Very little time for self - what one thing would you do

[Blerg]

To make the most difference in appearance.

Toddler and baby that hates sleep, husband long hours, blah etc. What one thing makes the best change in appearance fast?! I'm on a slippery slope and have stopped conditioning hair, wearing makeup, ironing etc. I want to fight back a little...

Lipstick - especially red - that's all you need (plus clothes).

Getting my brows shaped always makes me feel good.

I do my cleanse, tone and moisturiser whilst DD is in the bath.

Clean hair, a bit of blusher, and a dab of tinted rose vaseline on lips. I look like shrek without those.

1. Hair (I fail at this)
2. Lipstick

Brows and eyelash tint. Then you get away with shadow concealor and lippy and there's really no make-up to take off

Extend to a bloody good coat and pair of boots and you will look a million dollars on the school run with your nightie underneath . I did this for the cold weather when dd was a baby and heard people say through cats bum lips "she's always immaculate ". Little did they know, just couldn't accept those impromtu coffees post drop off.

A decent haircut is the one thing that really makes a difference imo. I also feel much better when my nails are done (hands and feet) - not necessarily full on paint but at least filed and shaped with moisturised cuticles and a bit of a buff.

A shower, clean clothes and matching socks-if I get this I'm doing well

Brows, lick of mascara and at least a slither of foundation.

Realistically I like my black liquid eyeliner and blusher too but beggars can't be choosers.

And if you feel you need it, take power naps. You'll feel tons better. Difficult to master at first but great if you get the knack of it

A decent but low maintenance hairstyle. I've prioritised my hair above any other s&b type thing all my life and never regretted it. And sleep.

Blerg, if I could only choose one thing, it would be my skincare routine, to cleanse, tone and moisturise, with Liz Earle products.

Are you sure you can't condition your hair? I had a shower in seven minutes earlier and managed that plus combing through and shaving my arm pits! (I timed because was expecting delivery at 7pm! )

Hair is a must. Takes ages though.
Then mascara. Takes a minute.

Magicpaintbrush thanks for the tip re rosy Vaseline. Never noticed it before- it's now on my shopping list!

If you can give up an hour a month, I'd recommend eyelash extensions. Makes you look awake and feminine without the need for eye make up, the instant you wake up! The initial appointment is a little pricey as you're starting from scratch but in fills cost me £20 a go. Well worth it I think.

I've just discovered Clinique chubby sticks. They look like big crayons and make makeup sooo simple to apply. The lip and blush chubbies are amazing and can turn me from a grey toadlike mess to a 'no makeup-makeup' yummy mummy in about 2 minutes. Can't recommend them enough! And if you're really feeling fancy they also do eye shadow chubby sticks...

Hair - I can't go clothes shopping if my hairs not right, because nothing will be right. If my hairs good I could wear a bin liner and not really care, wrong and even Armarni won't cut the mustard.

I've just booked a brow and lash tint (both are v blonde; without makeup I look like a potato) so on holiday I can ditch the makeup bag.

OP maybe try 2-in-1 products? So a shampoo and conditioner in one, and that in-shower moisturiser stuff?

When DD was newborn I took to washing and drying hair in the evening's so it was ok for the day after. I would always condition it - will get very dry unless it's v short I would think.

I can whip make up on in a few mins if I have to. Wearing make up and hair done'ish make a huge difference to how I think I look. Some light foundation - whip it over face with a sponge/brush - bronzer dusted all over and some cream blush. Voila - human!. I was keeping my make up downstairs so that when she was entertained/napping for a few mins in the morning I could get it done.

Good luck - hope you find those precious 10 mins!

Thanks all! I think I need to focus on brows and hair. I let it dry naturally because it has a nice wave that way so minimal effort but the cut needs to be right.

I use to do the one thing a day thing, when mine were little.
When I showered I would do one thing each morning or evening. Shave, exfoliate, face mask, deep condition hair ect
It was the only way I could keep on top of things

If you truly don't have time to condition your hair (and, believe me, it feels like I went a year without a shower when ds was small!), then switch to a 2 in 1 shampoo /conditioner. The Dove one is really good.

I would always wear foundation and mascara. Only takes seconds to apply.

Definately shower- I'm too middle aged and hormonal ( hot flush menopausal) to get up and pull on clothes without a shower.

I do brush my teeth in the shower after breakfast though so that's a timesaver
And I apply conditioner half an hour before I wash then rinse it out and shampoo.

And water (to drink) if I get dehydrated I look and feel dog rough.

Keeping brows properly done helps so much. I advocate threading. It's so worth it.

Mascara and Hourglass Ambient Light palette powders applied liberally all over the face. I don't know how it works but it could make anyone look healthy and well rested. Seconding the rose tinted Vaseline as well.

Sunblock.

I bought a limited edition red tinted Vaseline lipbalm , still use it, probably a bit darker than the rose one.

What did you always do before you had DC? Do that.