Starting to look pretty shit

[givemeenergyplease]

Me, I am.

I’m 45, have a 5 year old and just recently I’ve started to get to the stage where I look not great and nothing helps. For example, before I could slap some tinted moisturiser on, mascara etc and look ok and quite presentable…recently, I have such puffy under eyes (no idea why 🤷🏻‍♀️) my skin is so dry…I even now use the big blue Nivea tin at night and it’s the only time my skin feels nice. My hair is dry and without that shine or gloss..used to like my long, dark hair. Now when I put even a light foundation on it almost looks worse and highlights any lines/creases. I want to feel and look good with a glow, what can I do? I know I don’t drink enough water, so I’m working hard on that (often have kidney stones, think it’s due to not drinking enough) I don’t drink much at all these days, maybe four times a year, if that. I haven’t smoked for years. I don’t work out as find it hard to find the time, take the dog for walks most days though, but I know that’s not enough. I live in a sunny place but wear sunglasses and full factor on my face, admittedly not daily, need to get better at this and not just do it when sunbathing.
Any help/tips? Anyone been the same and turned it around?
I realise it could be peri menopause, although don’t really have any of the other symptoms..always tired, but put that down the having a v active child!

@Redruby2020 Just realised you said veg. Bit more difficult to add this to breakfast. I guess you could have omelettes with mushroom, tomato, peppers etc.

Salads at lunch? Or with something l, whatever you have, at lunch.

Find a good facialist - micro needling, IPL, acid peels, light therapies should be on the cards

Botox / filler

Buy a facial toner - Facegym do a good one

Vit c in the morning - plus eye cream and then hyaluronic acid

Retinol at night - plus eye cream

Medik8 is a good brand for these products

Lots of water

Take a solid multi vit, plus some extra enzymes / antioxidants like coq10 ubiquinol, nac, gluthione

Quit alc and reduce sugar

Sweat through exercise / saunas

Hair - Olaplex is really great

Micro blading for eyebrows

The only thing that’s improved my face is scrubbing it & moisturising it twice daily, nothing else helps. It’s such a chore but it does make a difference some ijust suck it up!

I’ve only been doing it 2 months &1 of my friends asked if I’d had Botox so that tells you how awful it used to look!

*so

My hairdresser recommended Revlon UniqOne and it's made a real difference to my hair which had become really fine.

@StarDolphins What do you mean by scrubbing it?

It’s the big, puffy under eyes, not sure why I have this it looks terrible, how can I get rid of it 🤷🏻‍♀️

Same at 40, absolute best thing I've found is Garnier vitamin c serum with salicylic acid and niacidim (I think that's how it's spelt). Improved my skin so much my team at work have all bought it as my skin glows on our teams calls! It's £12

Also the sheamoisture range for hair is great. I'm def perimenopause and been prescribed hrt

I was looking in the mirror today before going to the shops, turned my head and saw a wattle stretching across my throat from beneath my chin. Pretty much am about to throw in the towel; there's no going back from that. (I'm 59.)

Have you had your thyroid checked?
i had puffy eyes - turns out it was thyroid related . Also had the thinning hair and dry skin and tiredness. I’d start there- if it’s not thyroid then everything everyone else has said.

43 soon, smiled when read your post because ive just put blue nivea cream on! I feel the same, also have a 5 year old and 3 year old. Two c-sections have made my stomach look dreadful, I don't seem to have any decent clothes, no idea what styles to go for, which flatter rather than make me look fatter. Superficial problems I know. Wanted you to know you are not alone. I'm trying simple things like cutting out sugar as much as possible and drinking more water and herbal tea, lots of moisturiser etc. My hair is different colours with grey coming through too but can't keep up with salon trips for highlights which I used to do pre kids. Spring is coming, hopefully that will make us feel better with brighter nights etc.

I use retinols twice a week and astral cream by the bucket load. After a certain age quantity matters! Light foundation with SPF, groomed eyebrows and strong coloured lipstick helps.

Eye massage when you put your products on makes a surprising difference. It helps to remove puffiness.

Start at the outside corners, run your fingers along your cheekbones, up the side of your nose and back along your eyebrows. Do it 10 times, morning and night.

As PP have said, look after the inside too. Lots of water, fewer carbs, less sugar and as little processed food as possible. Enjoy lots of different fruit and veg.

I was allergic to retinol, despite using it exactly in accordance with the instructions - so beware. I also think Olaplex hair stuff is a complete waste of money.

A good haircut always helps.

This is good advice
Retinol is great

I’m only in my 30s but unfortunately was a smoker and genetics aren’t on my side re. Skin ageing - sorry mother 🤣

I have been doing a lot of research. I am strongly considering fraxel. Apparently used by Karen Brady and she looks fab!

I am 42 and noticed this recently I cut back on alcohol, sugar and started walking much more. You don't drink alcohol but maybe have more water. I also then started making a very conscious effort to have a pamper bath twice a week. I do a full body exfoliation, shave my legs, use a facial scrub and a good face mask. I then slather my face except my eyes in sudocream that night (yes really). I also treated myself to some new anti ageing creams with retinol (boots have great offers on a Tues) and use them daily. My skin looks better and people have started commenting on it. I also feel better.

I'm 48 and look much younger than my years. I'm sure it's mostly genetics, but the one thing that always makes a visible difference is exercise. I always look much more youthful after going to the gym or doing sports.

Hi op, I’ve recently turned 50. I went to the hairdresser and had my hair lightened with olaplex, then had hair extensions. (Im naturally bark brunette but went a couple of shades lighter). I have lost a stone since end of dec last yr with intermittent fasting. I have my eyebrows micro bladed and always cleanse and moisturise my face. I wear minimal makeup- bit of tinted moisturiser, creme blusher, dark brown mascara and lip gloss.

im not kidding but in the last month I’ve never had so many compliments! People who would never normally speak to me in the workplace are suddenly talking to me, complimenting me. I feel great and look at least 10 years younger

good luck!

You have to accept you are getting older and change hair colour and make up. Women who try to still look the same age and do not change these things, look older.

Try not to look for flaws. Me and my friends actually joke that its great being in our 30’s/40’s as we dont care what anyone else thinks! We all get older, we’re just constantly fed so many images of plumped up, botoxed, perfect faces, we’ve forgotten what natural ageing is.

If you feel like you want to try some new products for you or are unsure what to use for your skin now, you could always book a make up trial at one of the counters so they could give you some make up/skincare tips.

I agree with the hyaluronic acid and retinol but haven't tried the oil. Can you recommend were to get it please?

I found that olives help my complexion, because of the healthy fats.

I eat about 300g salmon a week (3x smoked salmon on a bagel for me as I don't cook much- lighter soft cheese on the bagel and it doesn't deserve its bad rep) for the omega 3s which has helped my health in general.

Take a multivitamin and mineral supplement.

Make the effort to eat more protein and healthy fats (unless you eat loads of these already- I find my diet easily devolves into mostly carbs and an excess of those at the expense of other parts of the diet can be aging IMHO.)

Tretinoin (which I heard about on here) can help fine lines and brighten the complexion.

I had fillers as I really looked decrepit for my age.

Try and improve your sleep- sleep hygeine, getting to bed early etc.

@givemeenergyplease If you want make up that suits you better now you're a bit older, it might be worth booking a consultation of some kind, to give you ideas for new products/shades etc. If they recommend something out of your budget you can probably file the details of the shade etc and then get it in a more economical product.

I've recently started using a conditioner from the hairdresser to improve my hair. It's a Wella one at £5 a tub so not terrifying expensive. Might be worth checking with your hairdresser? I've certainly seen a difference.