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?

@theseriousmoonlight (great name! 👩‍🎤) I’m using the Isle of Paradise ones as I wasn’t sure I’d like them but next time I’ll splash out on the Tan Luxe ones.

Forehead and 11 lines Botox

Highlights to blend silver/grey. Expensive but so worth it as it’s also brightened my middle aged complexion.

Starting using high SPF (30 plus in winter and 50 in summer) daily in my late 20s. I wish I'd started before but hey ho. My sister didn't - did quite the reverse in fact, and although two years you've looks a decade older.

Basics really:

• Weight

-Skin (diet -oily fish- bottles of water and spf50)

• yoga/Pilates

It feels a lot better dressing if the basics are on point.

It sounds quite draconian but once you get into the habits, and they become a lifestyle, it’s easier?

Of course I do go mental on chocolate from time to time but after a while as an adult woman I genuinely enjoy stuff like yoga and intermittent fasting and see it as my “treat” and gift to my future self.

Also having a good neutral classic casual wardrobe has improved my confidence - I’m an hourglass so look best in fitted dresses, however for going to the shops not so good! And I was getting too much I wanted attention from creeps

But I took time to find the perfect black jeans, black and taupe flat ankle boots, plain comfy trainers (no flashy colours or logos just white or black) and puffers in a colour to match my eyes. Still on the lookout for a very plain but chic black puffer or wool coat.

It means I can now feel great when I’m running errands as opposed to either “too attention seeking or scruffy”

Also agree with teeth whitening. I’m holding ground at the moment but do regularly monitor the whiteness - I use whitening toothpaste and have occasionally splurged on those crest whitening strips (do NOT get cheaper versions) but am very open to spending more on stuff as I get older. Teeth are noticeable.

I'm planning on treating myself to a gorgeous set of eyebrows when this is all over! Not only are my brows very sparse but they're also very fair so you can hardly see them at all. My sister had hers done and they look so natural and just frame her face so well.

@theseriousmoonlight I use the Clarins tanning drops on my face by I use the "body" ones as the bottle is bigger and there's no difference in the ingredients! More for your money 👍🏻

@LifeInAHamsterWheel, really, the exact same ingredients? 🤔 Might treat myself to the body one then!

For me my acrylic nails make me feel complete, I love them and don't feel like me without them.
Also eyebrow waxing. I have sensitive skin and used to always get my eyebrows threaded. It used to hurt so bad, my eyes would literally stream and be red for hours after. And it took what felt like forever. I always said I'd never ever try waxing because I thought it would be way more painful and feel like my skin was being ripped from my face. So as much as I hated it I put up with it. Until a couple of years ago when my nail lady convinced me to try waxing (she's a beauty therapist who does nails, lashes and brows). I tried it and couldn't believe the difference. It was so quick and almost pain free. The complete opposite to what I expected. The first time I thought she'd done some kind of pre wax thing and the actual wax was still to come, then I was told it was all done. No streaming eyes and redness subsides very quickly. Now I'm hooked. I hear all the time that you should avoid waxing if you have sensitive skin, but for me the wax is pulled off in one swift movement and it's over, whereas threading they keep going for ages and it takes much longer. So I deffo prefer waxing. Best thing I ever did was try it.

@Dingdongthewitchisbread totally agree with eyebrow tinting, I also get my lashes done as well, and look like an egg if I don't. I've been doing them at home using kits since the lockdown and they're pretty good.

I've been uming and arring over teeth whitening as it's so expensive even though I can afford it. I'm not very good at spending at money on myself.

I think once this is done I'll got for it though. I've got fantastic teeth thanks to braces as a kid, but I rarely smile because I feel self conscious about them being yellow

Eyebrows microbladed

@ajs88 what kits have you been using for your eyelashes? Do you just mean eyelash tint?

If so, I wish it made a difference on me. For some reason whether I do it at home or pay to get it done you still can’t see my lashes when their tinted.

Getting my teeth whitened!!

This thread really makes me want to get my eyebrows microbladed now though..

Eyebrows microbladed.

Losing 40 pounds. I look like a different (much better) person.

Eating lots of healthy food & time-restricted eating regime. I'm post menopausal and keeping the weight off successfully.

Simple skin care. Cerave face wash, Aveeno moisturizer & spf.

Philips Lumea. Game changing.

Nose job. Can't believe none of you have needed this.
Not breast feeding. Well, not by choice really - it didn't work out. But the upshot is my boobs are still where they were 20 years ago. More or less.

Can someone talk to me about eyebrow tinting? Mine are rubbish - I over plucked as a teen and (pic obviously NOT me) this bit has never grown back. They're also thin and weedy. Would tinting do anything for me??

Botox
SNS nails
Philips Lumea

If not life changing most definitely life enhancing.
After lockdown it’s teeth whitening and microblading next for me

Microblading! I had mine done in September and they've faded a bit now but they're still great for giving structure to my face - my eyebrows are naturally so sparse they're invisible.

Also retinol - I've only been using adapalene for a few months and it's made such a difference to my post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. I've moving up to tretinoin next week and am really looking forward to seeing what difference it makes.

@blackswan my nose is the only perfect thing about me 😂

Double cleansing
Acid toning
Stopping smoking
Cutting back on booze and sugar

Caroline Hirons- hmm. I think shes really good at giving advice on good skincare habits (SPF, ditch the wipes, start proper cleansing etc) but almost all of the products she recommends are obscenely expensive

@Bridecilla that’s exactly the reason I had mine microbladed, my eyebrows in that bit were non existent.
Mine have faded a bit now as I had them done a while ago so I’m using Maybelline Tattoo Brow which is a good substitute but needs doing every few days.

Sorted out and whitened my higgledy piggledy teeth.

My personal trainer: I'd be absolutely nowhere without him