How to be groomed?

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Basically I look like a scruff! I don't have any set routine so forget sometimes to do my eyebrows until the are hideous werewolflike messy and my nails are ignored. My skin is atrocious too. I just never seem to be able to look groomed and pretty!!

Do you have a daily / weekly / monthly grooming routine?

How much time do you spend on your looks?

I am thinking that professional help might be needed! Tempted by HD Brows but they would look wrong if the rest of me is well a mess.

I have just never been organised about all this beauty stuff. It is like everyone else was taken into a secret "how to be groomed" lesson that I missed out on. Come to think of it, I missed the "how to style your hair" and "how to dress so you don't look like you got dressed in the dark.... in your Nan's wardrobe" lessons too!

oh no she is very sweet, it was in a humerous way but she will be checking next time. I may make them extra shit on purpose to wind her up mwahaha. I have just done base, 1st, 2nd and top coat. they do look good.

I am a bit of a slob too.

I exfoliate with a mixture of sugar and basic moisturiser once a week and apply one of those sachet mud face masks. I try to use an Aussie 3 Minute Miracle sachet on my hair once a week to help my dry hair from bleaching too.

I take around 10 minutes with make up each day. Foundation on with a foundation brush, a little blush (or lipstick as blush), pressed powder with a huge fluffy brush buffed in, a slick of black liquid winged eyeliner, three coats of mascara and either a bright pink or red lip or a nude brown based lipstick.

I wear earrings every day. I don't know why but I feel they frame my face more whether my hair is up or down and make me feel more 'done'.

I'm lazy with nails. They need a chop and a file really but they're not too bad. I try to keep them polished and every day or two I paint over the chips and whip it all off and repaint once a week.

I'm up, dressed, cleansed, toned, moisturised, made-up, coiffured and looking like a more groomed version of me.

I love this thread!

Another lurker here. Very inspired by the thread and now have lovely, polished nails as opposed to my usual bitten low maintenance look. MsM you are brilliant! Didn't see the Guardian thread but they clearly weren't worthy of your expertise. Never has nails that didn't chip within 24 hours before!

I now know I need to make a bit more effort a bit more often. And here's why.

Got properly dolled up and did proper hair and make up and everything, went out on Saturday and a good friend said "oh my god I didn't recognise you".

So, from now on (don't set the bar too high....)

Shower every day do already
Wash face with proper cleanser in shower every morning
Wash and condition hair every three days
Exfoliate body twice a week and moisturise (unrealistic to say I'll do this every day)
Shave pits and legs twice a week.
Check eyebrows twice a week
Cleanse, tone and moisturise each night.
Use fake tan once a week in spring/summer
Straighten hair after every wash (every three days)
Wear make up every day - minimum of concealer, light foundation, mascara and lip gloss
Top up on the teeth whitening more often
Stop biting nails - start with OPI Nail envy and once have even nails, treat to manicure and polish
Feet - hard skin attack, moisturise more often, trim and tidy nails. Pedicure when move from shoes to sandals....

You gorgeous gurus, you've inspired me - please come and help me over here with clothes!

DH has just come in from work and handed me a Tesco carrier bag.

Inside? Two pots of BD primer and a palette of neutral/brown eyeshadows!

He remembered from last week that I wanted some and for the record, the palette is lovely!

Thanks MrsM.

Carpe - I'm very impressed! I'm dispatching DH to Tesco tomorrow for some BD primer. I think he has a 50/50 chance of getting the right thing...

Well, if mine found it... any DH can!

Ive been lurking on this thread since the beginning because I'm truly shameful in terms of grooming

My normal routine used to be shower, wash hair, barely dry it, get dressed and go. Since January (when I found a similar thread ) I have been:

Showering
Washing hair
Drying it and then finishing it off with my sparkly new babyliss big hair
Moisturising my face
Make up (foundation, eyelashes curled and mascara)
Perfume.

Since I've been lurking on this thread, I have upped my routine to this:

Shower
Wash hair
Exfoliate legs and arms with something from dove while conditioner is in
Rinse conditioner out
Moisturise legs and arms while still in bathroom
Rest as above.

