Quick fix to boost appearance and self esteem

[Tiredandgrumpytonight]

I’ve gained a fair bit of weight recently and have also been very tired, busy and skint. For these reasons my appearance and self esteem have gone dramatically downhill. To the point that apart from colleagues and family, I can barely look anyone in the eye and just have this constant feeling of shame for how terrible I look.

My hair is shoulderish length and I’m currently growing out colour which is obviously not a good look so I’m wearing it up a lot. I’ve got quite a few shorter bits round the front at my hairline so end up with that attractive devil horn look.

Make up is basic - foundation, eyebrows (badly done, I’m certain), blusher and mascara. My look doesn’t change from day to night. It’s my only look. My skin is relatively clear most of the month but is very pale and not in a pale and interesting way. It’s fairly red in areas and blotchy so when I do go without make up I just feel awful. I look like death warmed up.

Clothes - due to having gained a lot of weight and going up a couple of sizes I’m down to very much the bare minimum, especially with work clothes and am loathe to replace them because of course I’m convinced I’ll manage to lose the weight one day. So things are probably a bit more worn than I’d like them to be and I maybe only have 5 ‘outfits’ for work that I wear week on week. We’re also trying to be VERY careful with money in order to pay off some credit card so I feel really really guilty if I spend any money on myself.

So any wise words for me? I want to just feel more level with others and not ashamed to even look at people. I feel like people judge me for how bad I look and maybe even if affects my children.

I was thinking of maybe trying to get a couple of treatments done so that I feel and look more put together without having to load make up on every morning and without spending a fortune. Any suggestions?

Thanks!

What I have learned that might help:

1. Good hair cut - wash blow and straighten.

1. Squirt of cheap fake tan in my face cream every other day

1. eBay for cheap but quality blazer and dresses. I recently paid 12£ for a Whistles dress and 5£ for a Topshop blazer. They both fit well and look amazing - I am overweight too. Buy for the size you are now. I love recycling fashion and have got great stuff now for all occasions.

1. Buy new pyjamas/pants/dressing gown from primark so that when you have done your home pampering you don't have to ruin it by putting on grey undies!

1. If you can't afford mani/pedi keep nails short and clean with clear/light polish unless you can maintain darker colours. My Chipped nails make me feel grubby.

1. Get some good outdoor gear (eBay again) and commit to walking come rain or shine. This will help both physically and mentally.

1. Ask for vouchers for local Beauty place for Xmas and birthdays so you can use it when you really need a boost.

Good luck!

Fake tan in face cream is a great idea, I usually have the fear about fake tan on the face but every other day seems pretty risk free!

I watched a few YouTube videos about foundation application last night and honestly think I look a tiny bit better for it this morning. I’m going Christmas shopping today and can stretch to one product for myself - I think I’ll go for a primer, a hydrating one because my skin is really dry and often even with a really good moisturiser on under my foundation it’s still a bit flaky looking. I’m really limited to what foundations I can use because it has to be for really really really dry skin. Currently using a Bobbi Brown one I keep going back to.

I even dared to to put a drop of instant tan in my foundation to darken it a tiny bit so think I’ll keep doing that till it’s ran out then get then drops from M&S as they sound lovely.

Will look at dyes also today. Hope I don’t make my hair look even worse

Thanks again for all the tips everyone and please keep them coming.

If you still have dry skin despite using moisturisers then I'd try using a creamy hot cloth cleanser. I remove mine using a flannel wrung out in warm water so it gently exfoliates too. Also apply a thin layer of plain Vaseline to cleansed skin every few nights before bed.

@newdeer thanks for the make up video, I followed it this morning and have loads of compliments already! Found out I was making a few of the mistakes she highlighted and look a lot better for doing it her way

Primark is fab for make up and nail varnish ect

Rosehip oil is wonderful at night for dry skin. Really cheap on line,I think I paid £1.50

Purchases!

