Anyone up for a total overhaul solidarity thread?

[BabyDarlingDollfaceHoney]

So I'm nine months post baby and just back to work. I have merrily been enjoying motherhood and thinking hardly at all about my appearance for the last nine months but now it's time to sort myself out a bit!

1. I bought a Philips lumea and did my first treatment today. Have always had quite a few stray chin hairs 😂 but now don't have time to pluck them which is a bit of a disaster! Will do the rest of the body when I've got to grips with it properly.

1. Started slimfast last week.... Nine pounds down already but much more to go.

1. Booked dentist appointment for scale and polish in two weeks time.

1. Bought some good fake tan (st tropez watermelon one... Smells amazing BTW).

1. Still need to do my gel pedicure which I will hopefully do once the baby is in bed later.

1. Need to do another keratin hair treatment and dye my hair too when I get time... Probably next weekend now.

I think I have made a good start to getting back to feeling like my old self but any suggestions are so welcome for other things I can do. My priorities are looking more groomed with less time!

Is anyone in a similar situation or doing a similar overhaul? Any advice or tips? Or just general support for others doing a bit of a self makeover!

TIA x

I'll join you! Have lurked on similar threads but think joining one will help me along. Off to dental hygienist this afternoon for a well overdue clean, and am very excited to see results.
Starting today with cutting out sugar, refined carbs and alcohol. I know it works so just need to start rather than think about it whilst eating crisps! I need to lose about 8kg, being a (very) shortarse, a relatively small amount of weight shows an awful lot.
Keep up with curly girl method - been doing it for 3 months and it's made a big difference to the condition of my hair but it bores me a bit
Rosehip oil, vitamin C, and glycolic pads are making the biggest difference to my skin, just need to make sure I keep it up. And remember to take vitamins!

I'll join too please! We're a few months away from doing another 4000+ mile house move so I've been buried in logistics and really want to overhaul before we move.
My weight crept up after surgery last year, and I'd love to get it back down again, so will be starting the 5:2 diet again tomorrow as it's always worked brilliantly for me in the past.

Yes please! Seven months post-baby, going back to work at the start of August and can. Not. Wait. So fed up of wearing clothes covered in sick and dribble, feeding bras etc. Don’t need to lose weight but definitely need to sort hair out, get teeth scale+polished and have a massive wardrobe sort out! @cupid, what products are you using? I’ve been looking at the CGM but don’t know what to get...

Amazing! Great to have some others on board!

Sounds like everyone has made such a good start.

I haven't being doing any form of skincare routine to speak of 😣 so this also is a must! I know the alpha h liquid gold always does wonders for my skin and takes only seconds to swipe some on before bed so actually no excuses. I've definitely got some kicking around at home so I'll dig that out too.

Great to have some moral support. It feels like a bit of a mountain to climb, especially the weight loss but I know I'll just feel so much better if I can stick to it. I already feel better just a few days in, I think just mentally deciding to start is the hardest part!

Wow, wow, wow. Have just come out of the dentist and feel on cloud 9! I have massively neglected my teeth since I was pregnant. That's 9 years ago. Smoking and red wine took their toll and I have been so ashamed of my teeth. Well, I just cried when I looked in the mirror, I am stunned. Not perfect and I need another session but bloody hell, I can smile without closing my mouth!
@somerset I'm using Green People anti ageing oil, Nip & Fab pads, and The Ordinary vit c (the non silicone one)
On the school run now but will be back later!

@cupid, that's brilliant! Can't wait for my one now! Glad you're pleased with the results!!!

That sounds fantastic cupid!.

Baby thanks for starting this thread, it sounds like you've made great progress with the 9lbs so far, that's amazing!

I've taken up coconut oil pulling again as this threads reminded me I pay more attention to our horses' teeth than my own. Ahem. . They're actually fairly OK, just slightly yellowed butghe coconut oil always makes them dazzling white, so really need need to keep that up.

I've decided to start the 5:2 diet toda instead of tomorrow, and I'm putting it here that today is my first fast day in the hope that helps me stick to it, and not "reschedule" my fast day as I often do.

