Best beauty decision you ever made

[Goostacean]

Lockdown is giving me plenty of time to think of what I could change in my beauty regime (which is currently very limited ).

Please inspire me: what was your revolutionary/ life-changing/ beauty-defining decision, product, new habit or whatever?

Finding Caroline Hirons, life changing.

Eyelash extensions. Just make me look like I've made an effort even if I'm ill or shattered.
Love them that much I trained in them and have made a successful business from doing them so not just me that loves them

Ooh I’ve never had eyelash extensions... big fan of Shellac though, and it sounds like they have all the same benefits- but for your eyes!

I've started using fake tan

As a pale red head I've always subscribed to 'pale and interesting' thinking that a tan with red head would be odd. But I look so much healthier and more radiant, and it seems to airbrush blemishes

Eyebrows microbladed made a huge to my face

Getting a proper skincare routine.

Few fake tan drops in face moisturiser every day.

IT Cosmetics CC cream.

*huge difference

CH is just a glorified sales lady

@bananamonkey which face tan drops fp you use? I've been thinking about getting some. I use a fake tan on legs but for some reason I'm scared of using it on my face!

Started getting my eyebrows tinted. As a blonde with invisible eyebrows it makes a huge difference!!

I have the same issue with my lashes and was getting extensions done as well and loved them but they ended up damaging my lashes so stopped after a couple of years. I’m due to give birth in a couple of weeks and was planning to get them done again as a one off so I looked a bit human after the birth but now I have no option but to look like a boiled egg!

Hair extensions
Gel manicures and pedicures
Liz Earle skincare regime
Yoga

Going to a dermatologist.

Made a massive difference to managing my rosacea, initially with prescribed drugs and then with guidance about the best products to use to manage it.

Other than that, LVL lashes!

Eyelash extensions
Micro landed eyebrows

Wake up looking a little less like death

Laser hair removal- Especially underarms where I would have to shave every other day.

Tinted eyebrows and eyelashes- makes your face look better without looking like you have done anything/are wearing any makeup.
(Can also do a lash lift to curl them semi permanently. Much better than having lash extensions in constantly)

Losing weight
Looking well after my skin with proper skincare routine
Taking vitamin B supplements against acne

But the most important one:
I quit smoking

Yes to fake tan, from Spring through until autumn. Tanned chub looks better than pale chub 😂

Clarins skin products and foundation has totally changed my skin. It is so much clearer now. I wouldn’t go back to anything else. I have really sensitive skin and this doesn’t irritate it.

Getting my front teeth straightened - it was painfully expensive but I now love my smile

Laser hair removal. I had my bikini line and armpits done. Have decided my legs are next once lockdown over.

Weight loss surgery. I look amazing! 😄 And yes agree on Hirons. Shilling product no one needs.

@theseriousmoonlight ive used the clarins one. It's very good.

Similar to a few already mentioned but mine have been:

-eyelash extensions, they make me look awake which is a miracle with 4 DC! I’ve been getting them consistently for about 3 years now and as I’ve not had them during lockdown I’m shocked at how much worse for wear I look without them. I have fine blonde straight lashes which don’t hold any kind of curl so even with mascara it still looks like I don’t really have lashes. First thing I’ll be doing the second I’m allowed!

-shellac manicures, they make me feel put together

-face tan drops, I use the tan luxe ones mixed with my moisturiser and they add such a nice glow to my face when I have no makeup on

• retinol solution and vitamin c products. I’ve been using a retinol solution for years now and I’m frequently complimented on my skin. I’m 38 and my skin is the exact same as it was in my 20s- likely my genetics have played a part in this but I really believe retinol has helped. I use the ordinary retinol and REN aha + vitamin C toner and morning cream and they are the saviours of my skincare routine

-laser hair removal, best investment I’ve ever made!

Another vote for fake tan

The tan luxe face drops are amazing

Technically more medical than beauty, but Roaccutane. Transformed my skin.

SPF 50. Daily

Then Botox

Then Glycolic acid. My skin is like leather usually not sensitive at all, so I can use a quite potent strength. My skin is so smooth and even. I won't be without it my glycolic product now eventhough it's bloody expensive.

I try and fit in Retin A too, but over years and my leather-like unsensitive skin cannot use it very much. So high potency glycolic is where it's at for me.

Interestingly, stopping using Caroline Hirons advice completely changed my skin for the better. Stripping my skincare right back to just Cerave hydrating cleanser, a La Roche posay moisturiser and Cerave eye cream has given me great skin. I double cleansed long before she tried to make it her thing, and will continue to do that though. I feel like I've seen her ruin many people's skin and then they end up spending a fortune trying to fix it! Clearly she must have helped some people though.

Stopping wearing liquid foundation also massively improved my skin. I can't stand the feel of it now. A really light sweep of Lily lolo mineral powder is more than enough now that my skin is good.

Stopping dying my hair using chemical dyes and switching back to henna also turned the health of my hair around. My hair is really fine and just couldn't take even the gentlest of dyes anymore.

I started moisturising twice a day aged 14 (30 years ago) and I really think that's paid off.

Getting highlights, everyone said I looked healthier so I've kept that up about 20 years (expensive!)

Apart from that, Lumea, lip balm addiction, and reading the Beauty Myth in the 6th form which helped enormously with self-acceptance - though I was young and pretty then, let's see how well I stay positive now the sagging's begun!

So for me:

-Eyebrow microblading. Makes a massive difference to my face. They still look natural, but I don’t need to do anything to them, and have the option of brow gel etc to darken them a bit if I want to.

-Semi permanent eyeliner. I have the ‘eyelash enhancer’ type which is basically a very thin line around the eyelashes and no flick. It just makes my eyes look a lot more defined without doing anything. If I want, I just add a flick on the outside corner to look ‘done’. Otherwise it just looks natural.

-Eyelash serum. No longer need eyelash extensions as my eyelashes are so long. Don’t wear mascara or anything now!

On my list is:

Tooth whitening. Mine aren’t bad but I think they’d look a bit better after being whitened.