37 weeks pregnant - skin and hair hideous - help please.

[LilRedWG]

My skin has over the past few weeks become very, very, tired looking, greasy and dry at the same time, clogged pores, and loads of lines/wrinkles appearing.

My hair is a wreck - has grown loads but condition totally gone. I'm probably having a decent amount chopped off pre-birth, but it still needs some tlc.

Am despairing of looking like an old hag, which some may say I already am at 37. :(

Please help.

Is there anything that will make me feel even slightly better about myself at the moment? Just a slight improvement to my hair/skin would be good. :(

Don't have too much cut off your hair! Have friends who did this and regretted it later. Longer hair, if that's what you normally have, is easier to tie back and look half-decent on those many "I don't have time to wash it" days. Maybe the hairdresser can suggest a better cut?

If you can afford it, can you treat yourself to some new skincare? Go and have a facial and buy the goodies they recommend, will also help you to feel better in those early weeks. I bought myself some Guerlain Midnight Secret moisturiser and lots of Touche Eclat and Clarins Flash Balm, all recommended.

Failing that, a good home steam/exfoliate and a session with some pore strips might help? A bit of fake tan on your face? And get lots of naps now, before baby arrives!

Hope that helps x

Thank you, my hair will still be shoulder length, so long enough to tie up. :)

I do have a voucher for a local salon so may get myself booked in for a facial in next week or so, am just concerned I'll then get a huge breakout of spots afterwards, just in time for everyone to point cameras at me. I can't believe I'm being this vain, but I just want to feel nice, instead of fat, frumpy, ugly and yuck. :(

Awwww, you poor thing!

Make sure you keep a bit of make-up to hand before the photos. I was lucky with DD that she was born in July and I had a couple of weeks of sitting in the sun in the garden, which gave me a nice glow to offset the tiredness.

Have the facial ASAP so that your skin has time to settle before the big event? I don't know if it can be done in pregnancy, but have heard that microdermabrasion is a good quick fix. Never had it done myself so can't say for sure, but someone once told me that it's a good one to have a day or two before a big event, as it makes your skin look brighter.

This is a time to treat yourself. I also recommend a good pedicure and a bikini wax as you count down to the birth, both of which might be ignored by visitors but will make you feel better when in labour!

If all else fails, take heart that people will be expecting you to look a bit tired and will spend most of the time looking at the baby anyway. Don't forget to ban visitors on day 3 or so, when your chest will be full of milk and very very painful.

Honestly, you probably won't care what you look like anyway. I sat in my pyjamas with wet hair and no make up for family visits. Hate the photos that were taken of me, but I made sure I edited out the ones I really disliked from Facebook.

Sending you a hug x

A face mask at home twice a week might do the trick too. Try Vitamin B6 for the skin - 50 - 100 mgs a day - and make sure your diet has lots of fruits and veggies. Also a moisturising facial cleanser like Cetaphil instead of soap, and even though your skin is greasy right now, a mild facial moisturiser (look for non-comedogenic, maybe something in the Oil of Olay range) might really help. Your skin may be feeling dry and over compensating by pumping out oil. Hormones aren't helping of course.. Drink plenty of non-sugary fluids. Sugar doesn't do anything for skin unless you use it as a scrub.

Lots of water to drink and organic rosehip oil for moisturising the skin and argan oil for controlling the hair. Do some girly stuff you need the fix I remember feeling exactly the same. xx

Thanks guys. Am meant to be on bedrest at the moment so I don't think that's helping. It's hard to feel glam when you are stuck in bod or on the sofa all day. I'm booked in for a section so am counting down the days to that now. Waxing is sadly out, as I'm allergic, but I'll get DH to shave my legs tonight for me (ooo, the passion).

Will definitely have a soak in the bath tonight with candles and a face mask on. :)

Thank you again for the fab suggestions.