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 saw an older woman (75+ ish?) this morning in the pharmacy and we were chatting a bit while waiting for our scripts.

She just looked so polished! Her hair was in an immaculate updo and was in great condition. Lovely makeup, white linen shirt, simple gold earrings and two delicate gold bracelets. I didn’t want to look her up and down to see what was on the bottom half but I doubt it was shabby.

I really think jewellery can make or break a look. Too much or too heavy and clunky looks cheap IMO.

Day to day I look quite scruffy.

I walk everywhere so I need comfy shoes and warm clothing. I have a massive ugly rucksack because I need to carry all my stuff to work (laptop, shopping, swimming kit, book etc). And due to going swimming before work I always have slightly damp hair that I just tie up in a bun.

Life is too short to straighten your hair everyday. When I do make the effort I feel really great because it's relatively rare. If I did it every day it would just be "normal".

I work in a boutique gift shop frequented by people with money to burn. I’m supposed to look tailored and smart. I start out that way but usually by the time I get here I have makeup smudges, my hair has gone skewiff and my beautiful clothes have marks on.

I do t know how it happens. I think some people (me) just don’t have it in them to look polished.

There was a thread on here a while back called 'how to look expensive' or something that had some really good tips on looking polished.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/style_and_beauty/2537782-How-to-look-expensive

Voilà

I need to get up at half 5 on my dayshifts in order to wash, dry and style my hair. I have a chin length hair style so can't just tie it in a bobble and dry shampoo just makes my head so itchy and uncomfortable feeling.

I realised the majority of my time in the morning is taken up by my hair. I can shower in 5 minutes, do makeup in 15 and then 5 minutes for clothes on.

My solution is to cut my hair back into a pixie so it takes less time

Makeup wise I use products I know work for me for a super quick fresh look, I leave the new products for days when I have time to mess around. I try to be strict with my skincare and drink loads of water. I notice a difference if I skip the moisturiser etc

Can you not wash and dry your hair before bed then shower in the morning and straighten/tong your hair?

It's about preparation. If you wash and iron your work clothes at the weekend then they are ready to throw on every morning. Have a simple but effective skin, make up and hair routine.

I'm not ultra polished but I make an effort, I can be ready in 20 minutes every morning, as a pp said choose the right clothes and you will look and feel better. Try to get your dc to do as much as they can for themselves in the morning, depending on their ages. It's good for them to learn independence 😁

I'd rather look interesting than polished.

I disagree that it takes time, effort and money. Have a decent skin care routine, then in the morning, moisturise, put on tinted moisturiser or similar, put on some eyeliner, that takes less than a minute. Brush hair and pull back. Done.

@Namechangedbecauseiwantto

That works if you are naturally pretty with nice hair! For ugly people with crap hair like me it takes a bit more effort!

Haven’t RTFT, but I’d say it comes down to effort and if doing basic things like keeping hair/skin/nails clean and in good condition or clothes fresh ironed feels like just another chore on top of all the others.

That’s all down to the individual and what may be going on in their lives.

I used to make the effort but currently CBA.

Time, effort and some money. I like to look good because if I look a mess than it makes me feel a mess and fed up to boot. So I invest in a good hair cut and colour, have regular pedicures, and LVL lashes and teeth whitening too. I am religious about a simple but effective skincare regime and I've just started having baby Botox. I rub oil into my nails most nights and always use body lotion after showering. I love, love, love clothes and am an eBay junkie with wardrobes full of Joseph, Nicole Farhi, Toast, Sezane, Whistles, Brora but rarely pay more than £25 for an item.

I'd rather look interesting than polished.

Are the two mutually exclusive?

Usually they are, but not always.