If you could give me one simple tip, what would it be? I'm a frumptastic disaster zone and I'm only 27 <weeps>

[KeepsAwayTheNargles]

Today I've booked to have my hair cut in a few weeks when I have money. Its currently long and frizzy and lifeless. I'm going to get A Product as well to make it all volumey.

I've accepted that I won't have the energy to lose the last stone I want to for a while and my clothes are ok - I just need to wear them and a bra instead of slobbing about all the time :(

My skin is dry and flaky so all makeup looks shit up close. My glasses, at least, are awesome.

If you could give me one simple tip to aid me on my way to fabulousness, what would it be?

I need to feel cool and sexy again, rather than this crappy tired lump! DS is ill and back to not sleeping so tiredness may have something to do with this breakdown...

Moisturise!

Why don't you wear a bra? Do you need an intervention to find the right size?

You have hit the nail on the head and answered your own question - you'll feel better if you put the effort in. You're worth it (as they say in L'oreal )

I do when I leave the house and they're proper fitting expensive ones from Bravissimo, but I work from home around my toddler and tend to end up with them off, meaning I spend too much time being comfy but slovenly

I think I'll make a list of a thing or 2 a week. And start using gradual tan all year instead of just summer (I'm a ghostie but always feel better when I use it!).

Oil or oil mixed into moisturiser. And slather

I have spurts where I put effort in but it falls by the wayside. I have issues with both vitamin d and iron and its a constant battle to have energy and these things have been bottom of the list for ages... But it just makes me feel worse in the long run.

Also I could get away with looking like a scruffy squirrel when I was

Don't worry, OP. I've got as far as putting the clothes near the ironing board...

I would actually try and work out WHY your skin is dry before piling products (even foodstuffs!) on it. (Be really careful about coconut oil, it can clog your pores). Have you any hormonal issues needing sorted? Or is it sun damage? Just as examples.

Another suggestion is to try cutting out all added sugars. You should quickly see a benefit in your skin and energy levels. Watch out overdoing it on the fruit sugars in smoothies etc too. Our bodies just don't need it.

If you can be arsed with tan, even gradual tanner, you're a better woman than me!

Its always fine in the summer, the second it starts getting cooler I goes flaky again - I haven't even turned the heating on yet so its not even that! I assume its because I naturally moisturise it in the summer with my sweat how delightful few moisturisers seem to touch it though.

Agree with eyebrows, good bra and Nip & Fab glycolic pads. Also some regular aerobic exercise. It will lift your mood and might help your skin.

I'll work on the sugar at a later stage, Spybot - I know you're right but I'll feel more up to tackling the sugar when I feel a bit more confident :)

I was in a similar rut to yourself op when I was a similar age. As I approach 30 I decided an overhaul was needed. I had my hair cut into a graduated bob, really easy to style everyday, lost a stone in weight and visited a make up counter for some advice. I now feel so much better. Its the little things like wearing lipstick everyday, having painted nails which makes me feel so much better. Sorry that is more than 1 simple tip!

I think you should GENTLY exfoliate before moisturising otherwise the moisture won't get thru. Despite their name, acid toners are more gentle than say, old fashioned scrubbing with apricot kernels! Nip & fab pads would be a good place to start as pp said.

What moisturiser(s) are you using/have you tried?

Get fresh air everyday, and eat lots of fresh fruit and veg and nuts

I may be wrong but my skin was always like yours- loads of dry patches which looked rubbish with make up once the weather turned colder. I thought I had bad skin but it turns out I just was neglecting it.
Get a "skin care routine". There are loads of threads on this on here. Pixi glow tonic has completely changed how I feel about my skin. But nip fab and other brands would work too ( I only use pixi glow as I got a sample in an advent calendar last year!). I no longer look all dry and flaky! My skin looks sooo much better.

(Plus eyebrows and decent bra and exercise if u can be bothered :) )

Take iron and vitamin supplements if you don't already. When my iron was low I felt absolutely shattered all day. That might help with your energy levels.

My tip is Keep It Simple.

Applies to everything g.

Plain colour clothes, simple cuts in classic shapes (3/4 length sleeves, a line shifts, look at classic style icons on Pinterest and look at classic shapes)

Make up

Bb cream, cream blusher, lipstick, lick of mascara

Hair

Simple cut, long bob, not over styled

Colours - stick to basic neutrals, navy, grey, black, whatever beige works for your skin colour and then add splashes of your favourite colours.

Jewellery

Invest in silver or gold fine but classic jewellery.

Nuxe skin and hair oil - huile prodigieuse . It is a great moisturiser and also tames frizzy hair - although an oil it does not make your hair look greasy. Also smells great. A little goes a long way. Sold at Marks and Spencers.

Ok. If you are comparing sweat to moisturiser and you are not wearing a bra, we are nowhere near ready for talking about eyebrows. We've got to go it right back to the basics! For starters, cleanse and moisturise in the morning and before bed every night and get a bra that fits.

I second keeping it simple. I'd ask for a low maintenance cut that doesn't need a lot of styling if you're pushed for time, or that you can still put up. Sometimes shorter styles are harder work.

burnished that was a joke see upthread I have good bras that fit, I just spend most of my time at home with them off.

I do wear make up most days, always if I'm leaving the house, and know what I'm doing with it. The skin underneath is an issue due to being lazy about skincare which is one of my first small changes! I also know what colours and clothes suit me and am happy with my jewellery etc so I'm not a total hopeless case!

I don't moisturise in the morning as then my makeup slides everywhere, do I just need to leave a longer gap between doing the 2 things or am I doing it wrong?

I recently upgraded from just face wipes to an oil based eye makeup remover and micellar water which was great for the week I used it, so I'll go back to that straight away. My moisturisers are the basic Nivea ones, Q10 I think. I like Lush ones but need something cheaper at the moment.

I felt a bit like you a year ago but have been taking steps to improve myself.

When I have my hair cut now I make my next appointment at the same time, otherwise I end up leaving it for months and months and look gradually less groomed.

Exercise more. It doesn't have to be at the gym but if you have chance to walk somewhere instead of driving then do it.

Lots of water.

Find the make up that is right for you. Moisturiser should help your skin but maybe you just haven't found the make up that looks right on you yet. On my being around the house days a little bit of pressed powder, concealer and mascara does me. If I'm looking extra ghostly I use a bit of rimmel bronzing powder with a big bronzing brush. It just gives that little glow without looking overly tanned.