Looking more natural?

[Paintbox]

I am an hourglass shape and therefore need more fitted waisted clothes which iften look smarter than looser clothes. I am a very pale winter with skin that’s not great so I wear make up including lipstick every day, I need the lipstick to add contrast otherwise I look sickly. (Although only foundation, mascara, blush and lipstick. No eyeshadow or liner and certainly no contouring etc) My hair is frizzy so I style it daily to keep it in check. As a result sometimes I feel very overdone for my quite casual lifestyle. I work part time in a very casual environment and the rest of the time I am on the school run etc. I love a casual look and am always jealous of those women who can just throw on jeans and a tee and look amazing without even brushing their hair. I could never be that person but any tips on how I can look more natural and less done? I am 40 by the way and a size 12, fairly tall.

Bump, does anyone else struggle with this?

Tinted moisturiser instead of foundation.
No mascara (I know...but I tried it and nobody died)
Embrace the frizz...or at least ask hairdresser for advice on something that looks less 'done'

Am trying to step away from a sharp bob to something that needs less maintenance....

Thanks for the replies. I have actually tried several tinted moisturisers including the widely recommended Laura Mercia but they just sit in patches on my face. I could try no mascara but because I’m so pale I need the make up to add contrast and the look of actually being alive to my face. It’s more an overall look thing. All the Things that suit my shape and face and hair make me look very groomed and I don’t always want to look groomed but I can’t find a way around it. Maybe there isn’t one!!

Eyelash tinting, matt bb cream, rosy tinted lip balm, cream blusher rather than powdered..... are all things that have worked for me. Think you can get frizzy hair permed into lose waves or straight?

Maybe you are being a bit dysmorphic thinking you need to do all these things and you don't. Maybe you just need to get used to a more natural look? THis happened for me when I had a baby. Stripped it right down (no time!) and now think "god I used to wear too much slap"! I also used to dye my hair darker as thought it was too mousey but am enjoying the natural look (and lack of effort)! Did take some getting used to!

You could have eyelashes tinted and eyebrows microbladed. I’d agree with PP, cream blush is a good idea - those body shop ‘domes’ are great for just sweeping on quickly www.thebodyshop.com/en-gb/body/body-bronzing/honey-bronze-highlighting-dome/p/p000346

There are so many threads on here where people want to look expensive or groomed so people probably look at you the way you look at the more casual people! We always want the opposite of what we have. Anyway I don’t think just because you are an hour glass shape you have to wear fitted clothes, you could wear an over sized shirt, or loose fit t shirt with cropped jeans and some ballet flats for a more casual vibe? And put your hair in a messy bun, make sure you have a missed match bag so it looks as though you have grabbed the first thing you see rather than looking as though you have spent time choosing something.

Also:

I love a casual look and am always jealous of those women who can just throw on jeans and a tee and look amazing without even brushing their hair.

Don't underestimate how long they have secretly spent on their appearance!

I was thinking the same as Bea.

I know what you mean about being pale - the only time I don't look like a reanimated corpse is in the summer when I get some natural brown colouring. Otherwise I always need blusher, some lipstick and eyeliner or else I just look totally colourless.

I think you need to find the right foundation that doesn't look as though you're wearing any, then find a blusher that doesn't look like a blusher, tinted eyebrows and a shade of lipstick that gives you the colour without looking too "made up". Easier said than done, I know, and it's taken me a long time to find the right mix so that I look alive but not "done"!.

Hair - is it frizzy because of its condition? Would it benefit from some deep moisturising treatment and a different cut? If I don't do anything with mine it looks a bit like a bird's nest, but with some serum, a good cut, and minimal use of straighteners it looks glossy and bouncy but not overly groomed.

Agree with bea that casual relaxed look takes a lot of effort to look effortless! Look at these celebs very casual but you can bet your life they have thought every bit of their outfit through knowing they would be papped.

Yes agree that some “casual” women are very made up but I’m thinking of a good friend I have who never wears make up or does her hair. She has a great figure that can wear anything and look great, she is naturally olive skinned and has beautiful dark eyes, eyebrows and hair and perfect skin, doesn’t need any make up and her features stand out. She looks amazing in jeans and a tee with birkenstocks etc, never nails painted not any jewellery. No effort at all. I would never be like that. I think my make up could do with being more dewy and natural looking especially in summer but I really struggle with this.
To pp, I really do need a waistline on my clothes, if I wear anything baggy I look 3 sizes bigger, I need to show my waist and this iften looks smarter.
Re my hair, it’s frizzy because it’s naturally grey I think although it is lightly coloured. The texture used to be silky but that’s gone now with the change of colour, grey hair is so wiry sadly

Picture

Your friend does indeed sound gorgeous and her style is her style probably best not to covet it if it’s unachievable for you. Maybe it’s time for a complete overhaul, can you get a make under, get your make up done and ask for the no make up look and see how you get on with it and also some professional hair conditioning treatment. Google some celebs with a similar body shape to you and see how they dress casually.