Help! How do you look so perfectly groomed?

[muchtooshy]

Well I have always been plain and never one of the pretty girls and it has turned into a bit of an excuse not to make an effort.

My "routine" is so basic that it can't be called a routine.

I need to make more of an effort but have limited time on a morning - maybe 20 minutes to get washed / dressed ect. I do shower on an evening so don't have to fit that in.

I just don't understand how some women are so glammed up - perfect skin, hair, make up, clothes, nails. How is it that someone can wear a t shirt and jeans and look better than I do in my attempt to be dolled up!

I don't have the finances to go and get my nails painted / hair done. I need clothes that suit me but again can't afford a great deal.

My work wardrobe is black trousers and a top and weekends is jeggings and a top ........ dull!! I am 29, 5'2 and about a size 16.

I don't even know what colours suit me as I am pale with mid/dark brown hair. Dark eyebrows too.

I think there must have been a secret class in school about all this that I missed. :(

I will join you on the unglamorous bench as I'm getting older I seem to need to make more effort to look anywhere near half decent!

I have nice clothes but don't wear most of them, for various reasons I keep telling myself but its just excuses really - some items I really love and don't want to wear them out, some things were expensive and I don't want them ruined by small children...etc etc, you get the picture. The only person in disadvantaging here is myself, cos I end up rushing a shower and throwing on jeans and plain t shirt! Whereas, if I take the time to choose an outfit, and style my hair a bit, some make up, it takes me aaaages and feels like a waste of an hour every day, no one to see it except small DCs, people in the supermarket and on the school run (not working atm) no point having nails done, I do too much with my hands to be able to keep them nice so for me that would be a total waste of money. The only thing I do insist on are eyebrow shaping and a hair trim at least every 8 weeks. I'd be a total mess without these!

It takes me 25 mins to shower, dry hair and apply makeup in the morning.
Always make sure clothes fit....too tight clothes don't look good. Keep it simple...I always wear a bracelet .
Look good for yourself, not other people.

So I don't have any answers for you, but you're not alone!

I'll follow this thread to see if anyone else has some suggestions for us. I know what I should do is really make more time to do stuff weekly - like, face mask, intensive conditioner on hair, epilate legs, file nails and tidy the cuticles, remove dry skin from feet, stuff like that. I suppose 15 mins a day would be enough to do those things, as long as I did something each day religiously. As I said I just don't seem to have the motivation to do it! Could you perhaps set yourself up a little routine to get things like that done?

(I wonder sometimes, if my mother's lack of interest in her appearance when I was growing up, has affected me. She desperately tried to impress upon me that women were beautiful as they are, didn't need make up, fancy clothes, styled hair etc, and weight wasn't important and I don't really agree actually, but it has left me with a lasting attitude of "cant be arsed"!)

I have been studying a woman on the school run who always looks good to see what she does. My conclusions are two-thirds depressing as there is nothing I can do about them:

• She is tall
• She has high cheek bones
• she concentrates on good shoes or boots and good jackets or outerwear (she wears one of those blanket things I look like a ninny in - I think because she is tall and I am not).

This last one I do much more now, when I can afford it.

Oh, and to DarylDD, I wouldn't blame you mother. My mother was actually stunningly beautiful, where I am not (although I was in her eyes): that also has left me with the feeling, 'can't be arsed!' Poor old mums can't win!

There are loads of things that you can do at home for little cash that can make a big difference. My top tips would be:

Iron your clothes - a t shirt that is ironed looks 100% better than one that has 'dried flat'. Keeping them clean goes without saying

If you can't afford to get your nails done keep them short and clean. A coat of clear varnish can be done easily at home.

Tinted moisturise, mascara and lip gloss are a minimum.

Eyebrows are really important keep them neat by lightly plucking at home.

If you dye your hair do it regularly. Roots do not look groomed.

margaritas I don't hold it against her, in a way I admire what she was trying to do (show me that looks aren't important, and we shouldn't change who we are for anyone) I always wished she was a feminine, well groomed stylish type of woman, but as you've pointed out maybe that wouldn't have made any difference either! no you're right, they cant win - its down to us really isn't it

A good coat, bag and boots - and sunglasses I often slob around in skinnies and a boring top at home but then to go out add my nice coat and boots and voila groomed. Plain colours and smart - motherhood doesn't mean parkas and UGGs unless you like parkas and UGGs.

Perhaps go through your wardrobe and be ruthless - chuck out anything you don't feel great in. Replace your jeggings with some good skinnies.

Find a low maintenance hairstyle, and a little makeup daily always makes me feel groomed.

I was like you until about a year ago. I'm still not great with the fashion side but I like to think I have the skin/makeup side sorted. Several times this week I got told my skin was 'glowing' or that I looked like I'd had someone professional do my makeup!

Here are my tips!

CHEAT! By doing the following about once a month or fortnightly, and getting someone to come to your house to do it to save you time

• eyebrows shaped and tinted about once a month
• eyelashes tinted about once a month
• acrylic nails fortnightly (I get natural nails done, you don't have to bother if you don't want to but it makes me feel glam)
• fake tan (I only do this for holidays but when I do people say I look really healthy. I opt for the lightest shade and it means I dont need to bother with makeup on top)

I would wash in the mornings. Showering then lying in a hot bed kind of defeats the purpose and IMO is noticeable the next day to people around you. Wash your hair twice weekly and condition.

Make up

• I find that more expensive products rather than supermarket/chemist products are more noticeable - go to a counter and get matched to a good foundation
• mineral products look better on my skin - I'm dark haired and very pale - I use bareminerals light - buy the get started kit
• always use primer before applying makeup - I use benefit porefectional
• watch youtube makeup videos for 5 or 10 minute make up application
• put makeup on at your desk or on your commute. I keep hand cream, nail varnish, a hair brush, lip gloss at my desk

Wear jewellery or a nice scarf - I get nice comments on my accessories

Wear heels - makes legs look longer and helps with appearing slimmer

Today I got lots of comments on my great skin. I am wearing:

• Benefit Porefessional primer
• clinique hide the blemish foundation
• bare minerals warmth all over
• bare minerals rarity red lipstick (doesn't seem to be available anymore)
• a very bling necklace
• pink jumper
• blue jeans
• curled my hair using babylis curl secret

oooh I completely forgot. I use bareminerals cleanser and moisturizer day and night and again this has really helped with blemishes and overall look of my skin.

I am like Dr Jekell and Mr Hyde Monday to Friday hair and make up done. Weekend nada unless we are heading out then dress up and full slap. I get my eyebrows and hair colour done regularly. Then make up takes 3 minutes of moisturise, foundation, blusher, eyes and lips. All done in the car because the light and mirror are fab. My clothes need a bit of work but I am losing weight so I am going to leave that for a few months.

Wear earrings. It avoids looking like you've just grabbed the first thing to hand.

I often wear my hair up and people comment that it looks very professional and groomed that way. In reality it's a tidier version of a messy bun - I gather all my hair on the top of my head like I would to put it on a high pony tail, then twist it around to a sort of loose bun with a hair tie, usually add another hair tie to tidy it up, and secure with about 6-8 bobby pins.

When you get used to your make up routine, it's quick to apply.
Mine takes 10 minutes tops, usually less. Foundation or BB cream, finishing powder, eyebrow pencil, two shades of eye shadow (usually a taupe all across the lid and a darker brown in the outer corner), blusher, mascara, lipstick.

I do my own nails, usually twice a week. With practice I get them done nearly perfectly most times - the biggest trick is to avoid getting the polish too close to your cuticles or the sides of your nails.