How much do you care about your appearance?

[sideofthemountain]

I realised for a good 3 years I stopped caring. Piled on the weight, worn the same outfits, hair just brushed and not styled, unkept eyebrows. All linked to depression.

Never let hygiene slip - and always worn clean clothes etc.

But I recently lost some weight and the confidence boost it’s given me is huge and I’ve started taking better care of my appearance.

How much do you care day to day?

A lot but i always have it’s not a recent thing
I have always cared and spent a fair amount on beauty treatments nails eyebrows lashes and tanning every month probably around 300 a month
Botox every 4 months at 160

yesterday I had my Botox , today eyebrows shaped and tinted , eyelash infills and spray tan
tomorrow infill on my nails and full pedicure

clothes I go through stages but I’ve lost weight and none of my jeans fit me so I’ve spent a fair amount of money on new clothing and 2 amazing coats in the last month although I will mix /match with my old stuff that I can still wear

I like nice make up although I don’t wear a lot of it I do like nice perfume so I have my expensive stuff like coco by chanrll
angel and dark opium and then my cheaper ever day stuff which are dupes from places like Next & Aldi 😂

only thing I can do myself is my hair

however inside my house as soon as I’m home I take off my clothes and put my pjs / slouchy stuff on to relax in

Not much, I don't think it matters. I ould do with losing about 10kg which would make me healthier but also look better.

Hair, make-up, nails etc I never worry about. I don't think anyone looks better with make-up or coloured hair or notice or whatever. They look different but to ke that isn't automatically better. I think I look fine.

Not that much. I slob about at home, go to the shops in my tracksuit bottoms. Smart at work, scrub up well for a party, I am a silver glitterball always at a party.

I care about my weight but that’s mainly about health, although I like to look slim and toned and wouldn’t like to be overweight. I exercise to feel and look good. I wear a bit of makeup most days, but I’m happy to go out without it. I don’t do things like get my nails done, lash extensions etc and hate anything like facials. I like a natural look and think it looks good. I like how I look and I couldn’t be bothered to spend a lot of time on my appearance.

Yes this is pretty much how I feel. Why would my nails being a different colour make me look any ‘better’? Im happy with how I look, and I don’t particularly think any artificial enhancements would make me look any better. Just different. Maybe worse 🤷🏻‍♀️

I do. My hair is highlighted every 8 weeks, gel nails every 3 weeks, wax every few weeks. I love fashion so always wear 'on trend' clothes. I don't intermittent fasting and exercise 5 times a week to keep my figure.

I do a lot ! Looking after your appearance is important because it’s what people notice first—long before you’ve even had the chance to speak. Whether we like it or not, people do judge based on looks. It’s a natural part of forming first impressions, and those impressions can shape the way we’re treated or perceived.

That doesn’t mean maintaining your appearance has to involve excessive lashes or costly treatments. It’s about the basics: well-kept hair, clean nails, fresh teeth, and clean, polished shoes (!!!!). These small but meaningful details show effort, self-respect, and an attention to presentation that others pick up on.

A few years ago a friend talked about botox and I tried to explain why I never thought about it. I said if I could lose 3 stone I would buy some nice clothes and then I'd get nice shoes too, and I'd probably get my hair done more regularly. It would be fun to find my own style instead of just getting what fits. Maybe id go to a stylist and talk about colours that complement me. I'd experiment with make up then with my new knowledge and maybe upgrade my skin care routine. I'd start showing some skin for once so I might try fake tan or maybe exfoliate and use body lotion. I'd definitely pay more attention to body hair and maybe start seeing a beautician for waxing and other stuff. I'd get a pedicure for my toes because I'd be wearing nice sandals and skirts or cropped trousers in Summer so I'd start getting my hands done too with nice nails. When I've all that going I'd consider botox.

I thought about how ridiculous that statement is and realised there is no impediment to any of this. I've upped my game with most things. I lost 16 lbs but regained 6 but still I'm 10 down this year, in 4 years I could make it! I have forgiven myself for my failure to manage my weight and focused more on stress management, which really has always been the crux of the problem. I invested in better clothing and get my nails done regularly. I use eye cream. I still don't show skin but bought nicer Summer clothes and expensive swimwear. I'm still a big girl but I feel much more content in myself. I do want to be slimmer but I'm not a bad looking 40 something woman.

