Clever buys that have improved your look.

[ElspethFlashman]

Can we have a thread for the unglamorous random purchases that have really helped you look better? Or closer to the idea of you in your head?

This is inspired by a girl I follow on IG Aoibhe Devlin, who is evangelical about the "sucky in pants" from Primark that allow her to wear light dresses after having a baby. Also another one called Helen (@40plusnotgivingupyet) who wears M+S waist cincher vests every single day.

Mine are also by M+S - they're the Heatgen+ base layers. www.marksandspencer.com/ie/heatgen-thermal-long-sleeve-top/p/p22409889

Because of them I'm able to wear floaty blouses and cotton shirts every day. I feel the cold and before I discovered them I was forever bundled in fleece and felt crap about it.

Another game changer has been trainer socks with that magical bit of silicone on the heel. Now I trot around in trainers looking like I've no socks on and nothing ever slips underneath my foot!

Anyone else have any transformative items?

Which trainer socks, OP? All the ones I have tried have slipped, silicone or not , grr

I swear by the Sloggi long leg knickers Inonce saw suggested on here for wearing under summer dresses to combat thigh rub. Unglamorous but oh so much more comfortable. I was able to skip around in lovely dresses all summer without chafing. Plus, if any pervy weirdo tries to look up my skirt on the escalator, it ensures a world of disappointment for him.

I need to search for these Primark pants and also the trainer sock. Have you more info

Unglamorous things that make me look better:

Coverfx acne primer. A primer that doesnt break me out.

Jane Iredale flocked sponge makes any cheap powder look great AND has magical powers in terms of said powder making my makeup stick (Maybelline poreless at the moment).

A good bra which has really good side support for my 32E boobs (makes your body look narrower and more streamlined).

Batiste dry shampoo makes my clean hair blonder and bouncer.

Jojo maman bebe postnatal support leggings are amazing for my c section mum tum.

I love Helen from 40plusnotgivingupyet.

For me, dry shampoo from Aldi. I can't remember how much, about a quid I think and it's much better than Batiste which never does anything for my hair.

I wear an M&S strappy vest with 'cool comfort' under everything, all year round. Adds warmth in winter and actually feels nice in summer (really does stay cool to the touch!). They come in different colours and make my stomach look much firmer. Tops sit nicely over them too because they're silky. I feel all wrong if I don't wear one now!

Peacock's shapewear. Fabulous.

And Asda t-shirt bras.

cadbury I wear Primark “low rise trainer sock0. Don’t have the silicon but fit me perfectly and don’t move. I have recently bought some of their invisible ones (less cotton, with a wide silicon rim all around) which are great under slip on trainers - too high on the foot for pumps though. Not sure of the actual name as they had loads of choice. Were maybe £2 for 3 pairs.
What kind of suck in pants are we talking about? I think I need them!

Wear your own bra control body shaper thingies from Next. Great for smoothing out lumps and bumps under dresses, but not as uncomfortable as Spanx.

High waisted control tights from H&M have similar smoothing properties for the mum tums among us.

Magic root spray. Hides my ever increasing greys in between colouring my hair.

Primark knickers I have discovered are amazing,they are like M and S high leg ones used to be. 3 pairs for a fiver and they wash, tumble dry and stay like new forever.

Meant to say- they come up big,the large size is labelled 14-16 and plenty big enough for my ample size 18 18-20 arse.

@FaffyFaffington - I was looking at the Next things the other day. Whenever I've worn stuff like that before I've ended up with awful stomach cramps (even control pants make me feel awful). Interested to know if these are better for a whole day's use? Also - the reviews say there's a wee hole?? Really??? 😂

A better bra.

Spending more on comfortable high heels has really helped too

Getting fitted for a bra at Rigby and Peller. It's expensive but so worth it. Most outfits really do look better now that my bras are properly fitted.

Would love to know the name of the trainer socks you mentioned OP, I have yet to find ones that don't roll down towards my toes.

Extra large kirby grips/bobby pins, I have very thick very shiny hair, which is lovely when it's down but is an absolute nightmare to put up because it's too heavy and slippery.

The extra large ones mean I can put it up and it stays up for more than five minutes, and I stay looking a bit more put together.

I too have the sloggi long leg knickers, means I can actually wear a dress in the summer!

Primark t-shirt bras. They give me a fab outline and are cheap enough to replace when they stop holding everything up.

They're just Primark ones. They have super tiny ones that literally just cover your toes and look ridiculously skimpy BUT the silicone bit at the back mean they don't budge. I daresay you could even use them in ballet flats they're so small.

Coincidentally, that girl on IG just put up a picture of the sucky in knickers so here you go.

Online prescription for Differin and Soolantra - sorted out spots and awful type 2 rosacea. I alternate my nights and have a very good complexion now.
Primark shapewear rocks, I agree.
Decent bra and proper measuring - I love Chantelle bras.

Scalp massager from Muji. It's brilliant.

Went to buy some more Aldi dry shampoo tonight and it's bloody been discontinued 😠

A B Shirt (vest). Went under my jumpers etc all winter so I could wear my normal clothes while breastfeeding.