What are your top tips for looking good?

[Pruni]

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Don't buy cheap clothes if you can afford not to. They soon look scruffy and washed out. I buy mainly from Next and their clothes really last and are not unreasonable - I always buy their three packs of tops etc.

I wash my hair every day and never go out without mascara and eyeliner on and usually foundation and lipstick too.

It makes me feel better to think I'm looking reasonable!! Of course if I lost 3 stone it would be even better but you can't have it all!!!

Be Nicole Kidman.

Be Nicole Kidman.

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French manicure, clean shoes, Clarins Flash Beauty Balm, Lancome Magnificils mascara, good spritz of eau de parfum. These make me feel good but I still have Bag Lady tendencies

Eeek, gggl, I am supposed to be ransacking my loft for that blasted sunshade - I am so sorry, I totally forgot. Do you still need it?

Reasonably plucked eyebrows.
Waxed legs.
Neatly trimmed fringe.

None of which I have at the moment. And I have to start going out in public again tomorrow when ds returns to school. Yikes!

Lots of sleep ( or as much as a Mum can get!!)
Lots of water
Ditto the hair and a little bit of make up, lippy always gives me a bit of life on the dull, washed out days i.e. every day

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dont scrimp on a decent haircut and colour - get the best you can afford

good shoes

cream blusher - to give the impression that you are alive

dont have kids! lol

I give up trying to look tidy now!!

Nonsense, You're a goddess Lippy!
I agree sleep, water, lipstick, mascara and brushed clean hair. I find something to look forward to is very good for lifting your general demeanour - either that or great shoes/bag.

Make sure your shoes are polished/clean. If you wear specs, clean those everyday too. Wear perfume.

Oh yes definitely the eyebrow thing! I love plucking my eyebrows and keeping them immaculate! Also agree on tidy, clean nails!

also, i would say dont just keep your nice clothes for good, wear them every day! dont keep best for best

that includes jewellery, shoes, bags, make up

its the same with good crystal glasses and crockery - i have my cup of tea out of my best china cup and my juice out of my good crystal - makes life a little bit better, if only a little

things are only material anyway

sunglasses and a great big trench coat

Shuuuuuuuush Welshie !!!
I also agree with the eyebrows, I get mine waxed.

nailpolish, definitely agree! I think (especially if you are a sahm) you should buy the best quality casual clothes you can afford. If you are going to be wearing them all the time you need them to do the job well (so long as they are machine washable and pref. tumble dry!). And I think a few well made costlier items of clothing last you better than loads of cheap stuff which a) don't last and b) don't flatter or look nice.

Oh god, I'm the wrong person to ask, I've been covered in snot and muck for about 2 years and had no sleep for much of that so am a raddled old haggard old bag. But in answer to the questions I'd say sleep, lots of water, being happy. And I agree about the haircut.

Super shoes & handbag make the difference for me - I'm also covered in food, snot etc. I try to wear mostly black so I can mix & match items when I need to change quick. Some days - loads of make up, chanel moisture cream and in the winter a coat that covers everything up are the only things that make me look human in the morning when I take dds to school.

Make-up (can't go downstairs without it, let alone leave the house), perfume, manicured nails, waxed eyebrows, false tan, regular haircuts, straightened hair, nice clothes and handbags, high heels, loads of water and exercise EVERY day. Doesn't necessarily make me look good, but at least it makes me feel good!

milward, dont you think black shows up snot and babysick more though?

mandm agree about the fake tan, gives you such a boost. went to a wedding last week, and not feeling my best just now what with new baby etc, so had a skoosh of the old st tropez and it did wonders for the self esteem