Aged 31, I now I actually have some beauty secrets - what are yours?

[newbabyinthestow]

I have realised that I have a few great things I use and do that it has taken me ages to work out what works best. Just wondering if anyone else has a few of these to share? Here are mine, I'll pre-fix this with the fact that everyone's skin/hair etc is different, but these are a few basic things that really work for me and are simple and cheap.

1. FACE: Sebamed soap. I was taken in by the cleanse/tone/moisturiser thing until about 1999, and then I realised that they are just making you buy 3 products not one - clever business. I had some spots at the time and had previously had lovely clear skin so started a striped back regime to balance my skin and not overload it. I now religiously use simply this Sebamed balancing soap (I have combination skin/oily T-Zone), just wash it off with water and I don't moisturise at night as I find it makes my skin flare up. In the morning I wash with the soap and warm flannel and use Garnier Nutrinionalist moisturiser for combination skin (I used Chanel Hydramax for ages when I was feeling flush and this is actually better I think). In the day I add bare Minerals brightening primer to smooth everything, as a base, and then Neutrogena oil control make up - it has been discontinued in the UK so I get it when I go to America in any pharmacy or get my friend who lives there to send it - it is really quite cheap. That's my routine and my skin is really at it's best when I do this. It's fairly simple and cheap. I also swear by Benetint - it is the most lovely natural looking blush and damn stuff stays on all day. Good on lips too.

2. HAIR: I use GHD straighteners (best thing I ever brought, they have lasted over 10 years and still going strong!) to curl my hair, or at least put waves into it or else it is poker straight. I add a little spray dry shampoo to the roots to add volume and make it easier to style (particularly good if you are doing an up-do or more messy look) as my hair has a tendency to be to silky to really style easily. Add some Ellnett hairspray (quite good tip is to add it to your fingers and scrunch them into your roots for more volume) and I can usually make it do what I want (which is of course glamorous tumbling locks or ponytail with 60's volume or centre parted waves for a more understated but polished look!)

Ok, let me get this right. If you have oily skin, you use face oils ???

Also could someone reccomend a good but not too pricey primer please.

Its pricey but Eve Lom cleanser makes my skin look and feel fresh. Everything else us dependent on budget etc. What has probably made my skin look better than it ever has is anti biotics for acne which has cleared up my skin no end.
L'oreal shampoo (the dark blue one) for my scalp
Clinique superbalm for my lips-i don't have to reapply it so well worth the money imo

Nutcracker, exactly. Forget all the mattifying things and try. When I had very oily skin, I used Dr Hauschka special oily skin oli. With moderately oily, I now use Decleor ones.

My "top tip" is don't cut your fringe after 3 glasses of wine.

Before I had a baby I used to always go for the expensive branded stuff like lancome, bobbi brown, clinique. Then I went on maternity leave and living of SMP meant I had to lower my expenses so all of a sudden realised that a lot of No 7 stuff from boots is just as good!
Also love my ghd hair straightener
Neutrogena hand cream is the best
Plenty of sleep, no smoking and little alcohol
And exercise (not that I ever get the time..)
Estee Lauder eye liner (ok, some of the posh products have stayed)

Along the same lines as connie, my top tip is don't accidentally trim your eyelashes whilst trimming your fringe

The one thing I can't live without is my Clairsonic it's an amazing gadget, it's like and electric toothbrush for the face , it removes all the dirt away.

I've heard of the Tua Trend.. Is it any good?

Aromatherapy Associates Refining facial oil. I always used to get appalling spots around my mouth and jaw in the run up to ovulation and just before my period. Really hard, red lumps that lasted ages and scarred.

A drop twice a day just seems to have sorted it. I had a facial a few months ago and the therapist who had the same issue recommended it. I keep meaning to send her I still get the odd zit but much smaller and only last a day or two. My skin is better than it has been (when not on the pill ) since my teens.

Kerastase hair oil also amazing.

Some of this sounds like hard work.

My main two is that I eat well and except use regulary.

Other than that, I use a j&j face wipe to cleanse.
Make up is just some foundation, eye liner and eye shadow.

Have an indulgent bath every two days.

Laugh, and try to keep the stresses away.

Seems to work for me

• except use = exercise

I'm 37 and use soap and water on my face and moisturise before using bare minerals.

After having chicken pox last year that left nasty little scars on my legs I have started using baby oil on my arms and legs after showering.

I've never really been in to make up and always used soap and water only on my face.

It's worth a try before buying lots of products.

Laughing at angusandelspethsthistlewhistle's regime of fish or fish oil every day then she wonders why her legs have scales...

get botox

it's much better than you imagine

Well my top tip is eyebrows shaped and tinted or shaded in.
I joined the gym again about 4 years ago - so that means 4 times a week I get a shower without being yodelled for - now in the gym I exfoliate moisturise deep condition hair and dry and style hair ! If I shower at home I tend to flop into bed afterwards !!
I do mani pedi weekly ( home)

Daily I cleanse - usually wear some make up / tinted moisturiser and mascara

Nightly - moisturiser and eye cream

This week I used some fake tan and am loving the effect but not sure I ll maintain it all summer

Nail polish on toes, even in winter is like wearing really posh and rude underwear.

Moisturise the bod after every shower/bath.

If your skin has no real dryness probs, don't apply moisturiser before going to bed - it softens and stretches the skin.

Don't forget to apply sunscreen to the back of hands.

I use a philosophy cleanser and rinse off. Use Roc anti-wrinkle stuff ATM and my face looks fine.

I body brush a few times a week and use the darkGarnier Summer Body to disguise make my cellulite look better.
I do yoga 1 x weekly and feel it stretches bits of my 50 yr old musculature that otherwise goes unattended and do a "walk/run" for 30 mins, 4 x weekly.

However: Come the weekend, I eat too much, drink too much, have late nights and generally let it all go. Til Monday morning....

Stila the long coverage foundation it makes my skin look sooooooooo much better and lasts all day. The concealer in the top of the lid works well as well.

I have been taking Imedeen vitamin supplements since Christmas and they make a huge difference imo.
Also jumped on the Elemis Pro-collagen bandwagon and that has really changed the texture of my skin.
Also coconut oil for hair (overnight or 30mins before washing out)
Dry skin brushing

My favourite
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