Simple sprucing up tips for Mrs Twit

[Usuallyinthemiddle]

I've let myself go the last 18 months. Piled on 4st, not looked after my skin, not groomed much at all.

For one reason and other I've pulled myself together and given my head a wobble. (No women's conditioning, anti-feminist comments, I'm not here to be counselled!)

I'm enjoying MFP and starting c25k.

I've sorted out my CGM, got my facial skin care under control, starting to sort out my feet.

I'm not massively on a budget but I'm time poor during salon opening times. Any lovely self care tips?

Particular reference to:

• chicken skin arms
• corned beef legs
• vitamins that actually do something
• how hard is gel manicuring at home?
• good box dyes - greying mid brown, wavy
• is dyeing brows a silly idea?

I used to be good at all this pre kids when I had more time!

Any little luxuries or tips welcomed!

Thank you hive mind!

No ideas but watching with interest!

Also need to know ideas. Home kit .. nice and easy is great.
Also plenty of sleep.
Decent haircut.
Tan (like dove or similar)

A gradual tanner will help with the corned beef situation.
Exfoliate everything, paying particular attention to your arms and hit them with a body butter.
I take the vitabiotics well woman supplement, sorts my hair and nails.
There is a St Tropez in shower tanner, seeing as you're time poor, but I've never used it, so I don't know if it's any good.

Sorry, I forgot to say, exfoliating gloves are great to use in the shower.

Aqueous cream - it’s non scented, and not luxurious but cheap as chips and will moisturise the chicken out of those arms and legs. Start exfoliating them too - you can’t tan them etc without doing some ground work.

Get some kettlebells and watch some YouTube vids - will help you tone and improve core for running - you only need to do 20 mins a day.

Don’t worry about gel nails. Keep your nails neat and invest in a couple of polishes from Essie or similar and do at home every week.

Eyebrows - i would recommend getting them shaped by a professional and try and keep it up yourself. Also, go to a make up counter and check out brow products.

I’ve recently been playing with magnetic false lashes, I sometimes use half ones and they are not as much of a faff and glue and look great.

Lastly, we’ll done! Just having the motivation to start is great - good luck!

Regarding manicures, I just use normal nail polish. I use Cutex Ridge filler instead of a base coat and Seche Vite top coat. My manicure lasts me a week.

You're all lovely thank you.

With regards to chicken skin, would a glycolic or AHA unclog? Or am I over thinking it? I've got a REN I can't use on my face. Would it destroy my arms?

Couch to 5 k will sort your tan out- being outside is the best way to get a colour (though- maybe the watch strap mark is just one a runner can appreciate 😂).

Drink lots of water, invest in good shampoo and conditioner, and a decent facial wash.

Definitely get eyebrows done.

I'm not sure I'm brave enough for running in shorts yet! 😮 but yes, air will help!!

Chicken skin arms will improve as you lose weight. Moisturiser containing urea helps as well, foot moisturiser often has it in. Swimming is good for the arms.

Body brushing may be a good idea before you bathe/shower. There's a moisturiser you can use on wet skin that's regularly praised (Sanctuary, Boots IIRC).

Superdrug are good for getting eyebrows threaded and dyed and are not expensive. I buy dyebrow and do my own at home. I also get superdrug own permanent 10 minute box dyes for hair. They give good coverage and look natural.

I bought the Sensational Express Gel nail kit, its easy to use but sadly it doesn't last very long on my nails, maybe 2 to 3 days max. Normal nail varnish only last hours on my nails so I either get salon gel nails or just use clear nail varnish myself. Dior nail glow is nice.

I do dye my eyebrows as they are naturally a fairly good shape, it just helps to define them a bit. I use ColourSport (i think that's the name) from boots. Lasts around 2 to 3 weeks.

If you're time poor I would see if you can find someone who does home visits for nails/brows maybe eyelashes if you fancy.

I’ve started using a body scrub with exfoliating mit in the shower every morning. Then I use E45 spray on moisturiser (because it’s quick).
Olia are the best hair dyes for covering the greys and conditioning your hair - believe me I’ve tried all the different brands!

Korean Italian Cloths to exfoliate body (much easier than a scrub though it does need a long hot bubble-less bath to soften the skin before scrubbing) . I cannot use exfoliating gloves they make my skin itch like blazes but fine with the KIC

Konjac Sponge for face . They exfoliate gently , I use a face wash with mine in the shower .

I need to start using some moisturising lotion before I even think about self tan . The Superdrug Vit E one is good , not as rich as a cream but quick to use (though if I'm making an effort , Nuxe Oil is my Go-To)

Ooh I need to go to Superdrug! Thank you. I'll try and get that done

This is an excellent gradual tanner (no streaks, very easy to apply etc)
www.superdrug.com/Garnier/Garnier-Summer-Body-Light-Gradual-Tan-Moisturiser-250ml/p/247812

I switched from shower gel to soap and my upper arms are practically chicken skin free now! A very cheap swap!

