I look horrific. please share easy cheats and sneaky corner-cutting to looking nice

[thatswhatimtalkingbout]

I need to lose about 3 stone. I also need to exercise, get more sleep, eat better, drink less, and get a decent hair cut, sort out some niggling long term health things, etc.

While I work on all this (or the bits I can do - I kind of can't see how to be much less knackered in the short / medium term) what can I do to fake it till I make it?

I have fair skin which looks grey at the moment; ginger hair; stocky / curvy size 14 (need to be a lot slimmer at my height and build); basically look baggy and grey and worn out. I don't know anything about make up but wear foundation, blusher and mascara at least every day. My glasses are old and probably don't suit me; I don't have time for a contact lens fitting. I am 42.

Please share your great cheats.

[MissScatterbrain]

Try a poppy red rather than a blue based red for lipsticks.

[motherinferior]

Sorry about the repetition!

Agree about poppy red. The new Revlon matte balms has a nice one.

[AngelaDaviesHair]

My redhead mother swears by Clinique dark brown mascara. Less harsh than black, much more flattering.

Ask an assistant re lipstick-they will often scrape a bit off a tester (low down where it hasn't been touched) and apply with a disposable applicator for you. On the posh counters anyway.

[MardyPants]

Try the makeup counters in Debenhams - they are really helpful and will spend ages helping you find what you want. I went once with a lip colour / texture in mind that didn't actually exist, me and the lady spent about an hour experimenting and eventually put a Dior gloss over a YSL lipstick to get the effect I was going for. She honestly couldn't have been any more patient or helpful.

(Showing myself to be slightly OBSESSED with lipstick with that story, I suspect)

[Soyoureallythinkso]

I tried the paint on tooth whitening stuff - dreadful! Looked like I had painted teeth with Tippex then half of it scratched off. Go and see your dentist re safe professional tooth whitening.

[thatswhatimtalkingbout]

dp likes the haircut too.
I always wear brown mascara in the day but have become lazy with putting the rest of the eye stuff on. it really makes a difference if you have piggy eyes like me. I wore contact lenses to get my hair cut (for good energy, also because I cannot see a thing otherwise without my glasses on and I can't oversee) and have been so happy with my face the rest of the day with full eye make up and no glasses. my eyes are REALLY green when I wear eye liner and mascara and no glasses.

I have a few pairs of disposables left and I need to get some more, I feel like a piece of obstructive scaffolding has been taken off my face.

It has really helped me, talking to you lot. i think just being taken seriously as much as anything. it makes me feel ok thinking about my looks a bit and making some changes.

so:

optician
keep drinking the water and stay off the booze
diet (I am sticking to my plan which is 5:2 with only wholefoods on the 5 days)
walking
posture
smiling
makeup
sleep (trying....)

now I need some kind of anti-boredom boost... something like an audio book for the walking?
a new thing.... something interesting
(this may not seem connected to looks but it is because slouching and overeating and overdrinking are directly related to boredom)

I cannot thank you lovely patient ladies enough while I am on here being so me, me, me. A few days have made a huge difference, with your encouragement xxx

[didireallysaythat]

Here's what I do when I'm not in love with myself.

1. For every cup of tea or coffee I drink I have a glass of water first. Sometimes I don't finish the coffee
   

1. I use brightening eye drops. Red eyes aren't a good look on me
   

1. Hair cut
   

1. Citrus based perfume - I can't help but feel positive if I smell like a grapefruit
   

1. I think about posture. Everyone has their own way but I think of my collar bone leading. So head up, shoulders down, tummy in, pelvic floor up, ham strings engaged. Makes me look thinner than my normal apelike posture.
   

1. Lip gloss and a smile.

[cerealqueen]

Omeaga 3 supplement, jojoba oil added to moisturiser (most like the skins's sebum, will not block pores)

Threading and tinting

Decent eyelash curler, if you dye your lashes too, no need for mascara

Lash growth serum - reap benefits over the summer

A great blusher applied with a proper brush

Jewellery you love is as good as make-up (I think)

A nice smile!

[PrivateBenjamin]

Go for the tint OP - honestly it will change your life! Well maybe not, but I have invisible eyebrows too and having them threaded and tinted has made me look a million times more awake and alive.

