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?

I can look presentable when I need/want to. I try to start the day with an acceptable standard of hygiene while accepting that on a working day/night I'll likely end up wearing other people's blood and bodily fluids (healthcare, not a serial killer or anything) and on a non-working day I'll likely end up wearing mud or art materials from playing with DC.

I do care but my weight is very up and down. I've had a troublesome relationship with food all my life.
No matter what though, my make-up is on and hair nice. Smelling good, etc.

I do care, but not in a high maintenance way… I don’t think! I dye my hair as grey makes me look very old. I wear make up everyday, try and wear nice clothes and I do get Botox. I also keep slim, but I love sport so that’s a by product of that really.

on the Botox point, I realised more than facials, creams or getting my nails done (which I can’t be bothered with!), the thing that made me look SO much better was Botox. I pay more and go to a dentist, as they understand the face so well, I highly recommend it.

I care a lot and am actually quite vain. I'm absolutely fine with this- we all have our flaws and noone is perfect and looking good is something that is important to me because it makes me feel good.

That said, it's not the only thing I care about, I enjoy intellectual/mental and spiritual stimulation and have interests in those areas too. I think its all about balance.

Mega! Respect lady.

I don't put a huge amount of effort into my appearance per se - I rarely wear make up and when I do, it's very minimal, for example - but I do like to look well-presented.

I keep my nails short and natural, but they're filed and buffed. My hair is long and naturally curly, so doesn't take a huge amount of effort (just the right products!): it gets cut about twice a year and I stopped colouring it in my late 30s. Fortunately I inherited good skin and have a solid if fairly minimal skin care routine (serum, SPF and moisturiser).

I'm tall and more or less the right weight for my height and know what clothes shapes work for my body.

I do spend quite a lot of money on my clothes and keep them in good condition: even if I'm just in leggings and a fleece, they'll be in good nick, fit well and be in colours that suit me. If I'm a bit more dressed up, my clothes will be clean and pressed and my shoes polished and well-maintained.

I prefer to look 'tidy' rather than turned out, if that makes sense.

I care a lot about my appearance. I always have my hair and make up done, I have my hair cut and coloured every 8 weeks and nails done every 3 weeks. I watch my weight and don’t like putting a pound on, I exercise every day too. I get Botox and fillers as well as regular facials and have my eyebrows microbladed every year. I like stylish clothes and wouldn’t go out in public unless I felt polished. Some days I only see DH and the staff that work on the farm and always have my hair and make up done.

A lot, but it makes me happy. As soon as I stop caring, I know I'm in a bad place. I have episodes of depression and this is always one of the first signs.

Hmm, a fair amount I suppose. A daily skincare and make up routine. I dye and pluck my own brows. Wear flattering but practical clothing. Keep nails tidy but I don’t paint them. I do my hair, mostly daily or style it up nicely. Get a regular cut and used to get highlights but can’t be arsed with that anymore.

I wish I didn’t care. I grew up being praised for my looks and it now means I feel like I can’t let it slip.

Not enough to lose the 20kgs I’ve put on since I turned 40, but enough to get my hair done every 7 weeks to cover the greys and enough to wear makeup to work and even when I WFH as I do video calls every day.

i buy new clothes but don’t really feel good about it. See the first comment about the excess 20kgs to understand why.

I don’t get my nails done as it’s too expensive and time consuming and it destroys my nails. I don’t get false eyelashes as I did that once and I felt like they were scratching my eyeballs when I close my eyes.

I’ve had Botox twice but the last time was 2.5 years ago. They used too much and I had a headache for 3 days and my face felt totally frozen. This was done by a cosmetic dr, not cheap either.

I do have a good skincare routine because without it my skin is dry and flaky. I use moderately price La Roche Posay as it’s the only thing I’ve found that my skin tolerates.

I haven't worn make up (not even on nights out or to weddings) for 13 years. I don't like how it feels. I never learnt to do it properly so I can't do eyeliner or lipstick. Last went to the hairdresser in April. Buy clothes in charity shops, mostly live in jeans and those ubiquitous Seasalt or Boden stripy tops.

