Confidence boosting tips and tricks

[heavenlydevils]

Hi,

After years of same hairstyle, same make up, same style, I have decided it's time for a change!

At the moment I do zero exercise and minimal beauty things (not because I don't need to but because I've gotten lazy and fallen out of routines!) I'm getting to an age where throwing on jeans and running a brush through my hair is portraying the scruffy cow image rather than that natural, fresh faced look!

So, before I embark on what feels like a massive change, has anyone any quick, easy and cheap confidence boosting tips? (I feel fantastic after having my eyebrows done for some reason!) My thinking is if I feel good about myself to start off with I'll be more inclined to try out new styles etc rather than sticking to old faithfuls!

Great nails always make me feel groomed.

I have gone cold turkey on having them professionally done as am using the ones to put towards a holiday. Mi am doing them myself at home but if I don't get the same results I will go back to having them done in a salon as they are one of the most confidence boosting beauty must haves for me.

Nails don't have too long or painted. Short but groomed nails that are near and tidy are lovely. Ragged and bitten nails are gross.

I carry a file at all times!

Buy some plain but lovely tops. Well fitted jeans with a black or navy cashmere (or merino) jumper will look smart rather than scruffy. Add a chunky necklace.

Agree with nails - I've just done mine in a dark sparkly OPI colour (Midnight in Moscow) and it's cheering me up, just watching my nails on the keyboard as I type. And hand cream. And Hydraluron gel under your moisturiser is amazing.

Also, if you're thinking about exercise programmes - and I can barely believe I am saying this - have a look at Couch to 5k. It's very easy to get going but the key thing is that you can really measure your progress, something I find I need at the start of any drastic overhaul. Even if you don't see an instant change in your body shape/weight, you're constantly aware that each week you can run further and further because each session is a little longer. I re-started about a month ago, and have gone from running 60 sec intervals to a full 20 minutes this week. Fitness aside, I feel quite proud of myself for getting this far, and it's having a nice knock-on effect on the rest of my attitude. If you have very solid floorboards, bulletproof knees, and you don't mind being yelled at, Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred has similarly quick results.

Nails I can do, they're okish, not long but not bitten/very short. May have them done professionally so I can see them in their loveliness and then keep on top of them myself.

What is the couch to 5k? Have thought about 30 day shred, have got as far as watching one of the sessions on youtube ...... That's it, that's how far I got ??. I will do it tomorrow, even if I only make it through the warm up I think getting started is the hardest part - serious case of lazyitis but once I start doing something I usually enjoy it.

Couch to 5k is a running programme that starts you off running for 60 seconds, walking for 90 seconds, running for 60, and so on, for just twenty minutes, and over nine weeks of every-other-day sessions, you build up to running for half an hour without stopping. You can download podcasts (the NHS does one, with a very nice lady called Laura encouraging you through the intervals) or apps that tell you when to stop/start running over your own music. It's all very gradual, so you're less likely to give up, but you really can see results. There are lots of friendly C25k threads - I loathe jogging and could never do it, but I've stuck to this! The key thing is that, like the Shred, it takes just half an hour, so once you get your trainers on, you know you literally will be back on the sofa/in the shower within the time it takes to watch Coronation St.

For your nails, I'd recommend getting some Nail Envy as a base coat and some Seche Vite topcoat. Expensive but it does transform a home manicure. I did this on Monday, and still no chips.

Hot cloth cleansing makes a big difference to your skin very quickly. I started it in May. The idea is you put a cleanser on your dry face, massage it in, then remove using a muslin or flannel that has been in hand hot water. Very quick, can use any sort of cleanser really, and makes your skin look great. Superdrug Vit E or Instant Radiance (I think - can never remember name) are good cheap starting products - about £5 but the range is on buy one get second half price at moment.

I'd then use a simple serum and moisturiser with SPF. Takes about 5 mins at start and end of each day and makes a noticeable difference quickly.