To ask what changes you can make to feel more beautiful?

[Happyland8]

I'm having a bit of an overhaul. I'm approaching 30 and Mum to 2 gorgeous girls (4 and almost 2). For the last 5 years (since first falling pregnant) life has revolved around the kids and I haven't given myself much of a second thought. Now that DD2 is coming out of the baby stage, I'd like to start making an effort with myself. I do wear a little make up and moisturise but I'm feeling a bit worse for wear and wondered what little things you all do that give you a bit of a confidence boost and make you feel at your best? Thanks

Very glad to hear you are doing something for you! We all often put everyone else first, unless reminded.

I’m not sure if you are doing an overhaul or want to do one thing a week, but I recommend:

1. exercise - the health benefits are well known, as are the weight loss or maintenance benefits. The posture, positive mood and confidence improvements are less discussed, but they are there. I’d do it first, to give you the encouragement to keep going with the rest of the changes.
2. one beauty appointment a week has someone else said above) = I rotate these, depending on what is needed that week (eg haircut is 6-8 week, eyelashes are 3 weeks): shellac nails/eyebrow wax/eyelashes/hair cut/massage/facial. My guiding rule is that it must look as natural as possible, so people don’t think “oh, she has fake eyelashes” they think, “oh, North Star has long lashes, I hadn’t noticed.
3. clothes overhaul - go through and try everything on. Get rid of what doesn’t fit, or what doesn’t suit your personal style anymore. Make a list of what you need to replace it with, and buy thoughtfully (not all at once, but stuff you love)
4. this might sounds patronising, but it’s not meant too....but read a newspaper a day, watch a news program once a day and read a book as often as you can (l’d say once a week, but with young kids, this is hard!). As we get older, being informed and able to hold your own in any conversation about current events etc is important.

Water
Pixi glow tonic
Highlights or balayage
Enough sleep
New glasses if you wear them
Groomed eyebrows
Hygienist for that lovely fresh teeth feeling
Nice brush walks enjoying the spring colours and fresh air etc
Getting dressed up for a date or night out with friends, in clothes that are completely child unfriendly and stainable but make you feel great

Exercise, sleep and moisturise.

I have started running regularly and it has made a big difference to my life.

Eating lots of fresh fruit and vegetables makes you look and feel better from the inside. DIY hair treatments and face masks. Keep on top of bikini lines, toenails etc, (I'm a nurse so fingernails short and naked!).

Exercise. Lift weights and sweat. It definitely helps your skin

Drink a lot of water. 3l a day makes a difference to how I look.

Get a proper nights sleep once a week if you can

Skin - I like The Body Shop's highlighting dome, it makes my skin look radiant and glowy.

Taking care of my weight, basically whether you're big or slim (or somewhere in between) try to make sure it's a weight you're pretty happy with over all

Colours! Check which colours suit your skin tone

Hair - try something a little different. Pref something that won't require hours of styling

Lots of good ideas above so I'll add a perfume that you love.

For me it's jo malone - lime, mandarin and basil for day; red roses for night!

I always smile before I look in a mirror - I look much nicer smiling, so if I have the smile in place when I first look at the mirror, I feel good about myself.

I find a bag over my head if I need to leave the house, otherwise wine.

Eyebrow microblading is the best thing since sliced bread if you ask me!

Gel nails on hands and feet always make me feel more groomed and I have them done on a regular basis. I also have my hair washed, blow dried and trimmed every 6 weeks. I also wear light make up daily but for a night out il do the full works with mink eye lashes. I find if I neglect myself I start feeling unhappy, I also exercise every week even it's just a really long fast paced walk with my toddler in his buggy. I'm in my early 40s now and this is prob the happiest I've been with myself since my 20s

I love having a bath every Monday evening; shower and wash my hair first, put a hair mask on, then get in bath and exfoliate, shave, moisturise, with a nice drink and something to watch on the ipad, heaven! Then quickly rinse out conditioner, tweeze of tash/tidy up eyebrows, give my feet a once over with a scholl express pedi thing and paint my toenails.

