who looks ‘worked on’ than somebody who admits they laugh at other people based on their appearance. That would turn me right off a potential friend. I hate people who mock others on how they look, it’s the true definition of ugly.

Probably more important than it should be. Abuse by ex husband,/ relationship has made me very conscious of myself and no matter how much my husband says I'm beautiful or any of my friends I don't believe them .

I couldn't care less what anyone thinks I look like, let alone random people in the supermarket.

If I'm honest, I wish strangers WOULDNT strike up conversation with me!

I do have some beauty routines, but it's all done for me and I don't really care if anyone else noticed or not.

I wear tinted moisturiser, eyeliner, mascara for work. If I was going on a night out I might add eyeshadow and bronzer/highlighter but that's it. Rest of the time I don't wear any makeup and most often will happily leave the house without it.

I get my nails done because I like having nice nails/colours and paying someone else means I have a wider variety of choice and is easier than faffing on myself. But I couldn't give a fig anyone else noticed them or not.

Ditto my face. I have a monthly facial, but mainly that's due to a sport I do that means the skin on my face takes a lot of stick from the elements and can sometimes be sore and look "weathered". Having the regular facial keeps my skin feeling brighter, tighter and not as sore. Again, that's for me though, don't care if anyone else noticed.

Clothes - happily walk around in my tracky pants and lycra/gym wear. Only time I get more "dressed up" is in the same scenarios I wear makeup (work or a night out).