I need something to perk me up, feeling v old and ugly all of a sudden - HELP!

[Blossom4538]

Hi all,

I’m feeling awful about my appearance at the minute. Years of worry and anxiety over my little one with special needs seems to be taking its toll!! All of a sudden I look old, I hate my hair, have greys which I colour with semi permanent home dye but they reappear v quickly. I’ve had small amount Botox in the past to lift my eye area, but haven’t had the spare money for it since last year. I have a grumpy, tired, resting bitch face! 🙈🤣

What treatments or changes would you recommend as a pick-me up?

Teeth whitening?
Hair?
Lips?
Weight loss?
I haven’t the patience to sit for lash extensions!

Would like to look quite natural, fresher and pretty!

Any tips on ridding a double chin?!

Also after something nice to wear for Xmas day, size 16-18 and all the dresses seem v tight and sparkly.

Pls help!

Thank you so much all!

My skin is not to bad at the minute and quite glowy, I just could perhaps do with the exercises/facial yoga!

I hate my hair, it’s out of control, where a hairdresser cut quite short layers into it and I’m growing them again. I have to use treatment as it’s quite dry and can’t do much as trying to grow it. It’s natural wavy/frizzy.

I’ve heard about the crest whitening strips! Will give a go. Are they the 3D white ones on EBay? Are they cheaper than in America itself, as I have a family member who travels there frequently.

I have too much sugar and caffeine, to cope lol! Should cut back. Am good at drinking water though!

Eyebrows aren’t too bad.

Bad at keeping up my nails.

What does the LED face mask do? They’re quite pricey aren’t they?

Thank u all, really appreciate the help 🙈🤣

I think the biggest difference for me is proper sleep. Once a week (Wednesdays usually), I put the children to bed, and firstly do the full works in the bath. Don't take too long but I've got a little routine going on: put acid peel mask on, hair conditioning mask on, exfoliate body and body brush, shave, wash hair and face. Then I dry my hair, trim nails, put body lotion and foot cream on.

Then I go to bed. If I am on it, it can be 8:45. I put on the electric blanket and go to sleep in the spare room. No phone, no scrolling, an audiobook or a night nurse if I can get off. It's bliss. I'm lucky that my children don't get up anymore but DH would do it if needed.

It's so important to give yourself that stretch of sleep and I so look forward to mine every week.

the things that help me are the ones that don't cost a lot...

• more sleep (i know... easier said than done!)
• cutting carbs
• water
• trying to be jolly when not particularly feeling it

all the haircuts, make up and spas in the world don't touch this imo

The easiest things which make a huge difference visible difference to me under a week are:

Drinking an effervescent vitamin C every morning (I've been trialling it vs vitamin C facial serum and it works much better for me, really makes me glow and my eyes bright).

Lots of green tea (four or more cups per day).

Intermittent fasting with high protein and lowering carbs. Gives me so much energy and makes me glow.

Lots of water, as wrinkles and lines are much more prominent when you're dehydrated.

A good multivitamin.

I drink lots of coffee and have sugar, not often but when I feel like it, but I've never found much difference in cutting them out, so I stick with them.

Stuff which makes a difference longer term:

Prescription strength retin-A (I'm in the US though so easy to get hold of).

Daily yoga.

Lowering stress (I used to age overnight when DH was deployed, and de-age over a month or so after he was back home).

Also Vaseline all over your face as a last step in your nightly skincare was a game changer for me. There was a thread about it back in summer where other posters had a lot of success with it to. It sort of locks in your skincare and makes it more effective. Highly technical description there

*too

Can someone do a link to which crest strips it is that work??? I really want to give some a go too!

I found that after 28 i had to start DOING things to achieve what had been natural before....i had to take care to drink, moisturise my skin, get to bed and take my vitamins. Im 33 but often guessed at 25 now, but yeah it isnt totally effortless.

Just taking care of yourself and being healthy really :)

Thank u all. I think I perhaps need more sleep and less sugar...and stress!

Have now ordered the 3D Whitening Strips, by Crest.

Will try lots of the suggestions, thank u!

Forget the home hair dye .
Get to a hairdresser . It’s the one change that’ll really be worth the money .
Give yourself a home facial once a week . Even cheap as chips products work if you use them regularly .
Get a long walk every day with a borrowed dog . Get wet and muddy . Splash in puddles .
Talk to other dog walkers as you go .
Bubble baths .

I have the one trinny Woodall recommends. The boost from light salon. You can get cheaper on amazon. I love that bit of me time and have seen a difference. I’ve been following trinny Woodall a lot actually and she is quite inspirational interns of self care and clothing advice as well.