I care about my weight (currently dieting, 1st one down!) and have a particular "style" I like to get full make up on and look nice if I'm going out.

On the flip side it's all for me when I want to so a lot of the time I wander round looking like a hobo lol.

Today I have been cleaning my kitchen so am in trackies and a tshirt with my hair scraped back. I have been out to 2 shops twice looking like this and it's honestly don't care!

At work I will sometimes be smart and make up, hair done etc. other times I flares myself out of bed and roll into work looking like I've slept in a hedge.

I'm happy either way tbh.

Oh don’t get me wrong, I’m clean and neat, have good grooming habits (clean teeth, hair, nails etc). I exercise, wear factor 50 on my face all year round to protect my skin… I just don’t do any of the things that people typically consider to be a sign of ‘caring about my appearance’.

I always like to look fresh and well groomed. It's very rare you'll see me without simple make up on and a carefully chosen outfit. If I know I look a mess then I feel a mess and my mood is lower.

It's how I was brought up, my Mum always looked immaculate.

@magicalmrmistoffelees Absolutely, I feel the same! Although, I’ve already told my husband that when the time comes, I’ll be getting a facelift—graceful ageing just isn’t on my agenda, haha! 😂😂😂😂

You’re so right; some people assume that looking after your appearance automatically means investing in fillers, expensive lashes, or over-the-top nails. But what’s the point of all that if you’re lacking the basics? I often see women in my local Tesco who clearly spend a fortune on their looks but then turn up shopping in their PJs after 8 pm.

It’s not just about the money you spend—it’s about how you carry yourself. Showing up like that undermines all the effort they’ve put into their appearance and absolutely affects how others perceive them. Presentation is more than aesthetics :)

A lot. I have my hair coloured and extensions regularly maintained, Botox every 4 months, watch my weight, wear makeup a fair bit, nails done. In the past I’ve had my breasts done and a tummy tuck. I wouldn’t have anything that drastic done now though.

I like to look good but I don't think I'm overall vain. I wear a uniform for work so on days I'm not working I like to make an effort with my outfit etc. currently in between hair styles as growing out a pixie cut but still spend time to make it look as nice as I can. Not big on makeup but will wear some for special occasions.

Gym a couple of times a week when my shifts will let me fit it in. And good skin care.

I do care about my appearance, but not enough to do much about it clearly 😬
I will never exercise enough to Get rid of my jelly belly for instance. Though I have lost some weight recently to fit into my trousers, but then my boobs shrank, so I’m not sure if it was worth it. I was so chuffed to finally have boobs beyond an A-cup! Loved wearing dresses where I actually filled out the top.
My plan is to put that weight back on in a couple of years time when I can’t be arsed with fancy trousers anymore. I have started the transition to elasticated waists already.

Wear make up 3 times a year. Brush my hair on occasion. Try to not be a slob though, and use lotion and such on my face and body.
I’m 45, but petite and full of beans so usually people think I’m a lot younger. I do precisely nothing to achieve that, but am aware that my «looks» are not to everyones taste. My style is far from ‘well groomed’.

It dawned on me recently that if I had realised how attractive I was in my youth, I could possibly have handled my life a lot better. Meaning a realistic self esteem, rather than my total lack thereof.
Thankfully my self esteem did pick up in my thirties.

Based on this thread and also based on friends/acquaintances... I'm somewhere in the middle.

I work hard to stay a healthy weight (but only just - I am 5 ft 5 and 10.5 stone so healthy weight but only just! I care more about eating some nice food than being thin, so just within the healthy zone will do me fine. I do eat well though, and hardly drink alcohol.)

Get my hair cut and dyed every 6 weeks, and wear make up to work every day and when going out in the evening. I wear nice clothes to work and to go out in. I'm blessed with good skin so my skin care 'routine' is just Simple cleanser and basic moisturiser.

