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?

[woodhill]

Not dyeing my hair.

[ferretface]

Oh and Invisalign!

[ferretface]

Skincare: Botox, retinoids and SPF

Hair: Embracing my hair's natural texture

[Untangled87]

I think I'm alone here as everyone has been pro-tanning so far, but my best beauty decision was giving up the fake tan. I just think the 'pale and interesting' look suits me better. Think Nicola Roberts in the early days of Girls Aloud versus today.

[LightOfAThousandStars]

Double Cleansing, wearing SPF everyday, ditching heavy long wear foundation.

[JocelynSchitt]

So many suggestions on this thread that Im now going to try!

[Grapewrath]

Also the comment about breastfeeding- I bf two children for 2 years each and have great boobs 👌still very full and perky. The only difference is a couple of stretch marks which were acquired in pregnancy

[Grapewrath]

Becoming vegan- no more acne or dark circles.
Wearing factor 50 facial sunscreen all year around- face has stopped aging rapidly and skin tone is more even

[Mistymonday]

Honestly? Going on meditation retreats, I look so much more radiant and inwardly glowy after those - my face totally changes!

[Joiningthegossip]

@iwanttolookbetter

Ooh, great thread! Haven't read the whole thing yet but I'm working my way down. I have some questions for some of you though!

Do LVL lashes give a different result to a standard eyelash curl (other than tinting them too)? I had my eyelashes curled years ago and it did absolutely nothing but I'd be interested if there's a method that gives superior results.

Also, for those of you who get manicures, do they do anything to your actual hands beyond putting posh handcream on them (or are they mostly about your nails)?

LVL is a brand, you usually pay more for the name BUT lash lifts are fab these days. They've changed a lot, it depends on the therapists placement of lashes etc... so check out there social media for photos and you will leave the salon with wow eyes!!

Since going back to work after lockdown I have done so many lash lifts, they are taking over lash extensions (I'm a beauty therapist)

[iwanttolookbetter]

LadyRatterly - what are you saying about lash pads (what are they) and how does that relate to curling your lashes? Is there something you can do that keeps your eyelashes supercurled for ages?

[FlyingByTheSeatof]

Is this classed as a Zombie thread as its from May 20

[JanewaysBun]

Laser hair removal.
Literally changed my life

[iwanttolookbetter]

Ooh, great thread! Haven't read the whole thing yet but I'm working my way down. I have some questions for some of you though!

Do LVL lashes give a different result to a standard eyelash curl (other than tinting them too)? I had my eyelashes curled years ago and it did absolutely nothing but I'd be interested if there's a method that gives superior results.

Also, for those of you who get manicures, do they do anything to your actual hands beyond putting posh handcream on them (or are they mostly about your nails)?

[Gigia]

Hair extensions- so easy and always look great
Eyelash extensions
Microblading

[thelake]

Getting my hair dyed a colour that suits me. For me that's a natural dark auburn. Spending money having my wonky teeth straightened is confidence boosting. it's not about becoming a beauty queen but about becoming the best version of myself aesthetically.

[2021optimist]

Laser on my legs. Life changing!

[Junjulaug]

Laser. Life changer. Spent £3k 15 years ago and now my life doesn’t revolve around a 6 week leg waxing cycle. Convinced DM in her 50s to do it and she would say the same. DD started shaving at 8. As soon as she is old enough I’ll pay for her to have it.

[LadyEloise]

Laser. A gamechanger.
Excess hair broke my heart. Spontaneous days out to the beach on unexpected sunny days with dcs were a no no if it was the wrong time in the waxing cycle. Broke my heart.
I so envied others who did not have that problem.
It was wildly expensive then but my darling mother stepped in to finance it.
Lifechanging for me.

[mandonaplane]

DH made me do it, I refused to run or mountain bike, didn’t really have money or time for the gym.. so we have a walk. It was when fitbit steps were really in a few years ago. We have a circular walk from our home which takes just over an hour and I was delighted that I’d done 14,000 steps. It was time out for ourselves. Originally we made time for this every evening after work, rain or shine 7 days a week. I dropped 2 dress sizes. (Worked in an office at the time so was pretty sedentary).
Fast forward to now, changed job but we still continue to walk and I’m still 2 dress sizes smaller than I was in my 40s. Our original walk is so familiar I can do it on my own or with the kids or with DH and I know if I’m feeling tired/lethargic/grumpy I know it will be done within an hour so just do it.

Other than that Botox 😀

[NameChange84]

Hmmmm it’s a tough one to narrow down but I’d probably say -

Phillips Lumea is incredible. Sadly mine is currently broken (won’t recharge) so I’m saving up for a new one.

Getting rid of my long hair. It was beautiful and so long I could sit on it and drew many compliments but, under peer pressure, I decided to donate it to a charity that made wigs for those with hair loss. I expected I’d hate short hair and would regrow it asap but found it works much better for me and compared to all the other 20 somethings at the time who all had long hair, I felt a bit “different” and edgier and now I’m in my thirties and I’ve never grown it out since, just kept going shorter. It always looks chic and “done” and, although it needs styled most days, it’s so much less time consuming to wash and dry and I feel the focus is more on my face/eyes than the long hair. Apart from now when it’s got longer in lockdown and I’m in desperate need of a cut. Currently shoulder length, longest it’s been in many years and I’m longingly eyeing up chin length bobs and short pixies. Can’t wait to get it lopped off!

Also, swimming. Before lockdown I’d go in my lunch hour or after work every week day and often on a Saturday too. It’s really toned me up and given me an athletic figure that I never had and strong arms and legs. I’ve also found it makes me put more effort into keeping my body moisturised and “groomed” if that makes sense. After an evening swim, I’ll always take a long shower and wash my hair/exfoliate/moisturise in the changing rooms and it just feels really luxurious, like me time. Swimming has been really great for me and I’ve missed it SO much! Definitely more flabby now than I was at the beginning of the year .

[IlonaRN]

@KnitFastDieWarm
Please could you tell me what hair products you use, please?
I have fine wavy hair too, and am struggling finding curly girl products that work without making it look greasy!

[lindyloo57]

Vioetbluegreenred I use laura mercier it is discontinued but you can get it if you shop around, I tried bare minerals but didn't get on with it so much, you might, it's worth a try if you can't get LM, I even use a little LM as a setting powder over liquid foundation just to use them up, it helps them last longer.