To ask how some people always look so polished

[LMW1990]

I'm lucky if my socks match. I always have good intentions to get up early and do my hair but in reality it gets scraped back 2 seconds before I leave for work. I always look blotchy and cannot achieve the porcelain smooth look unless I have 20 million hours to do it. My nails are bitten. My eyebrows have their own personality.

How do people do it?!

I completely agree, I've actually spent all morning being annoyed about this! I constantly look awful, tired, scruffy etc... even when I make an effort I catch myself in the mirror half way through the day and I'm shocked at how awful I look!

I get jealous of people who seem to just look gorgeous and 'polished' when they are in a 'no effort' day!

Do you have a good skin care regime? Is your hair in good condition? If yes to both it's easy to get away with a slick of mascara and maybe some lipgloss. If not then it needs a bit more help with primers for the skin and product for the hair to keep it sleek and in place. :)

It takes time and effort. And money

To look polished I would need to lose about four stone.

I look better when I've a bit of make up on and I've done my hair. And with a bit of a heel so I'm not so chunky looking.

It takes time and effort. Not an enormous amount either. I do my own eyebrows, a weekly face mask, make sure I cleanse and moisturise every day and wear a tinted moisturiser, mascara, blusher and lip gloss every day, that takes a few minutes.

Years of practice and being a make up artist helped a lot!

Good clothes. I read on here it takes the same amount of time to put on well fitting well tailored clothes as it does to put on scruffy clothes. However, it does not take the same amount of time to shop for them!
Do as I say not as I do!

It’s like everything else . It takes effort

I feared it would take effort....

I get what you're saying about clothes but if I wear them whilst looking like I've been dragged through a hedge backwards, it looks worse than if I'm scruffy looking.

I wear makeup most days but it never looks polished. Sort of also dash. My skin is terribly dry and no matter what I do it never looks clear even when I have no spots.

I do my own eyebrows usually but they grow so fast I can't keep up.

My hair is fine thin but it can look nice when I have the time.

Ahhh time... that thing I had before becoming chief cook and bottle washer!

I always look after my skin and hair so that even if I just put a quick layer of foundation on and brush my hair, I look good. For me the effort is good water intake, good diet, good hair and skincare routine and using products and makeup that are gentle on my skin.
By putting the effort in, I can be showered, dressed, made up and hair done in half an hour. ( I put my clothes out the night before).

My hair is fine thin but it can look nice when I have the time.
My hair is fine too. A few rows of colour and length matched clip ins make a world of difference and are quick to put in once you get the hang of it.

I've tried to look after my skin. I moisturise etc but I still look really red and blotchy. I suffered with acne in my teens and I still have some scarring around my nose and on my chin. I know it looks worse to me but it's so disheartening.

Hair wise, I have tried supplements, extensions, half crowns etc but they all made it worse if anything. Extensions are visible and they rub away my hair. It's genetic though - not much I can too really.

It takes some effort and that means time.

I feel grubby.

I dont want to feel grubby.

I shower 1-2 times a day, due to my job. I wear clean clothes every day & deodrant. I still feel like shite.

LMW1990, try using a lactic acid like Good Genes by Sunday Riley underneath your moisturizer at night. Also, make sure to use an exfoliator at least 3 times a week and a mask once a week.

In regards to your hair, I'm sorry but I don't know. I just take the advice of my stylist.

Good luck!

I have really pale, blemished skin and find that the olay bb cream gives me a bit of a glow that makes me feel like I look a bit better. With a bit of mascara and some lip balm I feel presentable.

What is your hair texture like apart from fine? Mine is fine/thin and wavy, and I keep it really long, dry it straightish the night before and then just wear it down, brushed and a bit of soft wave from sleeping on it. With clean and non bag lady clothes, I reckon it all looks ok. And ok is enough!

Dont think it takes a lot of time? With practise i can now bang on a faceful of discreet makeup in 15mins. Primer, bb cream, natural eyeshadow, eyebrow pomade, mascara, highlighter, tiny bit of blusher.

I keep my eyebrows plucked little and often and just use a bit if tresemme get sleek to smooth and shine my hair before styling with a babyliss keratin shine, which takes no longer than a hairdryer.

Pro tip - if you have looong hair, be brave and get it cut more shoulderish length, mine always takes aaages when it gets too long.

Moisturise your face and hands and use lip balm

Dont smoke. Sleep.

I think most of us could look polished if we really wanted to, but it does take time, effort and money

Also clean, ironed clothes. Neat nails.

Time helps a lot. I'm a sahm. It's half term, I'm looking shit. I look far better when the DC are at school and I have time to do my hair, nails and make up.

Haircut every 6 weeks
Neat eyebrows
Always do nails and redo if chipped
Good quality clothes especially footwear and coats
Everything clean and ironed
I don’t wear make up or do anything other than wash n condition hair and comb through it in a morning
Tend to wear plain clothes that aren’t too fashion statement - but obviously that’s just my choice

I think people who always look polished don’t sweat a lot so their make up lasts longer, hair stays neater and their clothes don’t look wilted 😂

Eyebrows - get them threaded (costs between £3 - £10 near me). I think groomed eyebrows make such a difference to how someone looks.

It doesn’t have to take hours, some planning the night before to have a decent outfit put together including accessories helps. If your hair is cut in a low maintenance style, washing it the night before and then having less to style in the morning. I have a basic make up routine but always have concealer, tinted moisturiser/light foundation, blusher and mascara and a lipgloss or lipstick.
Nail maintenance and eyebrow shaping is basic but I try and keep on top of it and do a face mask at the weekends which dries whilst I sort washing or do some ironing etc. It doesn’t have to take hours of pampering!

It's all down to how much you actually care about looking polished. If you really care that much, you'll put in the time and effort. Whereas if you just vaguely think "Oh it would be kind of nice to look more polished", you won't actually bother to get up early enough or put a lot of effort in.

Personally I don't. Mostly because I cba. But also a little bit because I don't think 'caring more about what I look like' is actually a great aim.

All it takes is a good routine.

Good hair conditioner and regular cut for shiny hair
Good nights sleep
Nails trimmed and neat
avoid sagging grubby looking jeans at all cost, or skinny ones that are too tight
polished, clean and good quality shoes, low heels.
Neutral ironed, well chosen clothes
Expensive coat is well worth the money with a co-ordinated scarf and gloves.
A classic bag that is not scuffed and old or overfilled
Lip gloss, sun glasses and a puff of bronzer and you are good to go!