Magic products for a lift!

[lanouvelleheloise]

I am bridesmaid to a mate at the end of the month - proper, full on classy do at posh places. And I am a mess. I'm overweight, untoned, pasty and my hair and skin and nails are a right mess.

The last time I really took care of myself was in the run-up to my own wedding. Which got cancelled in a totally humiliating way. I think this is partly why I have avoided doing anything since. But I have just had a moment of "Well, dammit, maybe it's time to stop grieving about that and make a bloody effort to like myself again".

Obviously, this is a longer term project. But maybe I can kickstart it in time to feel slightly less awful for this wedding? What can I do in such a short time?

Oh, and for those of you who helped me with my dress enquiry a couple of weeks back - I got a black pencil dress from Ted Baker and some really bright shoes and matching fascinator to jazz it up. Worn with control underwear, I actually felt almost glamorous. I think it made me feel good enough to want to make a bit more of an effort. So thank you.

So sorry to hear about your wedding. Your dress sounds lovely.

You could start by upping your water intake. This advice gets wheeled out all the time because it works. It will help your skin and in a strange way lifts the mood too.

Do you exercise? If not, try adding 20-30 minute work out for at least 3 times a week, if you can manage daily even better. You could go on You Tube to find Pilates videos to tone up or you could try Jillian Michaels 30 Day shred Level 1. Or at least walk every day, walk very fast.:-)

Body brushing in the morning before shower will help to tone up your skin and will wake you up. Use a body lotion or oil as soon as you get out of the shower. When your skin is slightly damp, it will absorb very quickly. Dove and Nivea do good toning body lotions.

Body Shop has a good body brush. Here is how to do it goop.com/how-to-dry-brush-and-why-its-so-potent/

For your face, in addition to cleansing and moisturising, use a cleansing mask and follow up with hydrating mask at least twice a week. If I have an event to go to where I need to look good, I use the hydrating mask every day 4-5 days before the event to plump up my skin. I apply it first thing in the morning, brush my teeth, have a shower, rinse it off.
I like this
www.lookfantastic.com/vichy-pore-purifying-clay-mask-75ml/11318434.html
and this
www.lookfantastic.com/la-roche-posay-hydraphase-intense-masque-50ml/11091834.html

For your hair, use a hair mask 1-2 a week to improve the condition and get a trim or a cut. Currently I am using this mask and my hair is soft and shiny. My hair is curly and dry so if yours isn't, check out the rest of the range. They have masks for different types.

www.boots.com/Loréal-botanicals-safflower-rich-infusion-masque-10225842

Hands and nails. You could by almond oil in Holland and Barret and massage it in your cuticles and nails every night, then apply a thick layer of hand cream just before you go to sleep.

www.lookfantastic.com/hand-chemistry-extreme-hydration-complex-100ml/10985288.html

or this if on budget

www.boots.com/nivea-q10-plus-age-defying-hand-cream-30ml-10114310

Can you book yourself for a manicure and pedicure before the wedding?

If you don't have time, budget or inclination to do all of the above, I would pick drinking lots of water, walking and dry body brushing above all. It will make you feel good and if you feel good and confident. Good luck!

Wow, violet, that is AMAZING advice, thank you so much!!

I am going to try to do everything you suggest.

Dry brushing is something I've never done, am about to order the brush - is it the cactus long handled one? Also, I read the Goop! instructions and it said to use oil with it. Do you have one you would recommend? I have really dry skin that is incredibly thirsty.

I always recommend a nice bright lipstick as they always brighten my mood and always make me happy! I'm currently obsessed with the Marc Jacobs Le Marc Lip Creams they are semi Matt and the packaging will make you feel like a million dollars when you reapply!

How do I choose a good shade? I've been trying to find a really bright red lipstick for ages, but every time I get one, it's either too pink or too orange on me when I get home. I am hopeless at doing that thing of judging how they look on my hand! Maybe I should brave the makeup counter?

What ms your skin tone? Are you warm or cool? Do you blush easily?

Sorry posted too soon, hair colour? Eye colour? What colour clothes suit you?

lanouvelleheloise I use the short handled one from Body Shop . The cactus one would be fine, it's a personal preference. I prefer a shorter handle.

www.thebodyshop.com/en-gb/body/view-all/round-body-brush/p/p000058

I don't use oil during the brushing. I dry brush, have a shower and then apply lotion or oil. If you decide to buy almond oil for your nails, get a big bottle and use it on your body after shower. The key is to apply it when you get out of the shower and your skin is damp. Massage it in, wait a bit before you get dressed so you don't get it on your clothes. Sometimes I apply the oil, put on an old dressing gown and marinade whilst I have a coffee.:-)

I also like Kiehls Creme de Corps when my skin is very dry. It doesn't have a scent. Embryolisse body lotion is also lovely with a light scent.
www.kiehls.co.uk/body/category/body-moisturisers/creme-de-corps/259.html

www.escentual.com/embryolisse/embryolisse004/

When you dry brush your chest be gentle as the skin is more sensitive in that area.

