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?

@SnapCackleFlop sorry it wasn’t me you asked but I thought I could help, Ive got auburn hair and I’m so so pale and the best tan for me is the skinny tan body glow in light, I put it on at night and it develops into a lovely natural hint of colour without smelling really offensive. If I apply it for a few days running I get the colour of a normal person with a tan It’s the best I’ve tried! It’s on offer at Superdrug at the min for about £6 so it’s not mega expensive if you don’t get on with it

The best thing I have done for myself? Botox and fillers on my 11s and forehead. My 11s were really deep and pronounced so I looked angry all the time. The decision came when one of my team popped their head round my office door with a question and visibly recoiled when I looked up as I looked so furious. I wasn’t at all cross, just concentrating. I didn’t want to be seen that way and found a brilliant ex nurse who makes me look like me.

Other than that Alpha H Liquid Gold. I know some people frown on it, but it’s worked miracles for me.

Serious skincare. Stopped buying random stuff that magazines recommend and gained as much knowledge as I could about effective skin care ingredients. Vitamin c in the morning (not all products are created equal) SPF 50 every day without fail. Acid exfoliate a couple of times a week. Prescription tretinoin (but started with over the counter retinoids first)

@totallyoverthisnow Thanks so much, that's really helpful! I've been googling away and actually ordered that exact one yesterday so it sound be here in a few days.

Do you have any special tips for applying? I ordered a mitt thing as well - is it fair enough not to show up any mistakes? I feel like I'm the skin equivalent of someone wearing white jeans.... every streak of fake tan will show up whereas normal people get away with a bit of natural blending being a normal colour in the first place.

Stopped dying my hair. I'm only 35 but totally grey but I love not having to faff about with dye bottles every 2 weeks and it's in the best condition for a long time.

Microblading honestly was life changing in terms of my confidence, I’m so fair and never had eyebrows and it’s given me the courage to wake up in the mornings and leave without makeup.

I have had a very small amount of lip fillers, again given me the confidence to put bright colours and gloss on, they were so thin before they still look small but it’s made such a difference. - obviously that is such a personal one not everyone needs them.

Drinking 2L+ of water everyday no excuses.

A bloody good mascara (Too Faced, Better Than Sex)

When we are free I always get a shellac manicure, I’m in a people facing role and a well manicured hand makes such a difference!

Talk to me about retinol, what does it do?

I've decided I'm getting Botox when this lockdown is over. I've been scared of it but decided life is too short!

Oh yes I need to get some Too Faced, Better Than Sex mascara! I actually stopped a colleague once to ask her what she was using, it looked that good.

@SnapCackleFlop I only use it on my top half, I wouldn’t inflict my legs out on anyone even with tan on so I jst give my skin a good scrub in the shower then just apply it all over my arms and chest, I don’t use it on my face as I break out. I don’t use a mitt, just apply evenly all over and then wait a couple of mins before I put my pjs on. Keep your skin well moisturised in between using it, so I put body lotion on in the morning after I’ve applied and I use it every other day to maintain a nice colour so I’d just moisturise on the days I didn’t use the tan IYSWIM. Good luck!!

Thanks to mn only ever using hard soap on my face and all over. I wasted years and tears battling with spotty skin.

I couldn't find bar soap for a bit during lockdown. Skin on my shoulders broke out after using shower gel and the breakout took 2 weeks to clear after going back to soap. Never again!!

My fake tan application tip is to get a mitt that is kind of crushed velvet material, instead of foam. Exfoliate well beforehand and apply to clean, dry skin. I apply to my face with a make up sponge.

@muminmanchester Retinol takes the top layer of your skin off, revealing beautiful fresh skin underneath. If you use it then you have to wear spf 50 on your face constantly afterwards, because your new fresh skin will be more susceptible to sun damage.

Keep it away from your eyes because it'll make you go blind. Apply sparingly to your face just once a week at first, gradually increasing as your skin becomes more tolerant. I've been using it on my face and it makes me look so much fresher. The biggest difference was on my décolleté though. I used to live in a hot country and my chest looked a little bit crepey and leathery because of the sun damage (though the rest of me is ok and I hardly ever sunbathed). I applied retinol, topped off with some thick blue Nivea and the difference in just a week is huge.

@Imacliche May I ask how you do your own lash extensions please?

Good fake tan. I like Vita Liberata.

Epilator/ good razor blades. Gillette Venus.

Coconut Oil / Cocoa Butter as a body moisturizer, so simple to use.

Teeth polishing at the dentist.

Low maintenance hair. No dye / dry cut. But, maybe I have easy hair!

My eyebrows have disappeared... They were never thick, but ate now white / blonde. I think tinting is next on my beauty list.

Keep it away from your eyes because it'll make you go blind.

Why are people putting something on their face that will make you blind if you get it in your eyes?! That just cannot be good, nope!

A visit to a dermatologist over 25 years ago. As a result of his advice I’ve used Retin a and sunscreen daily. My skin looks in great condition for my age.

Everyone saying similar things on here! Mine would also be teeth...had crowns though on front teeth. Couldn't have them straightened unfortunately. SPF, fake tan, shellac. Though I do want to do eyelash extensions next. Maybe do something about smile lines.

JoeExoticsEyebrowRing

Why are people putting something on their face that will make you blind if you get it in your eyes?! That just cannot be good, nope!

It wont make you go blind instantly, just cause a gradual deterioration in your eyeball health leading to eventual blindness...

As long as you keep it away from your eyes it's great, but the eyeball thing is scary and I am very careful to avoid the eye area.

It wont make you go blind instantly, just cause a gradual deterioration in your eyeball health leading to eventual blindness...

Oh right, that's OK then!

If anyone is looking for a good sunscreen this one is made by a dermatologist, is cheap and is spf 50 here

Altruist is fab

What retinol do you recommend?

An intimate cosmetic surgery procedure (labiaplasty).
Every single time i see myself naked now i feel beautiful and confident. It was life changing.

Other than that, whiter teeth (Crest strips), working out my colours and wearing them and just worrying less about what people think.

Microblading. Absolute game changer. I had tiny thin old lady eyebrows before. Now they're ace.

Spending a decent amount of money every 2 months on getting my hair cut and highlighted. I hated my hair before and really missing it at the moment!