But I definitely have slobbing about clothes and wear them around the house, I have never done botox/fillers and never will, I never get my nails done or false eyelashes or false tan or anything like that. I feel like what I do already takes enough time/money and I'm not willing to give any more time, money or effort than that!

Quite a bit for sure. If I look good, I feel good - I do it for myself, I don’t really care what others think (my partner thinks I’m the sexiest woman on the planet regardless, he doesn’t care about make up or clothes). I wear make up most days for myself, generally it’s a bit more for work, less the rest of the time. Get my hair done, take care of my skin, do my nails. Love fashion and always take care over what I’m wearing - I love the process of choosing what to wear, fashion is fun.

I’m very clean and am slim, size 10, I rarely wear make up. I am not white and have an olive tone skin. I also don’t buy a lot of clothes but they are good quality as cheap quality fabrics don’t hang so well. Get my eyebrows plucked a couple of times a year. Just file my own nails. I actively dislike the over groomed look.

A bit. I have always been plump and as a teen in the 90s I always felt ugly because of that. So I did that thing where you don't care/make an effort.

But I am quite pretty and when I met now dh I made a bit more effort because he made me feel good about myself.

But I'm lazy too. My hair is tough to style so I don't bother. I was always quite good at make up but stopped when I had kids. I like soft comfy clothes and they don't always flatter etc.

That said, fat and genetics and a low key but regular skin care regime mean I am regularly complimented on my skin. I have invested in good purple shampoo/conditioner and my grey looks like highlights. I was chuffed to pieces last time I was on the Tube and this really funky 20 something g told me my hair was really cool.

So at 50 whilst still fat, when I make the effort I look as good as I ever have and I like it tbh.

I wear makeup every day for work but not necessarily if I am just nipping to the shop at the weekend.
I have my hair short and trimmed regularly, I box dye the greys away!
I epilate body hair so it is much finer with less regrowth, so I take about an hour every couple of weeks to do it.
I do nothing with my nails/eyebrows/eyelashes etc.
I have moisturised my face twice a day since I was thirteen.
I would say I care a moderate amount, I just do enough to be well presented when I need to be but I don't go overboard.
Oh, I am fat though so according to mn I don't give a shit!

I care a lot about my weight, as although i’m not exactly overweight, when I get to the top end of my weight range I feel so crap about myself and that brings my mood down. I lost 9lbs Sep-mid Nov and i’ve literally gained it all back. Going to try and be good the next few days then final blow out before diet starts on 28th. Going away for a couple of days mid Jan or i’d wait until 1st Jan.

I never do my eyebrows as I have a fringe which pretty much covers them, and I’m not someone who has nails or other beauty treatment done. But I do wear some basic make up every day. I am 48 next week and although I have limited wrinkles on my face, my neck is a different story. I don’t know if botox etc would even work there, but I am planning to ramp up skincare routine in new year and start back with strength training.

I used to care but then I had kids and didn’t have time to do my hair/ make up/shopping so went out looking scraggly and realised that no one gives a shit what I look like, everyone is in their own spotlight! More confident now than ever, even if I do look ugly!

There’s a difference between caring and actually having the spoons and executive function to take care of the endless cycle of grooming tasks. I would very much like to look better than I do.

The cost isn’t insignificant either.

I agree. The other thing that really matters is posture. So many women now have terrible posture. No amount of false nails and fake tan disguise that.
I wear make up if I am meeting anyone , going to the hairdresser or going out. Otherwise on a day to day basis I don’t. I get my hair cut once every six weeks, gave up colouring it in lockdown. I am overweight though and that’s ageing. I love clothes but if I am too fat to wear nice clothes I wear comfy stuff which isn’t flattering. Next year I am determined to lose it. I am lucky to have good skin and no wrinkles , though my neck is getting crepey.

I don’t think that fake tanned, false eyelashes
and trout pout look is at all attractive. Neither are salon talons. I file my own nails.

I take a lot of care in my appearance. I always wear nice clothing and do my hair and makeup every day. I’ve always been slim and have maintained my weight. I’m 69 and since I’m long past menopause I do need to exercise more and eat less to maintain my weight… I do weigh slightly more than I used to but only by 4lbs.

I enjoy looking good.