Fab at 50 - can I do it in a month? Help!

[Frexit]

It’s my big birthday next month and I’m having a party to celebrate. I want to look really fab on my special night (this is my first and only birthday party as an adult - I’m not great at being centre of attention) and am hoping the experts on here can help me .

Main issues I’d like help with are:

Skin
My diet is rubbish. Waaay too much sugar and my skin is greyish, dull and starting to sag. I’ve got a great set of jowls developing

I have really bad puffiness under my eyes with shadows and redness. I look permanently very tired (I sleep very badly too).

I will be dieting for the next month, reducing my carbs and sugar intake significantly and drinking loads of water but is there anything else I can do in terms of supplements or creams/treatments to help my skin and my eye bags? I’ve had facials before and beyond the initial softness, never really feel I’ve benefitted.

Teeth
Any whitening treatments that are ok for sensitive teeth? I’ve been using a charcoal toothpaste and think it’s helped slightly.

Cellulite
I’ve got a body brush I’ve never used. Am tempted to buy this but no idea if it’s just a gimmick. Has anyone used with good results?

Arm flab
I’m a size 14/16 weighing around 11st 11. I’m genetically blessed with horrific bingo wings. Anyone done anything that’s really made a difference to this area?

I know I’m not going to transform myself in a month but turning 50 and trying to choose an outfit for my party is giving me an incentive to tackle these problem areas in the hope of seeing some improvements in that time frame that I can then continue with.

Thanks so much if you have any suggestions

You candle 8kg kettlebells. The exercises are different to arm weights so 8kg is a standard place to start. Fitness blender has great 5 min + routines that I used when I started off from scratch. I agree they make a great difference and are fab for weight loss. In fact I might dust mine off.

I was at a party last weekend a woman was wearing a fab silk Fred dress (I asked where it was from) it was a bit rixo style. I’ll see if I can find it. It looked fresh and current and fab on her.

Had my big one earlier in year here are my tips
-Sleep sleep sleep...be strict and bank your 8/9hrs every day
-Cut out all alcohol - seriously!

• drink water 1-2litres a day.
• have a facial and massage now!
• focus on your outfit and comfy (not old woman) shoes,get a dress with sleeves if that's your dodgy bit
• eat lots of fruit and veg

-decide lips or eyes?

• enjoy your night and have a great birthday x

Oh and get all your beauty appointments booked now!

What about this?

www.stories.com/en_gbp/clothing/dresses/midi-dresses/product.side-tie-satin-midi-dress-green.0741119004.html?utm_source=Lyst%2520UK/EU&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=37588&utm_content=15&utm_term=678238&ranMID=41994&ranEAID=gcdL/ATRVoE&ranSiteID=gcdL_ATRVoE-Ui.cU49Ip3G5FxIx8DPFpw

I bought something similar from zara this summer (doesn’t appear to be in stock now) but so stunning on.

Also I’ve found that as I get older less is more with make up. Not much on eyes as it just seems to sit in lines or make them look dry. Subtle and fresh I think looks good.

Go to a salon and book hair and makeup. Maybe treat yourself to a trial too.

Get a personal shopper at a department store to pick out something lovely.

Don't go mad trying to change your body. Keep it stress free.

Caffeine eye stuff from The Ordinary hasn't paid dividends for me yet so I can't recommend that. You're better off with pile cream (no joke).

Try the keto diet there's an amazing support group on Facebook keto uk community. You'd be surprised at how quickly weight comes off xx

Love the dark green jumpsuit. What shoes are you planning to wear?
I disagree you need to be super slim to wear them, they can be flattering on most shapes, especially if you have a defined waist. It's more about how the fabric hangs.
Have a lovely birthday!

Thanks everyone for more suggestions and birthday wishes

zippy I really like that green dress but not for this party. Not sure why. I’d love to know what silk Fred dress it was. I’m half way through all of their 7000 dresses and I’ve only seen 1 or 2 I’d consider. Mostly because of bare arms or too short. I’ll link to one I liked in a sec. Am still waiting for jumpsuits to arrive. I think you nailed it with your description of fresh and current - that’s kind of how I’d like to look.

I’d never heard of Rixo so thanks for mentioning that. Just seen this which I adore the shape of, just not the pattern on the fabric.

Have a wonderful 50th, OP! I had my (so far only) party for my 50th and I had a great time. There was a moment where I looked around me and saw all the people I care about in one place and thought ‘this is a bit good’. For the skin: I love REN - ‘Brightening Beauty Shot’ eye lift gel does exactly what is says, and their firming serum is the biz too (M&S stocks both). For the arms: I find weights and aqua aerobics are good (breast stroke whilst standing still doesn’t half tone your top bits).

Skin The best thing you can do is take a tablet Hyaluronic Acid I love the Victoria Health ones. A gentle skin care regime advice at Skincity or www.paulaschoice.co.uk A must have serum for glow I like Sarah Chapman.