I also have painted my nails a very pale pink and have started for inv myself to moisturise my hands every evening while watching the TV. I feel very grown up and glamorous!

I do have some questions though -

I have very pale olive skin and want to boost the colour. I don't want a spray fan or to use the sun bed and I also don't trust myself to apply self fan. Can anyone recommend a decent, cheap tinted moisturiser that I can buy from a supermarket? I live in the relative back of beyond and don't have easy access to much else.

I dont remove my make up before I go to bed I've seen the simple range recommended on here - should I start? I have very sensitive skin and have never used anything on it - rarely even soap. I've never had spots either, so I'm reluctant to start sticking chemicals on it. I realise this is silly as I have been caking my face in make up for the past month or so!

Sorry for the long post. I just really want to look like a grown up!

One final question - i have very dark hair and pale olive skin so I have a noticeable moustache. My mum had one too but she just had very fair skin and used Jolen to no ill effect. I use it too but it bleaches my skin too, faintly, can I ask what other people do? I really don't want to keep bleaching it!

Lol at all our dh's being packed off to Tesco for BD primer.

twllbach try Liz Earle. You can order by phone or online. Its very simple, only 3 things cleanse and polish, toner and moisturiser, and you can buy a tester kit of all 3 for £22 (which is what ive done to see how i get on with it). And if it doesnt agree with you they offer a full refund so its win/win. The whole set at full sizes is only £41 so its a good doo-able option for me.

Can anyone recommend a good all over body exfoliator that i can use once or twice a week? I think thats all im missing now in the godess ritual

What is DB primer....need some but what is the brand?

Oh I mean BD?

Our local VERY LARGE tesco is sold out of barbara daly primer and other skin care stuff. I blame you lot

Thanks moss I'll get to it tomorrow!

I am about to order the body scrub i am obsessed. Really want to order the february deal of full set for £41 but that would be naughty

But we don't have Barbara Daly primer here! How can I lay my hands on this wonder stuff?

Also, foundation. Who's got a favorite, can't live without it brand?

Exfoliator - I use those gloves that you get and just use my favourite shower gel; seems to work for me, but then I do have tough/dry skin.

Foundation - I use Bobbi Brown and wouldn't swap. I use both the foundation stick (for posh) and the liquid (no longer mixed in with my moisturiser! ) and both are great. Only now I'm beginning to experiment with levels of coverage - and with a foundation brush I can get it really sheer and light; just enough to make me look healthy with an even skin tone.

Now, can anyone recommend me brushes? I'm using boots own brand and it doesn't feel quite right - hairs keep falling out and they're quite synthetic. I did start a thread about it, but while I've ruled out the eBay brushes, I have no idea what to buy. I think I'd need foundation, blusher, concealer, eye shadow.

Oh no! I knew there was something I wanted to get in tesco....! Was there yesterday and forgot BD primer.
In fairness through I did have ds and dd 'helping' with the shopping
I think I need to get a new foundation. My LM tinted foundation is not doing me a whole lot of favours at the moment.
I love 'vanity' bronzing custard for fake tanning or the dove one with tan in it.

Loving this thread!

However i am a bit confused on the hair thing. my hair is fine and a bit flyaway so should i use the coconut oil everyday to help? If so where can i get it?

I always use conditioner but tried the 'Aussie 3 minute miracle' intensive thingymajig last night im very with my hair this morning!!.

barbara daly primer and goodbye yellow nail varnish out of stock at my tesco -anyone tried her brow set?

giraffe you are obviously meeting the wrong Mumsnetters - when I meet my lovely MNer we just have lunch and gossip the whole time

Coconuet oil! I had forgotten all about that, I used to use it back in the 80's before there was so much choice of conditioners. IIRC coconut oil is the main ingredients of that product sold on QVC - Ojon.

Do all 'Poundlands' stock these hair turbans of which you speak?

coconut obviously!

I have just ordered some giant velcro hair rollers -no I can't use Babyliss Big Hair, I think they might do the job just as well.