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?!

DontCallMeCharlotte

I am without doubt the best turned out pony in this office.

I love this! 🏆 for you...(can’t believe there’s no rosette)

I have wild and woolly fine hair. I can look polished which takes a bit of time but don’t generally bother as mostly I just walk the dog and if I go to town it’s full of folk in jodphurs and mucky wellies.

Blimey Stopgap you deserved to look polished at all times with all that effort, time and money.

@MonkeyGoneToHeaven

Absolutely agree with you.

I think ultimately people should spend their disposable income on what makes them happy. For some that will be beauty treatments, for others something else.

Yes, it wouldn't make me look much better just upping my water intake! As I type this I'm getting ads at the side for manicures and waxes! Maybe they can see me!

It probably depends on your circles as well. I work from home now but even when I was in the office it was public sector and not really image conscious. My friends are all quite similar to me. So of the people I know the most they do is get hair/nails done occasionally. I have actually never met anyone who's had a cosmetic procedure of any kind (as far as I know anyway). I don't think I even know anyone who uses false eyelashes!

EeeSheWasThin

Thank you

I am very low maintenance. I dont wear makeup and just use dove to wash my face. I dont do nails or eyebrows. I wash my hair at night when ds10months is in bed and always get my clothes out the night before. I walk everywhere and i think it does me a world of good. A think a good coat makes you feel good and five or six decent outfits you feel comfortable in. In a lone parent of three so i thank my lucky stars im the way I am as i have little to no time for grooming and all my spare money goes on the children.

Quick hacks:

1 day a week dedicated to self-care really helps me.

Nails - I do my own gel nails. They last for 2 weeks.

Eyebrows - This has extended into moustache and chin but I do dedicate some time to this. It's only about £8 to get it done at the salon though.

Hair - use a leave in hair conditioner. Hair mask every month or two. Also hair shampoo is a life saver.

Skin wise - mine isn't perfect but it has really improved with healthy eating and exercise. Oh and water. I exfoliate every week and cleanse twice a day.

Eyelashes - I got mine permed and tinted. Amazing. You'd be surprised at the difference it makes. Don't need to put mascara on every day because they look lush.

Make up - less is more. BB cream. Eyebrows with a pencil. Mascara. Neutral colours. Bit of lip balm or gloss. Done.

Hair - messy bun with a few strands down can look effortless and classy. This is also my go to when I'm in a rush.

52 days of the year wasted. Why do women have to do this to themselves.

Honestly, I feel polished people usually look good until close up. Those who wear their natural looks with confidence, spend their time having fun or being outside or exercising rather than in front of a mirror, to me, look better. Even if they are a bit scruffier.

Other stuff that helps :

Dry shampoo
Paint your nails a neutral colour at night whilst mnetting / watching tv/ drinking non alcoholic wine
Pick clothes at night
Batch cook healthy food
Any socks I wear are not seen by the general public

Very funny post, MitziK

I always look polished. It has taken me years to figure out 1) How to do my hair nicely (in a fancy updo that actually doesn't take long at all- doesn't suit me down), 2) How to do nice 'natural' makeup, 3) What clothes really suit me and how to buy a capsule wardrobe so I always have something nice to wear, even if it's jeans, a jumper and flats. I'm still figuring stuff out, like what hair colours look good, and what skincare is best, and I have days where I don't feel my best, but I'm aware appear 'polished' to other people. For me it's borne from deep insecurity and looking like this is something I need to get through the day. I'm massively envious of my friends who I see as looking beautiful without the buffers, an who are happy to go out without makeup etc. I don't have that confidence. But, to answer your question, it takes time, money, and dedication to actually looking put together all the time. Figuring out how to do simple makeup and hairstyles that lasts the day. and finding a few outfits that suit you will really help though.

I have a friend that always looks put together. She's not the glam type, but even muddy from the garden she looks good.

She looked more put together when she was skinnier admittedly, but even at a 16 or thereabouts she looks polished.

At a guess: capsule wardrobe of good quality basics in colours that go.

Good quality boots/bag

Neat hair. Hers is a pixie style, greying but silvery

Good skin.

Basic make up

Neat nails. She has a gel lamp and does her own.

Carries herself well.

Sadly I think good genes help.

I look polished at work but it takes me about 45 minutes in the morning to achieve that - hair, makeup etc. I wear smart dresses because it's easier than top and bottom, but that does make me look quite 'dressy' I suppose!

I have two young children (1 and 3) but still manage the above, anyone can if they actually want to. It's not a problem if you don't though, I rarely bother on non-work days to be honest.

@mayandjuniper what is this up do please.

I try for the messy bun look and it never turns out well. Sick on pony tails for work now 😫

That is actually a really good point someone up thread said about carrying themselves well. Head up, good posture - dare I say it but a tiny bit of arrogance / confidence, and you will look instantly better.

No idea. Not possible for me, can’t afford it, haven’t had a hair cut in 18 months and I’m crap at doing make up 🤣

I am often told I look polished.

I am genetically blessed with thick long curly hair which I reward with good quality hair products. As you get older,shampoo and conditioner just isn't enough.

I use expensive skin products but any issues are covered with Benefit porefessional ( covers any shite) and Estee Lauder doublewear.

Clothes are very boring. Black, navy, blue, grey, white. Plus camel cashmere coat and beige mac.

Footwear very important indeed. Must be very well cared for. I wear boots in winter, loafers and pumps in spring and autumn, birkies for casual and ballet flats for work in summer. Gazelles for trainers.

Jewellery must be minimal. I prefer silver to gold.

Oh and yes, perfect SNS nails and salon eyebrows

Sorry - in the interest of full disclosure, I get shed loads of sleep. Minimum 8 hours, sometimes 10 or 12

@chesney I just pin it in to a half pony and then grab all the hair and twist it and tuck it under. Looks very elegant and takes me less than a minute!

I think it is about habits. I once had a boss who always looked immaculate. Polished didn’t begin to describe her. Beautifully dressed, bouncy blow dried hair, make up, etc. She didn’t meet the stereotypes, she was easily a size 16-18 and a single mum. But if you watched her (and I did, surreptitiously, to work out how the hell she was doing it) she had endless habits that contributed to her polished look. She wore similar dresses and shoes at all times, almost like a personal uniform of classic shapes and no experimenting with fashion. She always kept her make up simple but in a way that could be kept perfect (eg light make up so she just powdered her nose and touched up lipstick before going to meetings). She had lovely hair but always kept it in styles that didn’t need product so she could just run a quick brush through and freshen up. She always had hand cream on her desk and would apply while on the phone. She also filed her nails while on loooooong conference calls, etc (she would listen intently while doing so almost like a concentration aid).

Whenever anyone mentioned anything about it she would laugh and say she didn’t make an effort and I don’t think she did anything individually effortful, but the cumulative impact of all her little habits added up to a very polished and stylish look.

I love threads like this - it's a look I aspire to but don't quite carry off. I'm off to do some wardrobe decluttering!

I think it's all about good posture and confidence.

I love threads like this - it's a look I aspire to but don't quite carry off.
Im always reading these threads but in reality I find that look very boring and I prefer people to look a bit dishevelled and interesting. For example Charlotte v Carrie in SATC, Although Charlotte is polished Carrie's look wins every time for me.