I'm a nurse so can't get my nails done , but make sure I use cuticle cream on them every evening, I love one by flexitol from boots, not the glammest looking one but gives great results on my battered hands!

I think having their eyebrows done always makes people look fresh faced, personally I love threading, only need to get it done every six months and tidy up in between.

Winged eyeliner definitely makes me feel more confident.

This thread has reminded me I need to sort out my hair cut/colour though! Off to look at ideas

I feel much the same OP.

Pedicures fortnightly and 6 weekly hair colour were my thing before kids. Now I just find it impossible to get any time to myself to do these. If I have a special occasion I'll get a blow dry and a spray tan and also whiten my teeth! I figure if I'm a bit fat and ageing hey at least I have great teeth!

Facial tanner, easy to use if in a moisturiser

Manicures to lengthen nail beds, have nails shaped short in "squoval" shape with a neutral glossy shade (gel)

Teeth whitening treatment

Regular hair cut and colour

Nice shoes & bag

Investment coat/jacket

Rest of clothes can be cheaper and more interchangeable

Subtle yet beautiful jewellery- pearl/diamond studs

No synthetic clothing, go for cotton, linen, wool, silk

Neutral colour palette of wardrobe

These ideas are great. We don't have a lot of spare money just now but so many of these are cheap/free. I do loads of walking so I'm outdoors a lot and I play an instrument (as suggested by someone) so I'll start taking more time to do that. I have a sensational kit so can do my own gel polish although I'm not as good as a nail technician. I love the Monday night bath idea someone suggested - a shower, wash hair, pop hair mask on, jump in the bath, exfoliate, shave, watch something on the iPad with a glass of wine. Might need to add that into my weekly routine thanks everyone, this has been really helpful.

upaladder

Matching underwear
A colourful lipstick

Hi @cheshiremama89 what teeth whitening system do you use?

Get a babyiliss big hair rotating brush as you can have salon looking hair every day. And if you want to make a long term investment - la Roche posay dry touch tinted factor 50 sun cream - like a B.B. cream so polished in seconds! And also get some low dose retinol from the ordinary. That and make sure everything you wear is clean ironed and mended including shoes as you will just look smarter! (V difficult with kids I know!) x

I've done the teeth whitening thing actually but I went with the crest 3D luxe professional effects strips as I can't afford going down the dentist route. Not everyone's cup of tea as they're illegal for over the counter sale in the UK due to the amount of peroxide in them, but I'm pleased with the results 

As far as makeup goes, applying foundation with a real techniques sponge has made a huge difference for me. Makes the skin look really glows and plump and is super quick and easy to do. Straightening/curling my hair always makes me feel better, I’m an evening showerer so I do it before I go to sleep.

Shaped eyebrows are definitely a good way to neaten up your appreance, it really goes change your face. Maybe some subtle high lights or a new haircut?

Find the best hairdresser around and get a simple, low-maintenance cut and bit of high/lowlights if wanted.
Shape your brows, not in slug fashion, but clean the strays and keep your natural shape.
No artificial nails [eeek], no fake tan.
Good shoes and natural fibres in clothes. Cut and quality always outweigh the 'trends'. Why would anyone want to look like hordes of others is beyond me anyway.

Exercise and eat well. Frame it to yourself that you're taking care of your body. It makes me feel more loved and confident to know I am caring for myself.

Same as pps a subtle fake tan (Dove's one is really lovely and moisturising)

Good skin care - acid peels now and then make you feel fresh and shiny.

SPF honestly I wish I hadn't spent last year with naked skin in the sun trying to look a bit more "healthy". Hello new wrinkles.

If you cba with doing your nails, a good buff and polish can make them look lovely clean and shiny.

A good hair mask - I like Lush R'n'B for my super dry hair

Nice undies and pyjamas

With everyone else on the eyebrows. Groomed and shaped eyebrows make the world of difference. I wake up 33 and leave the house 25

Yoga and meditation helps quiten my mind. Blow dried hair and a bit of make up takes 5 mins Max.

@Pikehau I too swear by crest strips, as long as you don't overuse and use a good toothpaste such as Sensodyne enamel protection you're fine x