Teeth ask your dentist for whitewashlaboratories.com/product/teeth-whitening-strips-info/ made by UK dentists.

Bingo wings www.womanmagazine.co.uk/fit-well/30-day-challenge-banish-bingo-wings-38596

Cellulite drink green tea it contains theobromine which releases stored fats in the body, combine with dry brushing, massage and exercise .

Second the Ren Eye shot there is also a matching Beauty shot for face

Thanks ladies. I think I have the ren eye shot or beauty shot from. I need to go through my potions drawer!

I’m going to review this thread over the weekend and make an action plan. Some of my face products have already arrived too.

I’ve decided that I’m going to embrace the venue and go with an English country vintage sort of vibe for the party so I’m going to have a look at dresses with that in mind. That said, the red jumpsuit arrived today. It’s actually a pinky red (raspberry) and is one of my strongest colours from when I had my colours done so I’ll have a try on of that over the weekend too even though it’s off theme. This monsoon dress I linked to previously is actually bang on the theme so I’m going to try it as well but pale colours don’t always suit me so 🤷🏻‍♀️

@frexit just a recommendation from someone who has one of those dancing leopard dove dresses ( not one actually...3 because I loved the first so much!) and couldn't recommend them more.

They might be polyester (and therefore slightly sweaty by the end of a long day in summer) - in an ideal world they would be cotton (but then the drape wouldn't be as good) but I've had more compliments in them than anything I've worn - ever.

I am not stunning in any way but something about them makes even strangers tell me how lovely I look in those dresses. I am similar size to you...

Think they do returns...double check but for an easy, but stunning dress they're hard to beat!

Oh cross post...not an English country type dress...but good luck with the search and hope you have a lovely day

Hi, can I join with a toothpaste recommendation, Colgate Max Expert Complete Whitening. It’s hideously expensive but it really works and I noticed a difference the first time I brushed my teeth.

It has an odd, chalky texture (and taste!) and reminds me of the smokers toothpaste powder that my dad used in the 1970s 😂

Ooh that’s good to hear bab

Monsoon also have this dress which is similar in style and shape to that Dove dress just modelled differently. The problem with the Dove dress is that it’s only available in the more daytime fabrics. Silk Fred have a few other options that I like too

www.silkfred.com/boutiques/liquorish/clothing/wrap-front-midi-tea-dress-in-floral-print

www.silkfred.com/boutiques/little-mistress/clothing/roxby-long-sleeve-maxi-dress-in-black-floral-print

www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prod_10701_10001_003020550539?brand=No.-1-Jenny-Packham&cat1=Women&cat2=Dresses&CMP=SSH_2826109765_1618162795_62017199655&gclsrc=aw.ds&&CMP=SSH_2826109765_1618162795_62017199655&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIgfPD99eF5AIVwbTtCh2aIg7mEAQYASABEgKzBfD_BwE

Comments welcome!! I’m all over the place with the dress search!

I worry that the fabric on any of those dresses won't be very nice.

I do know what you mean remus, being able to see the white on the inside of these printed fabrics as you swish about isn’t a great look but I like the floral patterns and the shapes so may order and try and see how cheap looking they are. It’s not so much of an issue on the maxi shirt dress style than on a wrap.

How are you getting on ?

Thanks for asking slaymill. Funnily enough I was coming on tonight to update. I’ve started the skincare regime using glycolic acid toner, hyaluronic acid, rosehip oil etc. Not sure I can see any really noticeable results yet though my skin feels lovely and soft and I like the feeling that I’m looking after my skin after years of neglect. I took photos before I started and I’ll take more at the end of the month and see if I can see changes then.

I’m using the Colgate expert whitening toothpaste that was recommended too.

I have not dieted and have done zero exercise . I’m not in the right frame of mind. Although I tried on some outfits today and whilst I thought I looked ok in the mirror, the photos told a different story and I felt old and overweight. So I’m feeling a bit meh about the whole thing. I’ll snap out it though!

As for the outfits I linked to above:

The red jumpsuit from phase eight was beautiful and a really nice colour but just didn’t sit brilliantly over my 34F bust.

The grey chiffon dress with sequin flowers on it from monsoon was extremely pretty, just not on me

I had 2 satin style wrap dresses from Silk Fred - both awful. Remus predicted the fabric might not be very nice and she was right. One of the dresses just had overlock stitching on the edges which on a wrap just looks awful. One of them was nearly £80 and anything more than £25 would be a rip off imo!

So I’m back to the dress I originally thought I’d wear which I subsequently rejected as too dressy. It’s the only dress that looked good on me in the photos my friends took today so I could compare outfits.

We usually look bigger in photos. It's demoralising but the camera does make you look bigger than you are

We usually look bigger in photos
I really hope that's true!🤣🤣