Warning: The first time you're tinted you will think you look like a Thunderbird and wonder why you allowed yourself to be talked into such folly. This will pass and then you will start to love them.

Good luck! You seem so much more upbeat than from the beginning of the thread.

[K8Middleton]

Yay to the hair!

PMSL at "look like a a Thunderbird"

Right, I am going to sort myself out now that the weather is improving and once I finish this work contract that is seeing me working at stupid o'clock.

[JohnCusacksWife]

didireally, what grapefruit flavoured perfume do you recommend? Always on the lookout for a good citrus perfume....

[AngelaDaviesHair]

L'Occitane do a good one; Clarins also but the nicest are the Guerlain Aqua Allegoria ones. They do Lemon Fresca, Limon Verde, Pamplelune (pink grapefruit), Orange Magnifica (not a typical citrus though), Mandarine-Basilic and probably more by now.

[ThatVikRinA22]

hair is the thing that either makes me feel "groomed" or not.
a good cut and colour is the thing i HAVE to have no matter what else.

glasses - get some trendy specs! go and try on loads. i recently got some big plastic brown frames - they look fab! in fact today my friend and i were in new look - she is 44, im 42, the assistant thought she was my mum!!!! (she was NOT pleased!!)

i paint my own nails - have them shortish and neutral colours. toe nails are always done at beauticians along with my facial and eye brow wax.
eyebrows are a must. wax. easy.

im a size 14. im 5ft 4. i used to weigh 7st 4 but im now a hefty 10st 10.....
i have great legs so i make the most of them with super skinny jeans, leggings or jumper dresses with tights and boots.
nothing fitted in the middle. and scarves. i am a convert to scarves.
also fake tan - st morritz is £2.99 from boyes or savers or most places and its the best self tan ive ever used - it beats fake bake and st tropez hands down.
i dont use it all the time but it really makes a difference when i do.

[Walnut8]

OP I'm so glad you are loving the contact lenses! .

And I really understand the boredom thing. Drinking vino is what I do when I'm bored! Would love to find a healthier solution too.

[Floisme]

I have thick, wavy hair and I think the style you have linked looks lovely but would be very high maintenance - sorry. The layers look very long and I've found that getting these just the right length for your hair is the key thing. A good hairdresser should be able to sort that for you.
Good luck.

[Floisme]

Oh sorry op I've just realised that the hairstyle link was two pages back and that the thread has moved on I also see my view was in a minority. I stand by what I said though: it looks lovely but I bet it would be high maintenance.

[LaTrucha]

Sorry to hijack but I can see lots of people recommending eyebrow tinting on here. Has anyone ever had a bad experience. The only time I have et anyone else do my eyebrows was a make up artist with a pencil at my wedding and I had to ask her to tone the colour down a lot. I'd like to not have to do it every morning but I am terrified of what might happen!

[thatswhatimtalkingbout]

Hi Floisme, I used to have much curlier hair and it seemed thicker and layers were a nightmare and I hated them. Now it is only wavy and not that thick they seem to work for me. I think a lot of what this is about is what suits you changes over time and I need an honest re-think.
So far the hair is working for me - second day, woo - but I need some product.
It's also about kids getting a bit older and not taking thepAthens of least resistance every single day. I know a lot of my friends got to this point a lot sooner but I am a feeb with very poor stamina.
I am too scared to do the eyebrows though

[thatswhatimtalkingbout]

Hi vicar, I am the opposite of you - terrible legs so I have to make the most of my top and waist. I bet your friend was gutted in new look!
I should do my nails. I have short stumpy hands thoughso have to be careful.

[MrsPennyapple]

Hi thatswhatimtalkingbout, I've been following your thread, and found it really motivating. I'm glad you're feeling better after the changes you've made :)

I am guilty of slouching too, I'm always surprised at how tall I feel when I actually stand up properly, plus I stop being flat-chested, and look a bit more in proportion.

[Floisme]

Op, if the hair is working for you then that's great. I had missed a page and thought you were still asking for opinions and it was just based on my own hair.

I'm with you on tinting eyebrows. I just brush a bit of mascara or eye shadow on mine - at least, if I overdo it, I can wash it off

[something2say]

Hair product.....frizz ease and potion 9. And then something was like to finish.

Glad you're feeling better!