How do you know how you really look?

[Smileypeeple]

OK, I'm no oil painting but I've always worked hard with what I have and thought I looked alright, ok maybe even occasionally pretty good.

I've now turned 40 had a short hair cut and am having crisis.

I feel like vie lost 'it' like I'm now a bit bleh and past it. Mum and dh saying all the right things, so I dontnknow if it's me worrying or if somethuings changed.

How do you ever really know??

I go through phases of looking ok/good (imo) and looking like a bag of spanners. I resemble the latter at the moment. Greasy hair, bags under eyes, lost my fashion mojo.

However, it coudl all turn around in the blink of an eye-if I buy something I love, or lose a couple of pounds, i'm right back up there with Helene Christiansen

Why not try putting a bit more slap on...or buying something to comppliment your new hair

Tonight dh saw Kylie on the 'One Show' (disclaimer - not our usual viewing habit) and asked:

How old is she now?

Same age as me (I replied)

Thought so, she looks the same as you (said he)

How I guffawed, I think he is after sexual favours

I look fractionally younger than my age but could do with losing muchos pounds in weight. Not all that bothered about how I look - face it, tis fleeting...we are all eventually going to hell in a hand cart in that department

yep- I see myself in photos and think "no way can I look like that!"

Jajas- thats Bette Midler, I know she's short but thats a bit mean

I think I may try more make up.

I'm just not sure if the hair cutbwas a huge mistaken nor not.

Ive gone short bob, but now I feel long hair= youth and beauty!!!!

I dont think the Boden ctaalogue is helping, they all have long hair!!

The truth is no one will ever tell you the truth.

Jajas, I was thinking the same!

About justin bieber I mean.

OP, post a recent photo and we'll tell you

I look older than Justin biebers mum.

Luckily i have no new hair photos or I would.

I once posted a picture of myself in a bikini for opinions.

I am needy.

i just go with ethe knoweledge i lok like shite.

if others are more impressed at my appearance than i am then thats a bonus.

oh i will tell the truth.

post a before and after and i;ll tell you if you look like a dog or not

I have no current photos but I'll describe and you can give me you're harshest opinions.

I'm 40, 5 ft 4 inches, weigh 9 1/2 stone, have biggish boobs, 32 F cup, no waist no hips no arse, flabby arms, short but muscular legs ( oh god this is worse than I though but all true), I have botox so no major wrinkles, pale pinkish but sliggtky blotchy skin, short chin lenghth bob with blonde highlights.

So, do I sound hideous?

you sound like a cross between Johnny Wilkinson and Barbera windsor. but i am sure that is not how you look.

go take a pic and show us.

Describing wont work. if i described myself i'd sound like giant haystacks in a wig but in reality i am frikkin gorgeous

Smiley it's how you FEEL notwhat thers think that matters...if you feel better with long hair then grow it. I had mine all chopped after I had DC1 and I instantly felt all "mumsy" ..now I have ridiculously long har again...I'm 38...I dont care if people think it's too old.

I pile it all up, I do a little beehive for going out...I have ponytail when I feel youthful (not often!) and I like that I can wear it up or down.

I want botox but am afraid! Does it hurt? Can you tell? As in...do the parts you have it stil move? I have a frown line and a cats bum line whichI hate..can they do thecats bum line with botox? Sory...it's about you I know but I dont know anyone who has Botox!

I shouldn't have asked.

I'm certainly not taking a picture now, right now I look like Reg from corry long ago, in a dressing gown. Any pics would have to be make up hair done and then if I still look like Johnny wliko in drag I have accpet the worst.

Botox is great, Ive only had the deep trench between my eye brows done as it made me look permanently angry. I've kept the soft horizontal frown lines and crows feet so I look natural and can still move forehead apart from getting vertical frown in the centre.

It doesn't make me look younger I don't think, just a bit fresher and less like I'm going to punch the wall.

It doesn't hurt, much, a few quick pricks is all.

Judas who are you?

I'm wearing thermal leggins, thermal socks, a vest and waterfall cardigan. It's not a good look, even I admit it. Hubby just cuddled me and told me he loves me.

Indiechick actually that sounds a good look, like a white stuff catalogue.

I'm wearing very old pyjamas from matalan which have lost their elastic and keep falling down, and my dh's dressing gown, now that's a bad look.

It doesn't actually matter what you look like, it's how you feel inside that counts.

I like the idea of looking less angry! I walked into the Disney shop the other day and the assistant (cast member) came rushing up to me and gasped "Are you alright!?"

Apparently I looked "really stressed and a bit angry" as though I had "been robbed or something"

Yeah I heard that.

Then Botox is your friend.

I know this because when I was 19 and looked amazing and was thin, I felt like shit and thought I was fat and ugly, and now I'm 35 and fat (not ugly I now realise) but older and not making as much effort, I feel a lot better about my appearance.