I take the well women max vitamins. I have been complimented on my glowing skin and it's the only change I've made.

I also switched from shower gel to bar soap (I use Dove original), leaves me lovely and fresh and skin seems to be doing well with it. I lightly scrub with one of those shower puff things with the soap, gets a light scrub going without being harsh and I seem to feel smoother as a result. I use baby oil afterwards all over my body, works much better IME than a cream (other oils will also do the trick, baby oil is just easy to find, inexpensive and not heavily scented so it’s my preference).

Hair can make a big difference, in terms of hair condition and cut (I’m personally unbothered about dye so don’t do it, hence I can offer no useful advice there!). You say wavy, is it thick? Does it frizz easily? I follow a broadly curly girl approach as I’m curly, so no sulfates (can be drying for some people’s hair) or silicones (which helps reduce frizz but can only be removed with sulfates and can weigh down hair) and I use leave in conditioners/stylers. You may not need this, but definitely have a look into what could suit your hair type so that it is well conditioned and maintained. Then get a cut that works for you - I had longer hair for ages, but tried a just below the jaw cut and it makes such a difference, I find it very easy to maintain, which means it generally looks healthy and I look more ‘groomed’ compared to constantly tying it up.

On supplements, think about what you might actually be lacking eg from diet, lifestyle. Pretty much everyone in the U.K. can benefit from a vitamin D supplement, I definitely need vitamin C too. I’ve also found certain oils helpful (eg a high omega fish oil). None of these are specifically about skin or hair for example, but contribute to overall wellness and some will help with stuff like that as well.

When I put weight on I tend to let my hair grow. I'm 5'9" and I feel like I look daft with shorter hair when I'm big.
Maybe I do need a shorter cut. Happy with Cantu. Works for my irritable scalp too!

God, I'm a demic!

Use cuticle oil before you go to bed every night and you'll soon seen an improvement in the condition of your nails as well as your cuticles. Solar Oil or Avoplex are both top quality oils although to save money, I sometimes buy Cuccio (from Amazon) instead and it works just as well and is half the price.

Use a Japanese Salux wash cloth to exfoliate every day in the shower (you don't need to pre-soak the cloth, just add some shower gel/soap and scrub away). I find the cloth to be really effective and it's reusable and dries quickly. Not the most attractive thing to hang in the bathroom but it does a great job. I find it better than exfoliating gloves as you can reach your entire back with the cloth. My skin looks so much better and clearer after using it (I first read about it on MN so delighted it works).

www.amazon.co.uk/Salux-Japanese-Beauty-Skin-Cloth/dp/B008ET8FYW/ref=sr_1_2?s=gateway&crid=PDZSI3H78FHL&keywords=japanese+wash+cloth&sprefix=japanese+was%2Caps%2C137&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1561314634&sr=8-2

For vitamins I get a personalised pack every month from Vitl. They seem to be good quality and the customer service has been excellent.

vitl.com/products/vitamins

Drink LOTS of water

Get a good haircut and look after your hair. I have fine hair that easily gets tangled so I've started using a silk hair wrap (from Silke London) at night and it's made a massive difference. I usually have silk pillowcases as well but that's more for my skin. They seem to be less effective on my hair compared to the hair wrap.

I always put on body lotion/cream every night before I go to bed. I find last thing is most effective plus I do a lot of exercise during the day and the combination of body lotion and sweat is a very slippery one!! So it rules out using body lotion until after I've exercised.

I also put foot cream and hand cream (plus cuticle oil) every night when I'm in bed. It's the last thing I do before I turn the light off.

Dyeing lashes and brows is easy and looks good with no makeup and backs up mascara if used. I always do it last thing at night then if your eyes are a little sore after you have time to recover.

It's a good idea, if you have a decent GP to get a full blood count done (covers anaemia) test things such as Vit D, Vitamin B12 and THS (thyroid function), zinc etc. And get a copy of the results don't just take their word for it that you are in range. You have to be practically dying to be out of range and should be at least 50% of the range.

I take B12 and othe B vits, C, D3, Magnesium and Zinc.

I can't definitively say which do what but I am much better in physical health and, probably more important, mood - which enable much better self care.

Thank you! Salux looks a great idea.

Hmm.. I might just have a GP appointment. I'm 41, I prob should have an mot. I never go. (Once in 7 years!)

I might just have a GP appointment. I'm 41, I prob should have an mot. I never go.

Wow, you're lucky. My surgery insists everyone over 40 has annual blood tests. It's actually really annoying when you're working and can't get time off but it appears to be non-negotiable if you want to see a nurse or GP there. My GP surgery does seem to be particularly militant though. They recently denied my (online) repeat prescription and I found out it was because I had one week's pills left so I was ordering "too early". Seriously.