What cheap, quick things do you do for a boost?

[FeelMyAge]

After what seems like months of virus' and general life I'm beginning to feel a bit haggard and knackered.

Everyone around me seems to be bounding with energy, looking groomed and polished while I just throw any old thing on and feel like I'm dragging myself through the day. To them I probably look how they look to me, I just don't feel it!

So, what are your best cheap, quick fixes in this situation? Anything from a vitamin/super food to make up to clothes to a certain nail polish colour to a must have item of clothing (ok, so that's not going to be cheap but adding it to my NEED list and swooning over it will give me a boost!) I know I need to take better care of myself but for now I'm planning on faking it until I make it!

Hmmm good question.

There are lots of things. Painting my toenails a ridiculous colour in cold weather always gives me a boost when I look down at them in the shower (they are currently neon pink with pink and silver glitter).

Having a good nighttime skincare routine makes me wake up feeling pampered (for me currently coconut oil hot cleansing, a night serum and eye oil).

And outfits that are easy to throw on but look good, I'm working on this. I'm looking out for easy to wear (no iron!) everyday dresses that are flattering and pretty.

Toenails painted a bright colour
Eyebrows tidied

Toenails painted a bright colour
Eyebrows tidied

I like shaping and tinting my brows, exfoliating, manicure and pedicure and a decent cleanser and moisturiser.

Exfoliate your face..I have the Philips visa pure brush, it looks amazing afterwards.

Liz Earle skin brightening mask really works, you leave it on for a minute.

Face oil...Clarins is good.

These all make my face feel boosted.

I do the coconut oil hot cleansing too when I remember, must make an effort to actually do it every night because I agree it feels lovely when I'm doing it and I wake up the following morning looking like I've had a lot more sleep than I've really had!

Tend to only paint my toenails and usually in dark berry colours, tonight I plan to paint toenails a nice bright colour (will have to raid teenage dds bedroom for this so could end up any colour, wish me luck!) and I will also paint my fingernails but just with a neutral colour. I fear I may be committing some kind of sin here but it'll probably be cold tomorrow so only I'll know and I don't mind not matching!

Am with you on the outfits being a work in progress but tomorrow morning I will wear a nice top in a nice, uplifting summery colour - rather than berry or black!

Oooo more ideas that my slow replying made me miss!

Eyebrows are pretty good at the moment as I only got them done last week.

Exfoliating and moisturising properly is definitely going on my list for tonight. Have lots of lovely smelling body butters that I could do with using up.

My face ... hmmm where to start? Tell me more about face oils please! When do I use it, instead of night time moisturiser? How often? Will it make my dry, slightly crinkly skin look like it's 10 years younger?

I have 'beauty' baths every night when I'm feeling low. Loads of bubbles or a nice oil, and then I do a different pampering thing each night - face scrub or mask, shave all my bits, body scrub or brushing, foot scrub etc. Then slap on loads of body lotion afterwards.

I give myself a facial massage with oil every night. Currently using Trilogy rose hip il, but in the past have used a variety of oils including plain almond oil. I apply moisturiser and eye cream about half an hour later.

Manicure & pedicure instantly makes me feel more polished.

High dose evening primrose oil has definitely made my skin clearer. It took about 6 weeks to start working.

Sorting through your wardrobe, charity shopping or ebaying off all the crap and making a 'wish list' of clothes you need or would like is also very cathartic if you're feeling a bit crap, I find. Life is too short to wear clothes you hate or that make you feel bleurrrgh.

I love the idea of beauty baths! Before kids I used to do that but all in one go, took ages though. I have a bath every night as part of getting ready for bed, would be much easier to just do 1 thing each night than what I used to do.

So, short term (ie, tonight) I plan to:

1. Bath, shave and moisturise
2. Paint nails
3. Coconut oil hot cleanse face - will find a nice moisturiser lurking somewhere and take time to massage it in properly before bed.
4. Dig out evening primrose oil, leave by kettle so I remember to take them!
5. Get clothes out ready for tomorrow so I don't just open wardrobe and fling something on in the morning.

Long term:
Sort out clothes - a bit scared that I'll end up with 1 pair of jeans, 1 pair of trousers, 1 pair of shoes and 1 top whilst getting rid of the stuff I don't like anymore!

