Calling all you fashionistas/style gurus! We need your style-and-beauty tips

[HelenMumsnet]

Hello.

We're thinking of doing an MN Guide to Style and Beauty - but we can't do it without you!

We'd love you to post bestest, wittiest, most practical style/hair/beauty tips, secrets, rules, dos and don'ts on this thread.

Obviously, we're thinking "this will make you look good in the 13 seconds you have between getting up and getting the kids up", rather than "this will make you look good but takes six hours and £3000 to achieve".

Right, over to you. And thank you!

Yes but I didn't know about Wallis then.

I can send it back. (rocks)

to think Cornsilk has lifestyle to match that dress.

Not really.
It's for Xmas parties. Not at all glam!

this was also purchased in one of the offices and is ver flattering to all and sundry (4 people tried it on)
dull perhaps?

Carry a small handbag mirror when you go clothes shopping to check your rear view in outfits. I keep meaning to do this and always forget

also good for checking for food in teeth and mascara globs.

And thats a nice dress ron

Good posture - back and shoulders straight - and a confident walk makes you feel and look more stylish.

Baby wipes are a good second if you have not the time or energy to wash your face of make-up. They even remove waterproof mascara dontcha no!

Hair conditioner used as shaving cream/foam is an effective and much cheaper alternative.

Do not wear leggings or character T Shirts.

Do not shop at Boden or Per Una.

Spend money on jeans, shoes and a decent coat. Buy cheaply and they will look crapola.

Super cheapy exfoliator - handful of sugar or salt, splash of olive oil, tea-tree or lavender essential oil to make it smell nice, mix, apply, scrub, rinse!

Invest in a swinky

Keep your 'rushed' makeup to neutral colours - random smears of turquoise and fuschia are never a good look but no-one notices if you're pinkish-brown eyeshadow is a little ragged round the edges, swipes of peach/pale dusky pink are much more subtle than swipes of orange and pinkish gloss doesn't need to be as neat at pillarbox red on your lips.

Get a one-stick-does-all like Nars multiple and do not leet it out of your sight.

Get good make-up brushes

*let it out of your sight.

• Invest in good quality, well cut basics which will act as a capsule wardrobe for you to accessorize

-Your local cobbler is your friend -Buy clothes that are your size, not the size you wish you were -Track suits should never be worn outside of the house (on the same theme, excercise clothing should only be worn in the gym) -the best accessory a woman can have is a good haircut -Hydration (internally and externally) is key

Steer clear of snoods, especially if you are over 40.

Love bright blue eyeshadow? Remember, less is more.

The best tip is boring but neccessary

Grooming

Make sure whatever you wear is iron to within an inch of it's life and shoes cleaned and most of all hair and face clean and shiney.

Then comes all the other stuff.

If you have a unibrow and no money, don't pluck for ages or thread for ££ - shave it. Actually most eyebrow shaping is v easy by razor, given a steady hand.

Rose vaseline on your lips (tip learned off here) = 5 years off your face for 60p, without the stickiness of lip gloss.

It is disappointingly easy to have much nicer feet. A very ordinary handheld hard skin removing stick, plus Dr Scholl Heel Repair Cream for dire cases, plus any old moisturiser, will do the job provided you actually do spend 45 seconds EVERY day doing it.

Cuticara Cucumber Miracle Moisturiser is wonderful and may be available from your local pharmacy at under £2.

a snood is only a scarf joined up shurely?

DO NOT BUY A SWINKY

but otherwise dont be scared of trying new things

youa re a mum
not brain dead

Swinkies are fabulous! As long as you get a discreet one. But don't get something which looks like it belongs one your DD.