Best S&B confidence boost ever?

[Callipo]

So have you found a magic product/experience/technique/shop/anything that has the power to make you feel fab? Maybe a haircut/underwear/having your colours done/personal shopper.. What's your secret? FWIW mine is underwired nursing bras .. but I'm hoping for plenty of non-lactating ideas!!

Callipo it was House of Colour, they are a bit caught in a time warp if truth be told but the theory stands up and Im more than delighted with how its turned out for me.

BalloonSlayer What is a 30 day shred?? I need to know about this!

Ask about being a dummy for House of Colour get a really low price but you come away knowing what you need to

Tinting eye lashes if you're blonde
getting a properly fitted bra

Eyebrows.

Blusher - can't believe I went so long without it.

Exercise - always makes you look radiant.

Getting your "colours done" - what does that mean?

30 day Shred for Toplistmaker.

Only 20 mins a day - but tough! Builds lean muscle so you tone whilst burning fat. Great addition to a running programme and will make a big difference if you stick with it. Just prepare to feel the burn!

Beauty and Misogyny by Sheila Jeffreys. Sorry but I'm not kidding - it changed the way I viewed beauty routines; previously although I've always had a fair degree of body confidence, I always felt vaguely guilty and inferior for not spending more time and effort on my appearance. Now I just feel great as I am

Nice underwired nursing bras - can someone point me that way please? Hate nursing bras and will be needing some within the next week for DC4. Loathed feeling damp and saggy all the times before...

Salvora Colour analysis

Another vote for Sheila Jeffreys' Beauty and Misogyny. Liberating stuff.

And Naomi Wolf's (before she went crap) The Beauty Myth.

couch to 5k has been my best confidence boost ever

I've not read Beauty and Misogyny, but am going to order it now

Ah, Rita Freedman's, "Beauty Bound" came out 20 years before Jeffrey's book (and 6 years before Wolf's,) explores similar themes and had a huge impact on me in my early 20's. I don't think I'd feel as content or happy in the way I am now had I not read it then.

I am quite partial to a full body massage at the end of an exhausting week as well.

I do all the usual ones, hair cuts, make up etc. But the best for me was given to me by an aunt of mine. I was 14 and we were going to a big party I really didn't want to go too. I just felt dreadful like you do at 14. She just looked at me and said very carefully that the secret was before you walked in was to take a massive deep breath. Then, as you enter exhale slowly and keeping your eye level at head height scan the entire room. People will look at you, and when they do, smile very slightly, then enter.

It has always provided me a moment of calm before the onslaught of polite chatter or a room full of intimidating thoughts. Not only that but the breath in improves your posture, sucks your tum in and your tits out. The scanning finds you a friendly face and shows you that every one else there is in the same boat. I can now walk in any room any place and do this without fail. Its a bit of an act I suppose but after 5mins the act becomes you, just that bit better 'you' that all your friends really like that can be so bloody hard to find at one of those situations.

Aside from the obvious lots of sleep and water (and citrus fruit for putting a real zing in my skin), its making sure i moisturise, having a half decent haircut and blow drying and making some effort with clothes and accepting that my body is as yet undiscovered as one of the major land masses of the Himalayas and just bloody well getting on with life anyway, and sod what anyone else thinks

Issynoko I had an Anita underwired nursing bra, it made a huge difference to the way I looked. I hated non wired nursing bras with a passion!!

Benefit High Beam and Posie Tint. Got both free with a magazine and I'm now a convert. Really updated my look and brightens my face in the morning. Going to try Benefit Moon Beam next.

Spending £80 on a really good cut and colour. Decent trousers. Heels.

another one for colour and style analysis. an incredibly well-spent £230 given what a life-changer it's been.

i feel like my 'best' nearly every day now and i actually enjoy the whole shopping/picking clothes/getting ready stuff now, when it had become yet another chore (of many, having 2 under 2 at the time).

i couldn't recommend it enough.

Oh yes another vote for Morrocon Oil -amazing stuff for my thick yet dryish hair
Liz Earle toner and moisturiser makes my skin glow and smells great!
Nutrient rich diet

Running

Woo hoo! I've started a discussion of the day!! Feel ludicrously proud! Bring it on ladies!!

congrats op

Another vote for uncovering the unrealistic expectations placed on women and not buying into it. That's a great confidence boost.

And I agree with those who've said running. Feeling the power of your own body.

I had my colours done about 20 years ago, and I was 'Spring.' Will I still be the same or will I have changed?