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Style and beauty

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What's the best bit of style and beauty advice you've ever been given?

115 replies

FullFatGrump · 25/07/2016 13:46

Use hand cream, your hands will age a long time before your face

What's yours?

OP posts:
RabbitSaysWoof · 26/07/2016 14:31

Blotting for me is better than re powdering my oily skin during the day. I use red rizla papers, blot don't wipe.
I second the bra thing, it made such a difference to me to get a decent bra after having my child I felt less frumpy instantly.

Nabootique · 26/07/2016 15:26

hollinhurst84 Yes! That one has been a game changer for me. I used to blot and powder my face to death, and on reflection it was actually quite ageing on me.

LoreleiGilmoreIsMyBFF · 26/07/2016 18:29

Smile. Not always easy, I know, but as someone who suffers from terrible RBF, people always tell me I'm 'looking well' when I manage to stretch my lips over my teeth!

Pipkinhartley · 26/07/2016 21:16

Marriednotdead, absolutely for the skincare advice. I've been using Clinique, YSL and latterly Elemis and Decleor over the years. Certainly an early starter have had a regime since 20 and now 49 and hardly any wrinkles and smooth skin.
Body wise, well, I can do with some tips on that!
Dressing wise, I go for what I like! But am starting to settle for classics and have found that Boden is becoming ever more my friend.
Great advice on this thread, thanks!

SaltyGoodness · 26/07/2016 21:31

The founder of Cosmo (Helen Gurley Brown, in her seminal book ' Sex And The Single Girl', back in the 60s) said " never buy anything, not even a pocket handkerchief, unless you absolutely can't live without it ".

This.

IsItGinTimeYet · 26/07/2016 21:32

Lorelei having just googled RBF I am in knots. DH definitely has one too.

PoppyAmex · 26/07/2016 21:34

Buy skincare products you can afford to wear on your neck, decolletage and hands as well as your face.

Never regretted this.

whattheseithakasmean · 26/07/2016 21:41

Nothing tastes as good as thin feels. Not popular, but so true. I love being slim and lithe & looking good in clothes in my late 40s by eating small portions. No food is nice enough for me to be prepared to get fat for it.

Autumnchill · 26/07/2016 21:53

Going to a Redken boot camp and being shown to blast my hair to virtually dry before sectioning it off and blow drying it. I was sectioning from wet and it took forever! Altered my life and took 20 minutes off my hair drying process Smile

doing · 26/07/2016 22:03

The best anti ageing cream is sunblock.

Use an iron

Wear make up and visit a hairdresser regularly

LazyCake · 26/07/2016 22:14

Nothing tastes as good as thin feels. I love this one too, just have difficulty remembering it when temptation strikes!

Maverick66 · 26/07/2016 22:30

Wear sunscreen
You are never as fat as u think u are Wink

Hariasa · 26/07/2016 23:16

Stand up straight, smile and look people in the eye. Nothing is as attractive as self confidence.

CointreauVersial · 26/07/2016 23:51

Don't get too thin if you're over 40. Gaunt is never a good look.

Gingermum · 26/07/2016 23:59

A bit of cotton wool dipped in milk of magnesia (really!) will stop nose shine immediately. Lasts longer than powder too.

Take off your makeup with almond or coconut oil, and a clean washcloth wrung out in hot water. Cheap as chips. You'd think that oil + oily skin = Hello Zitty but my skin has never looked so good. In winter I also add a few drops of oil to my day cream.

The only cream that really makes a difference is Retin A which has to be prescribed by a doctor.

Don't forget your neck when you put on facecream.

Good foundation is worth spending some money on to get exactly the right shade and consistency.

MilesHuntsWig · 27/07/2016 00:08

Trills yes!!!!!! This was a revelation, that and embrace your curls.

RebelandaStunner · 27/07/2016 08:22

Look after your teeth.
Wear Factor 50 sunscreen.

Enjoywhoyouare2016 · 27/07/2016 11:39

Smile and stand up straight.

Ohchristmastreeohchristmastree · 27/07/2016 11:59

Vitamin c serum, SPF 50, Retina a skin care routine. Still working on it though, been building up retain a for a year, will add vitamin c serum once I'm adjusted to full strength retin a every night.

Laska5772 · 27/07/2016 12:48

Never put soap or use cleansers on your face... and neither wear foundation or make up . My grandmother -who still had fabulous skin in her 80s - said this to me when I was a teen. She washed her face with plain water only. !

I have followed this advice. (mainly through laziness I admit and apart from a little eye shadow and mascara in my teens, have used no other make up ever) .

Even if I do say so myself at 58 , I have fabulous skin. no wrinkles to speak of and clear ,..

These days I do sometimes ( occaisionally when I remember) put a bit of light moisturiser on though).

Look after your teeth
Use handcream ( oh yes,)

Toe nail varnish in the summer definately , I never paint my fingernails
.
Get a good haircut and keep it maintained . , currently pixie cut short. I do dye my hair though and have for years (its now white/blond, which suits my age)

Never be more than a stone overweight (cant say Ive always manged this , but have mostly been in 'normal' bmi.). but dont be too thin either., But definately after menopause , too thin is not a good look

The Best advice I never had was ..

Enjoy what you have! Looking back, Youll always look better in your young photgraphsh than you think you did . (i was actually quite good looking in my 20s , just never though I was!) .

It finally took me to mid 50s to think i'm ok..

Laska5772 · 27/07/2016 12:59

oh yes , dont buy cheap.. clothes or shoes.. buy less but more classic you can use as a basis over several seasons with changes to accessories . Buy the best shoes you can and get then reheeled regularly .. cheap is a false economy

(though two exceptions ive found are that H&M are about the best ive found for for basic scoop neck 3/4 sleeve tops , and the Tu range at sainsburys have some surprisingly good stuff in sometimes , which is as good quality just as well as Boden etc.

Cardigans , cashmere or lightweight cotton ... , are good! (not only can totally change an outfiit, but are essential especially as you hit menopause, now i know why the 'aunties' always used to wear them !)

JamieVardysParty · 27/07/2016 13:58

Match your foundation to your collar bone - means that you won't have a mismatch between face and body.

EmGee · 27/07/2016 14:02

My dad used to go on about how nicely groomed nails (filed and clean!) make a good impression.

My sister who is virtually no-maintenance in terms of beauty products/skin care, always files her nails and plucks her eyebrows every week without fail. She says it takes seconds because nothing ever gets out of control.

Daisygarden · 27/07/2016 15:34

EmGee - funnily enough, my dad used to say the same! He isn't exactly fashionable, and he's the opposite of a "ladie's man"... very much traditional. But he used to say, when going for an interview (for example) that you should be well presented from top to toe and that includes nice nails and clean shoes that aren't scuffed. They don't have to be fancy but they do have to be cared about.

Maybe it shows attention to detail that would transfer into your work ethic, and there's no job that wouldn't want attention to detail, no matter how small the detail is! Even apparently humble jobs have responsibilities and detail.

SteviebunsBottrittrundle · 27/07/2016 16:29

Dress for the figure you've got not the figure you want!

^^this!