What can we do to get ready for summer?

[BanyanTree]

I am looking out the window and it is chucking it down, grey and miserable. Yet, according to my iPad next weekend is going to be hot!!! I have basically been hibernating under layers for the past 6 months. I am not hot weather ready. I am starting to panic. I am a stone over weight. My feet are not summer ready. Hair removal has been neglected since October. My nails are not the latest spring colour.

We need a plan to get ourselves hot weather ready. Who is with me? We need tips.

I'm going to put on my foot masks, they're amazing. Basically they're polythene bags with moisturiser, you put them on like socks and about 20 minutes later baby soft feet. Not bad for £1 from Poundland.

I suppose I'll get around to shaving my legs once I get out of boots and into sandals

I love footner for novelty value, but can’t help feeling that they can’t be good for you. Too many weird ingredients to give that effect! But the main thing is that the lead time is too long.

My fave foot thing is a foot file, but not the useless sandpapery ones. You need the one that’s like a small grater - metal with holes.

In Boots for example there will usually be a lovely “tools” section with things like nail clippers, cotton wool etc. The foot files there are useless - you need to check out the “medical foot area” where you find things like corn pads. That’s where the metal files will be. Then get scrubbing on dry feet! Shower, moisturise, everything looks lovely again.

BanyanTree. Thank you, can I ask if you also soaked your feet each evening to help with the peeling process?

Working out and no booze. Following body positive media, watching plus size overhauls on youtube.

Feet: footner, newtons, urea creams +good sandals and trainers hunt

Already shopping for summer clothes and trying new styles at home. I think a lot of it is my own mental barriers and insecurities.

Avoiding people who are critical of their bodies.. the negative talk is so toxic.i understand having a hang up or having a moan every now and then, its human nature but some people are constantly on it everyday..its draining.

Just trying to get a fuck it attitude.

Already lightening up the layers.

Defuzzing, body brushing moisturizing.. just pampering myself more.

Also testing spf creams .... ugh nothing good yet but thats a whole new thread!

I did Footner once and it was good but to get those results I literally had to sit and soak my feet for an hour each night for a week!

However the chiropody sponges are easily as good (Or better) and so much less faff. I can get my feet from scaly, dry and bloody awful to looking and feeling soft in one go with them and then moisturiser with the o'keefes foot stuff from Boots.

I would recommend the sponges every time!

I’m starting a ‘run up to summer health kick’ tomorrow
I’ve got some groceries arriving with healthy meal ingredients and healthy snacks etc. I’m also booking in for a Bodypump class at the weekend.

I’m just about to go and defuzz also. The sunshine today has motivated me a bit! I’m in desperate need of it.

I'm a bit worried about using the footner as I am allergic to glycolic acid (at least when used on my face - have to take antihistamines to dampen down the swelling). Footfile isn't cutting it of late though. Hmmm

I’ve just started 5:2 as I need to lose 5kg more after having DS2 11 weeks ago. Have ordered Tom Kerridge’s diet cookbook too and am looking forward to using it.

Have started doing shellac gel manicures again with my home kit and putting OPI nail envy on in between.

Re-commenced epilating my legs after stopping during pregnancy (too painful & left ugly marks).

Decided to give false eyelashes a go instead of mascara, quite happy so far.

Bought a new toner for my hair to freshen & brighten up the colour.

Bought new sunglasses (eye wrinkle protection in addition to coolness).

@delta

I have a 10 week old, so feel your pain!

I don’t personally rate footner. I’ve posted on another S&B thread about it today. It just didn’t work on my feet. They peeled like mad, but didn’t touch the hard bits.

Have booked a haircut & keratin straightening so no faffing with hairdryer in hot weather.
Foot cream and glycolic acid face pads by the bed to use every night.
Have bought some lovely new clothes and chucked out all the jumpers, jeans, socks and tights that have seen their last winter.

Am on the hunt for very smart wool work coat, velvety opaque tights, heavy cashmere and wool jumpers (buying expensive wintery things out of season to put away for next year always makes me feel summery).

Am lucky and lazy about skin, weight and defuzzing. Am happy with my capsule make up bag and don’t do nail polish.
I am pondering getting a couple of chin hairs lazered away before they turn white though.

I love the cold and damp usually and used to find summer dressing stressful when I was younger.

Really looking forward to warmer weather this year.

@DanceDisaster - interesting feedback, cheers. It's the hard bits I want rid of but if it doesn't work well on these areas then it's a waste of time IMO.

Yes, the last few pounds of baby weight are the hardest to shift! Can start running again next week so hopefully that will help too.

I bought some chiropody sponges off Amazon and they arrived and disintegrated when I opened the packet.

Fullfat, yes I soaked my feet when I remembered. I think it helped.