Sorry about all the typos

@Cupid what combination do you use your vit C and rosehip oil in if you don't mind me asking? I am currently using a vit c oil morning and night, but really wanted to try rosehip oil too. My skin is pretty dry, but the vit C and glycolic acid have made it clear and glowing, a first for me!

I'm in too!

@somerset I'm using Cantu products on my hair, shampoo, conditioner, curl activator and curling custard. I clarify every couple of weeks with apple cider vinegar as hard water builds up. There are other products I'd like to try but they expensive! I'd say go for it though, it really has made a difference. @Dinosaur I use glycolic pads every evening, sometimes mornings. Rosehip oil most evenings although I'm trying Nip & Fab viper venom a couple of times a week at night which makes my skin super soft. Vitamin C every morning after cleansing, it's tingly and really brightens skin. I've found, increasingly, that rosehip oil really works for me in the morning too, my skin is so dry. Always spf as I'm very fair, currently using Superdrug Solait brand for face which is about 3 quid and doesn't pill under makeup.
Exercise is the next to tackle, I need to stop excuses about not enough time and just get on with it.
Thank you for this thread, I hope you've all had a good day

@cupid, glad the scale & polish went well! I got my teeth whitened before I got married a couple of years ago which made a massive difference. Good luck on the 5:2 @Eaten!

@cupid great thanks, I think I'll give it a go in the evenings after the glycolic. I'm not sure where to get it from around here so I'll do an Amazon order

@somerset thanks! So far so good

@Dinosaurs once my Green People is used up I think I may try The Ordinary rosehip, it's less than half the price and a friend of mine swears by it.

Good morning everyone

@cupid thank you, that's and excellent suggestion, I hadn't thought of TO, I'll have a look when I'm in town this week as I'm pretty sure I've seen TO in our drugstore

Well I've completed my first fast day and I'm not even hungry this morning, I feel great actually and zinging with energy

I’ll join! Recently had to have a very fancy night out for a special occasion and it has spurred me into action. I have spent a fortune on face and hair products and make up, making up for the time since I last bought any (probably about 8 years ago 😳). I had such oily skin and pores the size of saucers.

Things that have helped me so far:

• The Ordinary AHA BHA peel - not sure helped is the right word as it literally burnt me, but it definitely does peel and my skin is better now it’s recovering

• Estée Lauder night stuff: bought a kit of small sample sizes and the advanced night repair serum is great, but the insanely pricey powerfoil mask is the best thing I’ve ever put on my face. My skin was amazing the next day

• Benefit porefessional primer - just amazing

• Urban decay all nighter foundation and powder, best I’ve ever used

• Babyliss Big hair - actually works, I’m shocked

• Give Me coconut and argan oil hair mask - totally changes my horrid fluffy hair into something resembling normal hair

I’ve also done the boob or bust calculator and ordered some bras from Bravissimo. I’ve quit smoking.

Lost a stone but it has taken me a year!

Went and got glasses as I couldn’t see properly for two years, and I actually think they look okay on me.

Bought an item I’ve wanted for years - a proper fancy leather jacket. Got it from ASOS reduced from £275 to £90 and have had so many compliments on it

I need to sort out my awful teeth and the skin on my back which is scarred and awful from spots, and sort out the spots themselves (I’m nearly 40 FFS!). Also need to sort out the diastasis recti, and thread veins (bleugh)

Also want to get something to permanently remove leg, underarm and bikini line as I’m sick of dealing with it. Would love to get rid of the very fine light hair on my face but I know light hair is hard to get rid of. Anyone got any recommendations?

@sink it sounds like you're powering it ahead with the overhaul, well done in quitting smoking and your weight loss!
I've found using glycolic acid on my arms, chest and back too and completely cleared my spots, that and washing my body after I've washed the conditioner off my hair in the shower as the conditioner was making my back break out

I've also started using all of my facial skincare on my hands and I was shocked at the difference compared to just using hand cream, my hands look so much better

Hello

@BabyDarling did you get to do your gel pedicure? Do you use a gel kit or are the gel varnishes on their own any good? I fancy a bright orangey coral on my toes.
@Dinosaurs brilliant that you're feeling so energised! Well done doing the first fast day. Very interesting about using facial skincare on your hands, I might give that a go as well.

