Help! Your never-failed-yet quick boosts - I look a tired old frump

[Shootthetombliboos]

DH took pic of DCs sitting on my knee bcs they were being cute and showed it to me - and I nearly cried. Wd have done in fact if DCs not in the room.
I look old, tired and grim. Not helped by not having had a full nights sleep since the spring (thanks DD2) and being an older mum (41). Was reconciled to being an older mum but not an old granny.
With 2 under 3 I have been under the cosh, no time for skincare routines, leisurely baths, clothes shopping etc - and looking at the picture today it blooming well shows.
Obv need to rethink. How can I at least look like a member of the human race again? Or is it all a grisly slide down wards now? Depressed beyond words....

Exfoliation and moisturiser - if you have oily skin then olive oil and salt, dry delicate skin then sweet almond oil and ground almonds. Give your face a good scrub, then slather on lots of rich moisturiser - it gives you a nice smooth glowy skin to put all the makeup on top of and makes such a difference. Good luck!

thanks to this thread I have newly threaded eyebrows - lost 5 years in a lunch hour. :) OUCH it hurt though - making diary note to go again in a month (less painful if you get it done regularly)

Don't do it at the time of the month and pop a brufen an hour before hand!

ooh makecakes I have some almond oil and ground almonds hanging around - will try that out

HipHopOpotomus - will follow your example

Made DD2 sit on the floor while I started sorting my wardrobe. I am going to be a goddess by the end of the week at this rate - or at least will be thanking MNers for kick up backside....

argan oil for frizzy hair. I use a wee drop on newly washed hair and it's super soft and manageable. never frizzes out!

now I need to find a nice body moisturiser - don't like products with loads of chemicals but don't have loads of ££ either. Must check out Avalon Organics or something similar.

Decent hair cut (with or without colour as required)

Eyebrows

Regular exfoliation

Fake tan (no WAG look though.....)

Primer + tinted moisturiser to blot out the worst

Handcream (+ nails if you can do them, I am shit at doing my nails)

Eyelash tint.

I wish I did them all myself, but even if you can't manage them all, at least do the haircut.... it helps MASSIVELY.

Do makeup when dc eating breakfast. My older ones can see to themselves and I have the youngest in the highchair next to me. My routine takes less than 5 mins and I look transformed from sleep deprived potato face to semi decent human I use a primer 1st, seems to smooth my skin out a bit amd holds the make up on all day Then concealer under my eyes. I put blusher on next. Then mineral foundation over the top of everything. For me it makes the blusher look more natural than if I do blusher on top of foundation. Eyeliner, mascara and a bit of Vaseline on my lips. Put my earrings in.

I tie my hair up in a loose bun and then put a hairband in. YouTube is good for quick ways to do hair that look like you've taken the time to do more than just tie it back.

Nail polish done in the evening.

Eyebrows get a proper plucking once a week but check them when I go to the loo and keep on top of stragglers.

I second the nice scarf, especially if you stick to plain tops and jeans.

Pick an evening to try on different combinations of clothes. See what works together and put together a few outfits that you feel good in.

Put some music on in the morning, I let mine have the music channels once they're all ready for school, ages range from 1-14 so it's one that they all agree on, and strut your stuff for a bit. Even 5 minutes will cheer you up and I have the added bonus of embarrassing my teen with all my funky moves. We all enjoy it and It's a good way to bring some colour to your cheeks and gets rid of any horrible sluggish feeling in the morning.

I too had the photo revelation and it boosted me to do something about the baby weight I was still carrying 7 months later.

HipHop - Palmers cocoa butter. Very rich, comes scented or unscented - bloody bargainous buy.

Shoots - mix the two up so they're nice and gloopy, a texture you can scoop up with your fingers. Apply to dampish skin, rub in little circles from forehead down towards neck (can also be used on decolletage) rinse off with warm water, then a splash of cold. Pat dry and moisturise. You should look all sheeny and fresh faced straight away - I love it, though I use the salt and olive oil version because I'm a bit oily :) Loving my pregnancy skin, though, anyway - never had so few spots!

Thanks MakesCakes I will try some. I know DP will knick it though :)

I recommend superdrug vitamin e facial oil - put it on at night and wake up glowing! It is about £2.99.

Ladies

drumroll please

I am wearing tinted moisturiser and concealer for the SECOND day in a row.

think I look slightly better - meant poor DD2 stuck in bumbo screaming while I did it though....

more to the pont - how do you feel?

Blusher is good for cheering up a complexion, too. I love Benefit Dandelion because you can't overdose on it! No clown face effect.

No, I feel better. it's true. Not so likely to scare small children, and slightly more together - as in on top of things.

I am not claiming make-up and appearance is all important just that I feel more organised in myself by having some on. Does that make sense?

I have dandelion too!

I think feeling good about yourself is pretty important. I admire women who can do that without makeup - I always need a good dose of blusher and mascara to feel human! :)

And if you have dandelion by all means layer some on - it's magic stuff :)