Sleightof, I used to pay loads for keratin treatments but now do it myself and prefer the results. Have you considered DIY? After researching it all on this board I realised that it is not a major exercise, just time consuming at the hairdresser and that is why they have to charge so much money. They are doing a very basic job of just putting it on your hair and ironing it out for a whopping amount. I am actually doing the opposite now though. I like sleek hair in the winter. In summer I embrace my beachy waves and let it dry naturally. My goal is to look like Elle McPherson, albeit from the back and a lot shorter. In fact I need a recommendation for encouraging post surfing locks.

I defuzzed and oh my! There was an awful lot of fuzz in need of defuzzing . I feel like a new, much less hairy, woman.

banyan were they Newton ones? I never have a problem with those disintegrating. They really are worth it - so much better than Footner!

I despise defuzzing- the one beauty task that I hate more than any other!

I did have my toenails done at a salon yesterday so they are a pretty sparkly rose gold colour. Just need some flip flop weather so I can show them off now.

Yes, Newton ones. I think they got bashed about on transit from Amazon.

I’ve booked in to Bodypump. Bit scared as have done zero exercise since I was about 3 months pregnant and my baby is now 10 weeks! At least Bodypump is fairly static and no prancing required .

Can I join in? I have just had my first leg and bikini wax since before Xmas but I'm not happy with the result. I tried a new cheaper salon and the therapist was young. I am a veteran waxee but it was agony! There's a patch on my bikini line that has been left very, very red and almost looks blistered. And my legs already feel stubbly after only 4 days because I don't think she was pulling against the direction of hair growth

I have a pedicure booked next week, but think I'll need a couple more to get my feet summer ready.

I ordered the Biore Watery Essence 50+ sunscreen and I'm using it every day and really impressed with it so far.

I have just found my perfect, go to every day spring/summer lipstick which is Clinique 'All Heart' it's a very flattering rosy red shade.

I am carrying 10lbs round my middle which I hate but don't have the will to try and shift. Luckily my legs and bum are fine.

Can I just say try footcream with 25% urea before you try Footner.

I use Flexitol (and my Mum uses CCS, both work) once a day and with a couple of days the painful bleeding cracks started closing and within a fortnight my feet looked fantastic with no embarassing peeling stage. On the Flexitol box there are before and after pictures and I scoffed but seriously my before heels were way worse and my after heels are way better than the images on the box. I use to hate wearing sandals in summer because my heels would crack and bleed so badly and be so painful and for the last 2 years since I started using Flexitol they've been fine, no cracks at all. I sound like an advert don't I! I'm not, I just think this stuff is amazing and I wish I knew about it years ago.

Joining you all too!! Please can anybody recommend a 'gradual tanner' a la 'Johnson's holiday skin' from years ago??

I uncovered my legs recently and they are an odd shade of grey!

I use Bondi Sands from Superdrug. Normally I just go for the fake tan but I noticed today they have a lot more products such as body lotions which I presume do gradual tans.

I have a bottle of the original BSands and a bottle of St. Tropez which I plan on using up first. I used to live in the sun for many years and even though I never sat in it I still go brown as soon as I walk out the house TBH. I went out for a walk in 15 degree heat on Thurs and someone told me I had a tan on Friday!

I've made a start. Got my lashes and brows done in the week. Always makes me feel and look better. Full body scrub and moisturise this morning in prep for some pale fake tan soon. Dropped another kg so quite positive. It's my birthday next Sunday so need to pull back the ageing a bit lol

I've wanted to try Footner for ages (and missed out on the fish pedicure fad due to dithering) so ordered one from Superdrug online (£5 off at the moment!). I also need to crack out the Newton's sponge.
Moisturise with Argon/Palmers oil 2x daily.
Actually use the hair and face products i buy.
Shed a good stone of lard.
Regular body brushing.
Just off to begin the hard slog of foot scrubbing, deforestation etc. Thanks for the kick up the backside! Summer feet are made in Winter (bit late!) and all that!

Well take heart ladies... I'm going on sodding holiday tomorrow and for various reasons (new job, house renovation, sick parent a 3 hour drive away) I've had time to do nothing (except apparently put on Half a stone) and it's now officially too late

Urgh, I could do with losing 4 STONE but am not sure I have the willpower to even start tbh. Youngest is 6 months so maybe I'll start staggering around the block again.

What I really want to work on is skin on my arms and legs. I find I have uneven skin tone on my legs like little pimples, and then the usual similar on my upper arms. What's best to do about that?

A shave and a few foot scrubs will help too. I've always been warned off footner etc, but tend to do home foot treatments like soaking in bubble bath, scrub scrub scrub etc, rich cream then socks.

I used a footner last year and it made my feet worse. I get huge clumps of dead hard skin that i have to cut off. So i will never use a footner again. Today I have used the Newtons sponge and after 1 session it has made a huge difference.
I have booked in my hair appointment and i can't wait!
I have never plucked/waxed my eyebrows and I am wondering if it is something i should try? What is the best eyebrow treatment and does it really make a difference?

Keto Reset - it will change your ‘diet’ for life and you’ll lose loads of body fat.
Soap and glory foot file
Clarins tanning drops and St tropez gradual tan.
Tresemme Hair Silkening Coconut spray.
Holiday ready !