I look like a bag of poo. Help.

[Playdoughbum]

I’m 50ish, overweighted, tired.
My boobs are too big. My skin looks like I might be dead and my face forgot to tell the rest of me. Pale, sallow, sad.
I don’t sleep well which doesn’t help but not much I can do. Hair is a frizzy and greying and I can’t brush it too much. I’ve never been girly at all and don’t wear dresses. Bit of a hippy but professional job so two distinct looks.

Where do I start?
I need to lose weight and exercise more ( been pretty good previously but it’s been stressful at work for a while).
I need to eat less sugar. Drink more water.
I want to look healthy and as though I actually spent a few minutes on me.

Recommend products please! I have money enough to buy stuff within reason. Cruelty-Free is important though please.

You need a humane approach to yourself for starters.

Go on a diet, start exercising - even if it's just a couple of walks a day in the part. Cut out sugar. Just cut it out. Identify what your weakness is with food and make adjustments to your diet. Work out a few breakfasts lunches and dinners which are healthy and stick to them. Lots of water. For your skin: buy some fish oil capsules and take them every day.

Time to start cleansing and moisturising every morning and night: and at night use retinol, it makes a difference. For your body, buy some ameliorate cream. Do you take care of your nails? Trim them and buff or polish with lots of hand cream in the day if you have dry skin.
For hair - just go to a good hairdresser and let them take over.
You just need some maintenance. Be kind to yourself.

What is your skin like, dry, oily, combination?

It’s normalish- odd hormonal spot but not too bad. Just grey and lifeless. I’m really pale (naturally) and it just suddenly looks awful.
Slightly sensitive, not too many wrinkles at the mo.

What’s a good haircut I can just leave? Thick curly hair. Long bob?

Think about having a keratin smoothing treatment for your hair. Outlay is expensive (depending on where you live) but much less frizzy hair.

Are you a makeup wearer? If not, I would go for Dr Hauschka moisturiser, rose day cream or something similar (smells amazing - cruelty free). Let me find links for other good moisturisers /treatments...

www.feelunique.com/p/Shiseido-Benefiance-Wrinkle-Smoothing-Cream-50ml-FR excellent moisturiser
www.feelunique.com/p/Elizabeth-Arden-Ceramide-Retinol-Night-Serum-60-Capsules retinol for night
www.feelunique.com/p/REN-Gentle-Cleansing-Gel-150ml cleanser

What do you mean 'just leave' do you mean not blow dry?

Previous posters has given excellent advice.

Eat a lot of colourful food, carrots, kale, tomatoes and sit in the sun for 15-30 minutes without burning, it will give you a healthy glow and boost the vitamin D for cell regeneration in a way supplements cannot.

Cut the sugar and cut all processed food, fried food and takeaways. Adopt a whole food plant based diet if you want to stay cruelty-free.

Use the money you would spend on expensive treatments to enrol in a gym and pay for a couple of sessions with a PT.

Buy quality underwear that support your breasts in a nice way. Do a big clean up of your wardrobe . Everything that makes you look good, stays otherwise it is time to add a few items. Shoes, bags and accessories are important. A nice scarf or a shiny earring can give a very nice touch to a face, bringing light.

If you hair is frizzy, there are now keratin treatment to try or use some hair oil after washing on wet hair to smooth it. The grey is an easy fix, buy a colour at the supermarket (Casting l'oreal has a good range without ammonia and it washes away in 28 shampoos) or go the hairdresser.

Start by cleaning your kitchen tonight. Throw away all the food you know is not doing you any favour weight and health-wise.

And you don't look like a bag of poo. Be kind to yourself and take care of yourself.

And get a blood test at the GP - me looking an extra shade of white was Vit D deficiency and my iron going low again. Makes you feel crap too

I use Nice 'n Easy on the hair. Medium brown comes out quite dark but it lightens up after a few washes. I've got thick curly hair as well, with a fringe, chin length, and just put straighteners through it. (Nothing complicated though, as it doesn't look good poker straight).

For your hair, long blunt chopped bob and cannot recommend the Dyson Airwrap enough. So expensive but can tame frizz, smooth out, gently curl, really curl - anything. It's great. Going to go back now and read the replies.

I can’t blow dry- my hair looks best just left curly. Was thinking longish bob would be wavy/curly?
Had blood test, waiting to see Dr but suspect my thyroid might be off.

Ok, thanks for replies.
Have gym membership- will use more!
Drink water.
Ditch sugar.
Haircut.
Clothes overhaul.

And I really do look terrible- was never pretty anyway but I look grim now.

Gradual facial tan thing?
(Not as a replacement for a short burst in actual sun whenever possible)

Curly girl method for your hair. Keep the curls, but refine them and it'll get rid of the frizz eventually.

Your body will work from the inside out. More water (keep a bottle with you at all times and sip during the day)
Lots of veg
A decent multivitamin with vitamin D (and some time in the sun but don't go crazy)

For now, tinted moisturiser will help. Plastering on make up will not make your skin look better. A touch of a good mascara (benefit bad gal bang is great) and some lip balm is plenty.

Hi OP., How are you doing 2 weeks on? Feeling any better?