Got three primers because I have dry skin, visible pores on my nose and redness on my cheeks! So will probably use different ones in different areas. None of this was too pricey.

Will look into the rosehip oil, thanks.

I used to use the Liz Earle hot cloth cleanser so should really get that again!

Wrt Liz Earle,it's pricey and not as good now as it used to be. Superdrug do and amazing dupe for less than a fiver they also do another one Vit E wash as well which is good. Use tepid water if your skin is dry and red.

www.superdrug.com/Skincare/Superdrug-Naturally-Radiant-Hot-Cloth-Face-Cleanser-150ml/p/516251?gclsrc=aw.ds&&gclid=Cj0KCQiA_rfvBRCPARIsANlV66M3AnZ_xa7GtXQva_SRKJ0qqs3Xnsvof4xwdqkwGFQoXplvUnKz0hEaAhAoEALw_wcB

Omg what a difference already to my face!

Exfoliated once with a hot flannel and some charcoal face wash as that’s all I had.
Moisturised at night as well as morning - I know I should have been doing this already but my moisturiser is so expensive.
After moisturiser this morning I let it sink in for 10 mins before putting anything else on.
Blue primer on forehead, nose and chin.
Green primer on cheeks.
White primer on nose.
Setting spray (dewy)
Foundation with flat brush instead of beauty blender.
Rest of make up.
Setting spray (oil control because even though my skin is really dry I still get a bit oily during the day)

Before it was just moisturiser, foundation, rest of make up, powder. Done.

Can’t believe how much better my face look!

Hooray

Visit to good hairdresser get a good hair cut and sort colour out, eyebrows waxed & a new bra would work wonders.
I also got my hair blow dryed for a special night out last week by a nearly not quite qualified trainee hairdresser for a special night out. She really took her time it looked lovely and I received lots of compliments and felt amazing cost £7 odd (not including a tip).

Really just echoing what PP have said but you can sort this out on a budget.

If you can spare the time you could go to a local hairdressing college and be a model to get a cut/colour for cheap. They are supervised and you won't walk out with crap hair!

eBay and charity shops for clothes that fit you.

Check out Sali Hughes' articles on the Guardian about top beauty buys under £20. Spending time on your routine and being consistent matters almost as much as which products you use.

If you can I'd also suggest setting yourself an exercise goal - completing a 5k run perhaps. This will help you get in shape but also give you a self esteem boost that is not related to your appearance.

@Gigia isn't it amazing? And you get instant compliments. If you look at her face, one half looks like a fairly attractive woman with lots of make up on and the other looks like a vogue model or Hollywood star - so classy and stunningly beautiful. Just shows how the right, careful application of make up makes a difference.

@newdeer absolutely! I can't believe how much better I look, thanks again for posting the link!

Primer is brilliant it's amazing how just one product makes so much difference! My favourites are benefits the porefessional, the body shops instablur and loreals shake and glow

Can anyone recommend a primer that is a good dupe for the Benefits one? I agree it's brilliant but £££.

The primer that all the MUAs bang on about and is the same ingredients as the smashbox primer is Lanacane anti chaf gel, it's brilliant.

@MrsPelligrinoPetrichor Seriously? I'd never have guessed that! Thank you.

Make sure it's the anti chaff one NOT the anti itch one.

www.sarahdeluxe.com/2016/05/beauty-hack-trial-lanacane-as-primer.html?m=1

Looks like it's similar to the Benefit one too. Worth a go as it's so cheap.

Blimey. I am definitely trying that.

Eyebrow shape and tint plus eyelash lift and tint do wonders for me.

I’ve recently bought the E.L.F poreless putty primer - incredible stuff, and the ONLY primer that’s actually made a difference!! Only £8! I’m loving their stuff at the moment, and have bought a load of it. Hands down the best brand I’ve bought from in the last year or so, in that at least 90% of the things I’ve bought have made a difference, and do what they claim, which I think is so rare!