I like how I look. I have a genuine and ready smile and I look my age - maybe a few years older as I am getting a bit wrinkly (have a very expressive face). Learnt the other day that I have "Marionette lines" already even though I'm only 36.

Quite a lot

And I feel sad when I see women out who were obviously attractive once but have got married, had a few kids and just given up!
Why???
Why not have pride in your appearance, clothing, make up?

I wear make up daily
Botox
Fillers
Hair cut every 8 weeks

I've had a bit of a pendulum swing and have gone from not really caring beyond the bare minimum to caring quite a bit. I'm not sure which mindset is healthiest, tbh, and need to find a happy medium. I've been spending too much on makeup and skincare and need to cut down a bit and use up what I have. I aim for a natural but well-groomed look and wear tinted moisturiser, concealer, eyebrow gel and coloured lip gloss every day. I get my eyebrows done regularly and also clear builder gel on my nails. And I get my hair highlighted and cut regularly.

I have been undergoing treatment for rosacea which has made a huge difference to my skin and I've also had milia and other little blemishes on my face removed. I'm now seriously considering botox and will be starting on the retinol once my rosacea treatments finish.

I care but unfortunately it doesn't work out. I don't want to wear glasses but I have a contact lens intolerance and my prescription too high for any surgery. I don't have the time on a morning for make up but likewise when I do wear make up my eyes water and they are so sore. I wear the same shit clothes everyday because I am overweight and I tell myself I'll get nice clothes when I've lost weight. I've said the same for years. I'm taking Mounjaro now though so I'm hoping I can at least get some nice clothes for myself at some point and maybe dye my hair to cover the greys that are creeping into my hair.

I don't care enough to do much about it other than stay clean and tidy. I shower every day, wash and dry my hair every other day, wear deodorant and use face moisturiser. If I'm at work I'll wear mascara. I get my hair cut every 4 months or so, cheapest place I can find. I wear supermarket clothes for the most part, mainly leggings and a top. For work I shop at Next or M&S for trousers. I'm over weight and don't get enough sleep. Life is too short though to spend too much time, thought or energy and what you look like

One off:
Cosmetic dentistry (but natural looking as opposed to blinding white Hollywood smile)

Every 2 months:
Hair trimmed and coloured

Monthly:
BIAB nails (a necessity because my nails split right down the middle without this due to medication)
Pedicure (I can't reach my own feet following surgeries)
Leg & underarm waxing (I'm too unsteady to shave)
Lash & brow tint (as they're so fair as to be barely visible without it)

Daily:
I've got a basic skincare routine, my hair is always clean and usually blow dried, I wear jewellery and a tiny spritz of perfume, but I very rarely wear any makeup at all.

I like clothes but buy mostly second hand. My look is casual and a bit grungy but hopefully fairly put together.

Since my cancer diagnosis I actually make more effort than I used to as I'd hate to think anyone thought I looked ill - but I don't care enough to be arsed with putting make up on and taking it off again!

I'm not too worried about my appearance. I rarely wear make up and I never get my nails done. I wear smart ish clothes for work, but I'm not that keen on shopping so I have "a look" that I think suits me and I wear variations on that. I do like to make an effort for the occasional night out.

I feel very happy with my approach. I think it saves a lot of time, money and angst compared to someone who is really into their appearance. I realise some people enjoy it though.

I love the idea of it.

However, if I look in the mirror, I just feel crappy about myself, so I try not to think about it too much and stick to trying not to scare the horses or small children too much.

I don’t really give a shit, to be honest. As long as I’m clean and I smell nice I don’t think about it.

No makeup, went grey and didn’t worry, don’t have a skincare routine, only wear a bra when leaving the house, don’t shave my legs (I wear jeans so who’s going to see?) flat shoes only, comfortable clothes rather than fashion, no treatments or nails done or anything.

My one indulgence is perfume. I love to smell nice. Other than that, I just go for what’s easy and practical.

I don't - but when I do I feel real good abut myself