Feeling frumpy and old - please help me wise s&b mumsnetters

[ItMustBeTuesday]

I just feel rubbish!

I seem to have already reached that age (at only 31) where I look worse when I put makeup on. It sits really badly in the wrinkles on my forehead and around my mouth. But I also still have some spots and quite oily skin! At the moment I'm using revlon colourstay foundation but I just look dreadful! Any advice or recommendations? It's really getting me down as I rely on foundation to look even half decent due to my terrible skin.

Also I'm in a complete style rut, I haven't been able to buy any new clothes this year as the fashion for sleeveless/backless/random holes in shoulders really doesn't suit me as I have spots on my shoulders and back.

I'm also 10lbs heavy than I should be and I'm just generally feeling very ugly at the moment

What is your skincare regime? Do you think altering your diet would help your skin? (And enable you to lose that 10lbs?)

Break it down and concentrate on baby steps for now.

It sounds like your skin is dehydrated. I'd focus on drinking lots of water (will also help with the 10lbs), eating food high in antioxidants and using oils & serums to combat the dehydration. I am loving Garnier Moisture Bomb tissue masks at the minute, 2-3 times a week to stop my skin looking grey. I'm loving Bourjois Healthy Mix at the minute in terms of foundation.

Get in the bath/shower and have a good scrub then moisturise your whole body. This will make your skin look better overall and also give you a bit of a mental boost. Maybe put on a bit of fake tan/gradual tanner if that's your thing.

Then have a think about what sort of clothes you're looking for. What's your style? What's your lifestyle like? Are you looking for work clothes, going out clothes, casual clothes? I also hate the current fashions (roll on A/W when tailoring is apparently coming back in) but have had some success in the sales at Massimo Dutti and Zalando. ASOS is always good for a browse. If you do see some things you like, I'd also recommend ordering one thing that you normally wouldn't go for, just to see if something new would suit you.

Definitely sort out a skin care routine. I've been using products from the ordinary and seeing good results. They do a foundation which I am yet to try.
I completely agree regarding clothes, but at 35 I have given up on fashion. I won't wear something that looks awful for the sake of being fashionable! I made the decision to buy decent quality, classic styles which I can accessorize to keep current. I can't wear any of the polyester stuff that's in the shops, preferring natural fibres.
I find Pinterest great for putting outfits together-find an item you own that you love, type it in the search and see how other people have styled it!

Thank you everyone!

Will have a bath tonight and shave, exfoliate and moisturise, as your right that always gives me a mental boost.

Really need to sort out my diet, I work in a school and the last 3 weeks the staff room has been overloaded with all sorts of goodies, now it's the holidays I can sort myself out hopefully.

I do drink lots already but will up it even more and maybe start taking some vitamins. I have some skincare stuff from the ordinary but tbh I find it all really confusing and I think sometimes with skincare I'm a bit guilty of buying loads of products and using them all wrong I imagine.

I'm going to have a browse on asos as well. My plan is to go shopping soon as I have been saving up. Hoping to find some capsule wardrobe type pieces but I have no idea where to shop anymore, everywhere in my local city either feels too young or too old.

I'm not sure whether to laugh or cry .

You are 31 dear! FGS! a mere child.

If you have spots on your back, see your GP as it could be acne and you need proper treatment (tablets or creams.)

Clean up your diet and for goodness sake stop thinking you are old!

I don't think I'm old but I'm also aware that crop tops and bum skimming skirts are not for me anymore. I also feel like a change of foundation may be needed as I am getting wrinkles perhaps I just look older than I should at 31?

In terms of one's style, I found the following really helped (didn't happen all at once, was a process of a few years but I now have a wardrobe of gorgeous clothes which I love and which suit me):

1. Assess your body type: pear shape, hourglass, spark plug etc. (Do some googling on how you can tell)

2. start cutting out pictures/pinning on Pinterest looks that you love. Once you have done this enough you should see that there tend to be themes (for me it is 1950s suits, wasp waists, blazers and slim cigarette pants, mustards and reds and burnt oranges)

3. have a think about how you can get the looks to suit you/what you have from your existing wardrobe that fits. Then think about shopping and filling in the gaps.

4. (optional extra) - have a think about what colours suit you: are you warm or cool-toned? Muted or bright? Do some googling to find out about the seasons.

And only pick up a fashion trend if you love it or if it suits you! I adore clothes but haven't bought a fashion magazine in ages; buy new clothes v rarely and only if they are absolutely my style anyway, as opposed tobeing fashionable.