I culled about 3/4 of my wardrobe recently. It WAS scary, and I DID end up with very little left BUT it was worth it, honestly - just to see the back of all the ill fitting, cheap, shitty, horribly-coloured CRAP I had panic-bought and that didn't suit me.

Have you considered getting your 'colours done'? Don't laugh. It massively helped me get a clue when shopping for new clothes. I was inexplicably drawn to drab, muted browns and lots of black. I've now started building a wardrobe of clothes in colours that actually suit me (for me - lots of white, navy, dark grey and jewel colours)...its been revolutionary. I no longer feel stressed and clueless when shopping for clothes.

I have one of those fizzy vitamins like berraca (sp) but the boots own brand, it does give me a boost of energy a short while after taking it.
Also do night time skincare routine which is an effort at night, but worth it in morning.
Also giving myself a file and polish helps.

If I'm not feeling great, I'll do my nails.

I'll also make sure to do my makeup (wear a good base, a nice bright lipstick and mascara) and nice clothes.

Well, I've done everything on my earlier list. Didn't take long and I do feel quite good. If you see someone looking pretty pleased with themselves tomorrow, it's probably me

Will be buying some berocca tomorrow and add that into my mornings, could do with a bit of energy!

Have read about that colours thing lots on here, like the idea of having clothes that suit me and kind of match each other, I love navy and grey and think I suit red and white tops (who knows maybe it looks crap and I've deluded myself for years!) where do you get it done? Is it very expensive or can I do it myself?

Bath, sleep and a good book is what you need by the sounds of it. Try Berroca, don't be alarmed when your wee goes a luminous green. Avoid carbs for a while.

Sleep?
Fresh air?
Gentle exercise class (Pilates/Tai-Chi etc)?
New Chanel Lipstick?

(But not necessarily in that order ).

Iron tablet. Changed my life and am totally evangelical about them. I too was dragging myself through the day and felt like shit always. 2 weeks on iron and I'm a new woman and a much better mum.

New lipstick
Putting on make up in the morning
Wearing nice jewelry

Def nails for me, always makes me feel more "done" and together.
Tightlining too

I make sure to rotate and wear my jewellery, make sure my eyebrows are neat.

Also like doing facials and sitting down with a nice cup of tea, always makes me feel rested and groomed at the same time

Olay everyday sunshine moisturiser on my face, and glossy painted nails (fingers and toes).
Drinking peppermint tea rather than endless coffees.

Mow - good idea ! How do you do facial at home please ? ??

I have a lovely pampering day. Shower, face pack, nails, drink water. Next day i wear something nice.

Definitely B vitamins, I get halfway through the day and wonder how I feel so lacklustre, then I realise I've forgotten to take them! They are in the berocca I think so that will work too.

At the moment I'm trying to bring myself up to scratch by wearing at least one accessory a day - necklace, bracelet, scarf, sunglasses...whatever, its a change for me anyhow. Just one extra little thing, a step up from normal if you like.

Nails done neatly does make a difference, I'm not so bothered about toenails as I don't often see them but in sandal weather I like to have my feet looking nice too - rough skin removed, moisturiser and nails painted.

Blow drying my hair after washing it, and nice perfume also make me feel good about myself.

And nothing, none of those things above, makes me feel better than a good nights sleep. It really is unbeatable. I find to get the benefit of it I need to sleep more like 10:30pm - 7am, rather than midnight - say, 8am. That extra bit before midnight really makes a difference for me, but you'll know your own sleep pattern I expect.

Ooh and i love a nice perfume!! especially a new one :)

Oh yeah drinking different green tea def makes me feel like I'm going something healthy not sure about how it makes me feel overall though

I just do simple facials at home:
cleanse with a lovely smelling cleansing balm
I use an acid toner next rather than a scrub to get rid of dead skin cells ready for next steps
First clay mask
Second moisturising mask
Hydrating toner or a facial spritz
Facial massage (YouTube this) with a facial oil

I do notice a difference after doing a facial I try and do them twice a week, sometimes while getting other stuff done like waxing or plucking brows

Salon manicure and pedicure always cheer me up
And slathering a moisturising mask on my face