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

Cupids a good vaporiser with nicotine salts e liquid. I’ve always been the most addicted smoker I know and past attempts to quit smoking have been torture but this time hasn’t been anywhere near as bad. It’s been over a month and I’m doing fine - I actually had a drag on a friend’s cigarette at a party at the weekend (I was pissed and everyone was smoking) and it was just grim. Vaping is so much nicer!

I have an Aspire Nautilus AIO which is super easy to use, and SOLT 20mg nicotine salts liquid - I’ve used normal e liquid before but this stuff makes so much difference

Me me me please! Sorry haven't read through it all yet but just from the first few posts - you're my people!!

I have had two DS and PND after DS2, feel like I'm out the other side now (he's 18 months) and ready to start being me again.

I have upped my exercise recently, trying slimming world (worked well before) but really I just need to cut out sugary stuff, had a health scare a couple years ago and need to take my healthy eating more seriously

I've also just done styled by Susie which was amazing! Haven't bought many new clothes yet but feeling better already in putting together what I do have to suit me. And I've just received my hair analysis too which has excited me

I've always loved skincare so have done that even with the babies, now need to get into a routine of waxing my tash more often, one a week?! It doesn't take long but I can't be arsed!!

I'm off out swimming now - exercise! So will read through properly later but wanted to say hello to you all first!

Yeah I'm tall too and don't look as overweight as I am if that makes sense. But my tummy is huge.

Hi and welcome Don't hope your swimming's been going well

Yes Barren I'm the same, I look fine head on, but my side on profile is a different story

Great that there's so many of us in a similar position! Definitely helps having others on board and I've got some new tips already!

I bought a UV lamp on amazon (only about £30) and I get the blue sky polishes from there too. It's really easy and lasts at least two weeks! Works out much cheaper but also I often struggle finding the time to go to a salon so it's just easier to be able to do it at home. I did my toes, sparkly deep purple... Not very summery but it goes nicely with a skirt I'm wearing to an event on Saturday!

I'm still doing well on the slimfast and finding it very easy... But it's making me quite bloated which isn't ideal. I'm hoping it's just while my digestion settles to the new regime and hopefully it'll die down before the weekend🤞🏻

Well done everyone!

I'd like to join too please! Decided I need to sort myself out after totally neglecting my appearance for the last 7 years since having dc, and have had a year of really poor health (long term condition unfortunately) which has made me look ill and unhealthy. Also have anxiety and depression which I feel I'm on the right side of at the moment, so want to tackle how I look for the summer!

Where do I start?! Thinking of paying to see a dermatologist as my skin is so bad, and a hair doctor equivalent as health issues have caused thinning of my already very fine rubbish hair which I hate. Feel guilty spending my money on myself though, which is silly I know as I earn it and have spent it mostly on dc for 7 years so overdue spending some on myself!

Good morning everyone!

Calco welcome! Really sorry to hear about your health . I know how you feel about spending money on yourself, I'm the same but working on getting over it.
What skin issues do you have? What's your skincare routine like at the minute?
I'm no expert but the skincare thread on here, and the reddit skincare addiction board have helped me turn my skin around, and its better than its ever been in my life now

Baby sounds like you're making great progress with slim fast, shame about the bloating but my digestive system always has a bloating hissy if I start a new regime.
Also, are the gels easy to remove do you find? Does it stink the house out? I've perfected the normal nail polish + seche vite, but I've wanted to try an at home gel kit for ages

Fast day for me again today, and I've gone back to doing yoga every day as it makes me feel so much better and does great things for my posture.

Yes the bloating is a bit better this morning thanks, so hopefully it's starting to settle.

The gels aren't hard yo get off particularly, but it's a bit time consuming. You just file the tops then wrap them in acetone soaked cotton wool and tin foil for about 15 mins. The acetone smells a bit while you're doing it but I wouldn't say it makes the house smell or anything.

@SinkGirl, thank you so much for the info. Just had a little read about nicotine salts liquid, it could be just the ticket.

@Super, I've found that spending just a couple of minutes rubbing oil of nearly any kind into my nails each evening is starting to really help. Nails have been dry, flaky and ragged so I trimmed them right down and am trying to remember the oil every day.
I'm also getting into the swing of moisturising my whole body after a shower, not just face, arms and legs!

All of these small things are starting to add up and I'm trying to appreciate my body, the health that I have, and accept that struggling sometimes with my mental health will probably always be a part of me now, but there are ways to mitigate it somewhat. I'm getting more and more interested in the power of smell to help - even something as simple as lavender oil on my pillow helps, especially if I can feel anxiety and panic before I fall asleep. A very traumatic death in our family at the end of last year has left a deep scar, and left me suffering panic attacks. Doing something positive such as inhaling essential oils when I feel overwhelmed is extremely helpful.

@Calco, could you start with something like oil cleansing for your skin? Use a hot flannel to remove after massaging oil into your skin for a minute or so. I'm using Superfacialist cleansing oil just now which has a lovely orangey fragrance, and it was one of the first things I tried when getting back into a skincare routine. It removes every scrap of dirt and makeup and even if I did nothing else I would continue with this.
Sorry to hear that you are ill, I hope you have good support.

DD and I have manicures to look forward to this weekend - off to see family for a few days and just found out that we have a mobile therapist visiting for some family beautification!