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?

Exfoliating socks? Do tell. Sorting out your feet is such a faff...

Significant effort in understanding clothes

Well THIS is a whole other thread. I also desperately need to do this, but for now am focusing on the “beauty” part. Particularly frustrated by postpartum skin and hair (I absolutely glow when pregnant, lucky me... unfortunately that’s only been 2 x 9 months in my life!)

Interesting the number of people mentioning Botox (think I might treat myself for my 35th birthday...) and very few cosmetic surgeries.

Finally having enough disposable income to throw at the best dermatologist I could find. Sorted out my acne, on way to sorting out acne scars and the retinol/vitamin C/azelaic acid combination means I still look young. Plus usual SPF50 stuff - though had always applied suncream religiously and daily - my acne got worse otherwise.

Stopped dying my hair. So much easier, it's in lovely condition, and I really like the grey

This, I've got long hair and only about 2" left of bleached hair. My grey is is such good condition and I don't have to faff with colouring any longer, plus I love the colour

Ardnassa, how did you find your dermatologist? And roughly how much for a consultation?

What vitamin C and retinol products do people use?

Derma-Planing & Micro-Needling - fantastic results for my late 50's face

Exercise and eating lots of vegetables. V good for the complexion!

Microblading - life changing
Paulas Choice BHA Liquid for treating acne
Spearmint tea to treat acne
Micro planing

Moisturising and wearing SPF on face since early teens (thanks Mum!)

Getting my very long hair ( near waist) cut into a more flattering shoulder length - took years off me and I felt amazing after doing it.

Any recommendations on a good face spf? Ideally one you don't need a normal moisturiser with as well, as I'm a bit lazy?

Dermalogica pre cleanse and ultra calming cleanser for taking make-up off instead of using wipes. My skin is glowing now!

ultrasun spf 50 anti pigmentation is brilliant, I use it as moisturiser too

@agteacht there's a brand called "Footner" and they are amazing. You put these plastic socks on full of some gel for about an hour, wash it off and in 2 weeks all that horrid dry skin will start to peel away and it's GLORIOUS!! Leaves behind beautifully soft trotters.

Beauty Pie membership, for their version of footner, vitamin c capsules, hyaluronic acid, eyeshadow pencils, jeju moisturiser, SPF
Drunk Elephant a passioni retinol
The ordinary niacinamide & zinc
Philips facial hair trimmer
Natura Bisse diamond white spf 50 - in a beauty box, but would buy it

Finding Caroline Hirons. I ditched the makeup wipes and started double cleansing properly. It improved my skin within a week. I’ve add lots more to my skincare routine since and it’s continued to improve, but finding Caroline was what started it all off.

@User68953378975 I use Neostrata High Potency Cream. This one.
BUT it is really really potent and not very many can tolerate it like l can. I would suggest trying a weaker strength first. My skin is combination/oily, quite tolerant, and was acne-scourged before Roaccutane.

@Parkmama going to google it right away! Does that mean I don't have to try to exfoliate them etc?? Sorry to sound so rubbish but when it comes to priorities my feet don't even come close and I need a quick fix!!
But I long for perfect feet nonetheless...

@agteacht no exfoliating required, you just sit your feet in the gel and then patiently wait for the skin to start shedding. It's not a forever cure so moisturising after and beyond will help prevent the build up again. Google footner images for examples!

Exercising - hiking and running gives me a glow
Lots of water
Using rice water mixed in with my hair masks - has made my hair so much stronger and healthier
Curly girl method for my fine wavy hair - sulphate free shampoo, no silicones, no brushing.
Acid toner - total game changer
Glossier lash slick mascara and boy brow
Using a good sleeping cream/sleep mask

@Parkmama thanks so much, going to order!!!

Stopping gel/acrylic/SNS etc nails. I have done this probably 15 times over the decades and, given circumstances, recently. For the final time. We all know the damage these 'systems' do to our nails, as well as the cost of upkeep. I've been a bit of an odd bod to nail technicians over the years as I've always wanted "shorter, shorter", never long nails. I concede that well maintained fake/shellac etc nails may look professional but they always look fake. I've decided that short, natural and simply glossed is my look from now on.
I wore lash extensions for about a year, two years ago. Loved the look but often suffered from really red irritated eyes. Problem was I never felt they were really clean as technician advised no water etc. Anyway, during a financial hiccup, I stopped ... to find my natural lashes were in a DREADFUL compromised state. This wasn't an operator error; the beauty therapist was one of the best and highly regarded (certainly the most expensive) around. I swear it took me about eight months to regain a full set of reasonable natural lashes.
I love having my brows threaded and then use Maybelline to colour them. I also have upper lip and my blonde peach fuzz threaded.
I home-dye my lashes.

giving up booze. Lost weight and skin improved hugely

The spring thing for upper lip hair. I wouldn’t be without it and it costs practically nothing.

Buying fitted tops so that the waist can be seen. Bravissimo etc.