@SinkGirl amazing that you've given up smoking. It's my biggest mission this year - if you have any tips please share. I have had some success with nicotine spray so should probably go back to that. After having my teeth cleaned properly yesterday, I feel evangelical about going to the hygienist - it's probably the one thing I've done that's taken years off. My teeth were so, so stained, and now they just simply aren't, it's amazing. Smoking contributed massively to the state they were in and I definitely don't want that again.

Feeling good today, no sugar or booze for the last 2 days, plus lots of water, and I'm already feeling the benefits.

cupid I live in a hard water area and often feel like my hair needs clarifying. How does the apple cider vinegar work? Do you just use it like shampoo or do you leave it in like conditioner?

Apologies for being dim

@Eaten those are such good tips! I duffer with that slightly bumpy upper arm skin.... Now wondering if my hair products could be partly to blame?!

@Sink welcome and well done on your great start. I can't vouch for fine hairs but I'm already impressed with the lumea results! So I'd definitely recommend for armpits etc.

I feel like I've been compensating for needing to lose weight by buying clothes 😂 so I definitely don't need to buy more, just have a good sort out and put a bit more care in to planning / putting together my outfits!

I'm joining 😁 I have probably 4 stone to lose ideally, but apart from that I need to start making a bit more effort. I used to be quite attractive in my twenties, but have allowed that complacency to carry me through and now I'm 38 and quite dowdy. 🤦

I've bought a few new clothes, and am trying to whiten my teeth a bit. Am trying to keep a skincare routine going. My hair is a real problem, I've had a pixie cut for years which I've loved,but I am tempted to regrow it. When you're a bit tubby it sometimes isn't that flattering...but that means getting through the awful in-between, 'i look like my mum' stage. 🤔

If like to have sorted myself out by my 40th, which is about 18 months. I've also just downloaded a home exercise thing on Amazon fire stick. I find it hard to get to classes as dh works away part of the week so am hoping I could do this while the baby naps. 🤞🏼

@Baby thanks! Yes those bumps are what I had, it never occurred to me that it could be my conditioner, especially as I use sulphate free conditioner. I put some glycolic acid in a small spray bottle so its much easier to do my back, chest and arms.

@Barren welcome! I have 2, maybe 3 stone to lose, I'm tall and hide weight well, but I'm fed up of not being as healthy as I used to be and I miss my bone structure being visible in my face.

@Baby I always plan and set out my outfit for the day the night before, its really helped me as I'm a terrible procrastinator.

I need to buy a lot more clothes before our house move, we'll have different climate where we're moving to (Arizona to Pacific North West) but I want to shift a decent amount of weight first. I haven't been buying clothes as I've been wanting to lose weight first, so most of my clothes are now old and past it. I'm trying to replace with lovely quality things, which will hopefully last.

Can I join?

I quit work a couple of weeks ago due to bad mental health. Luckily I have a wonderful DP who is supporting me to retrain but all time at home is taking its toll.

My weight is fine but my hairs a mess - full of split ends and like rats tails. My teeth are shocking and I am scared of the dentist (though cupid has spurred me on slightly!).

My nails are dreadful. How do you do a gel manicure at home baby ? Thatd make a huge difference.

I also stopped wearing makeup and my skin routine vanished which I am going to get back into the habit of tonight.

Good luck everyone! The weight loss and quitting smoking is great

The move sounds exciting Eaten !

Welcome Super! Yay more people . Mental health creates havoc with your physical health, really hope things improve for you soon .

Thanks Super the move is chaos at the moment, probably made worse as I agreed to trailer a horse up to a friend in Northern Canada at the same time (dropping our horses at the new house en route) which makes the whole move three times longer. Plus it will be just me and DC (who's navigating ) as DH has to fly ahead. I am quite excited actually, DC is bouncing around excited and its contagious!