For lipstick, it would be the best if you tried some swatches at the counter to see what suits your skintone. I love Chanel lipsticks and they have some nice corals and pinks in their summer collection.

My skin is pale/pinkish and I use this Teheran from Chanel and Naked Coral by Tom Ford. Teheran is quite orange and I was surprised that it worked for me as I don't suit orange normally. Naked Coral is a lovely 60s soft Coral. There are so many nice lipsticks to choose from. Go and have a play at the counters.:-)

www.chanel.com/en_GB/fragrance-beauty/makeup/p/lips/lipsticks/rouge-coco-ultra-hydrating-lip-colour-p172400.html#skuid-0172412

www.tomford.com/lip-color/T0T3.html?cgid=beauty-lips-lips&dwvar_T0T3_color=NAKEDCORAL#start=58

If you go to Body Shop to buy the brush, have a look at their Honey bronzer. I was pleasantly surprised how nice it is. It is a matt non glittery bronze. I don't look orange when I use it, just healthy.

www.thebodyshop.com/en-gb/body/body-bronzing/honey-bronze-bronzing-powder/p/p000480

OK, to answer Buster's questions: I'm very pale, kind of yellow toned skin, blue eyes. Hair is naturally mousy brown, now darker brown (Lush Caca Brun) because the red I had it clashed with the bride's dress. I'm still getting used to the darker colour! I look worse in gold and yellow and green than other colours, I am not really sure what suits me. I wear navy and grey a lot.

violet - I went to the Clinique counter before my (cancelled) wedding and they gave me a coral lipstick, which does look nice on me, so that's another top suggestion from you! However, I was thinking of maybe going for a really bright red lipstick to give me a bolder, more confident look. But really struggling to find one that suits me. Are there just people who don't suit reds?

Is this the honey bronzer thing? www.thebodyshop.com/en-gb/body/body-bronzing/honey-bronze-highlighting-dome/p/p000346

If coral suits you then you probably need a red with an undertone of coral, if I were you I'd go to Mac as they really know there colours. I've just bought Mac Relentlessly Red and it's great, I love it. It's a pinky, coraly red.

Have a light spray tan 2 days before? Would give you a bit of a glow!

lanouvelleheloise if you feel like you want to for red, you should do it. There is a red for everyone, it's just a case of trailing what works for you. The right red lipstick should make you look awake and your teeth whiter. Red lips and red nails would look amazing!

Lady Danger by Mac is orange-y red, you could also try that as well as BusterGonad's suggestion. This Lisa Elridge tutorial may be helpful. If you click under the video there is a list of all lipsticks she mentions. Write them down and go testing.:-)

This bronzer by Body Shop

www.thebodyshop.com/en-gb/body/body-bronzing/honey-bronze-bronzing-powder/p/p000480

violetgrey, your advice is on fire!

Hair cut, spray tan, manicure and pedicure, strong and stable shape wear , fabulous shoes and a nice bag.

Anyone will feel good after that

Re your red lipstick search - do you have an iPhone? Bear with me here!
Urban Decay launched an app when they brought out their last lipstick range - you use a photo of yourself and it superimposes all their lip colours onto it, you just swipe through them to see how they look...it's easy to use and it makes it very clear which colours suit you.
I ended up with a really quite bright pink that I'd never have picked up before, and I've had so many compliments when I wear it.

I have just had a lot of fun with that app Fabellini!

OP, Avon do a gradual fake tanner in the skin so soft range. It's clear and it's fool proof.

I find subtle false eyelashes really give me a boost too, along with eyebrows threaded and dyed and a shellac manicure.

It's great, isn't it MeganChips?

I second good underwear, I'm in dire need of new bras and I can't bloody wait to get them!!!

Oh no, I'm on Android! Shame because that app sounds really fun as well as useful.

My underwear situation is dire. It has holes. I do have some old spanx that still fits and a Wonderbra, however, which will work wonders in the artificial nip and tuck department!

I'm going to try to do the fake tan myself, because I honest to God don't think I can even face a beautician seeing me in my knickers right now! I'm really pale and (as you've probably gathered) terrible at beauty stuff, and I'm worried about going streaky. Is the key to exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate?

Definitely going for a haircut, eyebrow dye/shape and a wax!