What advice would you give for taking care of yourself?

[CollyWombles]

Having been a game keepers daughter, the only girl with lots of brothers brought up with my dad, I am terrible at skin, hair, beauty, style in general! I don't even know where to start.

I am getting older now though, I can't believe how much I have aged in just a couple of years! I am 34 and have to dye my hair every 4-6weeks due to the amount of grey, I look quite haggard these days too.

What should I be doing each day to take care of myself better? Currently I shower daily, I'm always skint due to large family, so buy the cheapest shampoo and conditioner, rarely get a hair cut, once a year or twice if I'm lucky. Eyebrows I self wax with super drug eyebrow shaper stripes. Kind of okay I think. I wear cheap round frame glasses. I don't have a clue what to do with makeup, so rarely wear any at all. I have no skin care routine and get overwhelmed when googling! I want a simple and quick daily beauty/hygiene routine.

I shave but hate doing so as I am always left with bumpy skin and get ingrowing hairs a lot.

For reference, I have dark brown eyes, olive skin colour and dye my hair black, natural is very dark brown or was before I went so grey!

Please help, I'd like to look as natural as possible, but not so haggard and like I don't care about myself! Any advice much appreciated.

Oh so not how you described yourself. You have great skin and shiny hair. You don't look haggard you look lovely. All that's missing is a smile!

You look lovely but if I had to be fussy I’d say to dye your hair a slightly lighter shade as that’s v v dark not awful by any means but a v v dark brown would be better for your skin tone
You really wouldn’t need much make up at all. Bb or cc cream, blush, mascara and lipgloss

This. Electrical impulses.

Thanks all, I went to super drug and got some pieces from MAU, I couldn't find the stick mentioned so got highlight powder which was an experience! Also some foundation, a liquid lipstick, mascara, eye pencil and a metallic burgundy type eye pallet.

The hair will have to wait until after Christmas, and very likely to be unable to afford a proper hairdresser for stripping and redying hair, I'm 14 weeks pregnant so unsure if they would do it or not too. I will likely just buy a dark brown colour and keep on with it until the black grows out.

I think I will look into new glasses too, I am still getting used to wearing them, but feel like the frames might be wrong for me. Whenever I put them on, I feel I look like I've aged!

My attempt with new makeup. Foundation, highlighter, eyeshadow, mascara, lipstick.

OP you look fab and about 20!! Just goes to show how harshly we judge ourselves compared to how other people see us! You have lovely features and great skin and I think you’ve done a lovely job with the make-up. My only advice would be to go a shade or two lighter with your hair (agree with PPs that black dye doesn’t do most people any favours). Honestly though, you look great!

I have shit self esteem so I probably am too hard on myself, thank you for being so kind. I chickened out of the eye pencil, maybe try it tomorrow, but followed some tutorials for applying make up and was very careful to blend! I applied the foundation with my fingers and didn't know what to use with powder highlighter so used cotton wool. Guess I need to invest in makeup brushes too. All I have is an eyeshadow blend brush.

Yes get some Real Techniques brushes from Boots or get some from the Body shop. Remember - blend blend blend (why do I not take my own advice!)

You look great and your skin looks lovely. I wouldn’t over complicate things with skincare. Start off with a simple moisturiser and make sure you use sun cream on your face and chest every day (biggest anti-aging tip ever!). You look very young so the next bit doesn’t apply to you so much but be aware that ‘dark brown’ hair dye actually is usually almost black and ‘medium brown’ is dark brown. As you get older, too dark, blocky hair will wash you out and make you look older.
I apply my foundation with my fingers and as it’s quite liquid it’s absoluely fine so you don’t necessarily need a foundation brush or beauty blender.

Wow you’re really good at doing your makeup.

I’m 50, looking back at 34 year old me I’d say sun screen, good food & sleep, Though that’s probably not going to be easy with a little one.