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?

Not drinking alcohol

@Lelivre I was worried about the risk of eye colour changing too but did some reading, including about the study that was done, and it put my mind at ease. Here are some good articles about it:

www.ophthalmologyweb.com/Featured-Articles/19843-The-Myths-Surrounding-Latisse-Will-It-Turn-My-Blue-Eyes-Brown/

www.apostrophe.com/blog/the-big-question-about-latisse-will-it-change-your-eye-color/

I have blue eyes and have been using Careprost on and off for over 9 years with no adverse effects and absolutely no colour change to my eyes at all. One tiny drop is enough for both eyes and I'm careful to only apply it to the base of my upper lashes using a small eyeliner brush so none gets in my eyes.

Good luck with the lash lift, I have amazing results but think it helps that my lashes are long from the Careprost use. I don't know how good the results would be if your lashes are short. I used to use Salon System's last lift but now use Iconsign's and have found it be much better (and much cheaper!).

@Lndnmummy That's lovely of you to say, thanks. Honestly, all of these things have been great for me, especially as day-to-day I'm very low maintenance and don't wear make up. I like to just get up, brush my teeth and hair and go so I'm always on the look-out for long-term solutions to make life easier!

For my lashes, I obviously use Careprost so they're very long and I dye them before doing a lash lift using black Refectocil tint. For years I used Salon System's lash lift kit but now used Iconsign's which is much cheaper and I've found the results to be better. You can get it on Amazon:

www.amazon.co.uk/ICONSIGN-lifting-Eyelash-Upgraded-Version/dp/B07NZ38MXK?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

But I got mine on eBay as it was much cheaper:

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lash-lift-Kit-Makeup-bemine-Eyelash-Perming-Kit-ICONSIGN-Lashes-Lotion-7-in-1-UK/392753150007?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

If buying on eBay it comes from Hong Kong so takes a few weeks to arrive. I must add that I use a different glue as the ones in both the Salon System and Iconsign kits are a bit rubbish and mean it's hard to get the shields to stick to your eyelids and your lashes to stick to the shields. I notice on the Amazon listing for the Iconsign kit they say the glue is upgraded and it certainly looks different so it could be worth a try. This is the glue I use, it's brilliant:

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07KSWH91N/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?psc=1&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&ie=UTF8

With my nails, I always watched like a hawk when getting SNS done in a salon. For a long time, I thought I could do it myself but kept putting it off until I watched quite a few YouTube videos, did a lot of reading and decided to just buy all the bits and go for it! It seems that the system you use is very important so I did some research and, after much deliberation, I went for the Cuccio Powder Polish Dip Starter Kit - it comes with everything you need, including several different colour powders, although I also use Seche Vive Gel Effect Top Coat at the end as the top coat in the kit isn't very shiny. I got my kit on eBay but it seems to be sold out everywhere at the moment (probably everyone doing their nails at home in lockdown!). This is the kit anyway:

www.cuccio.co.uk/product/powder-polish-dip-system-starter-kit/

The only other things I bought were an electric nail drill from Amazon (essential for buffing the dip manicure and removal), lots of extra colours of dipping powder (Rosalind ones from Ali Express) plus acetone and soak off bowls for removal. These soak off bowls are great as you can put hot water underneath to help speed up the process:

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/EE-LN-Pro-Dual-Layer-Hand-Washer-Nail-Bowl-Soak-Off-Polish-Remover-Manicure-To/164126450921?hash=item2636b2e4e9:g:x1cAAOSwmo5c8VJS

I've been really impressed with the results and I think the main reason is that the Cuccio system is so good. I was expecting my first go to be a disaster but it wasn't at all. Cuccio have good instructions and an easy to follow video to guide you:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jtjg_81asdA

Good luck with it all and let me know if you have any questions

@KaliforniaDreamz I had my eyebrows microbladed 18 months ago and had it adjusted over the following weeks as my brows were way too big and looked like slugs. The technician used something to lighten parts and those sections did turn orangey. They took as long to fade as the rest of my brows did though they were much lighter and it wasn't too noticeable. Within a year my brows had faded quite a bit overall but didn't fade orangey, they just got lighter. Now, after 18 months, they've completely faded. I wouldn't have it done again as I thought they looked too strong and fake, especially as I rarely wear make up. I've instead focused on growing my eyebrows with Regaine solution and tinting them and much prefer the result of this.

Thanks empireants I’ll read that properly later. That’s quite reassuring to know how long you have used it.

Thank you empireants

Can anyone recommend a good cruelty free moisturiser with high SPF?

I have dry skin and the only thing that has helped it is using LRP but feel guilty buying and applying it.

Where do people get high strength retinol from ? Without the need of a prescription 🙏

Spain, pharmacy, over the counter. Next time we are allowed to travel pick some up, it's called Retirides.

@Laburnam Dermatica. It's an online dermatologist, it's £20 per month and you can pause it whenever you want. They're offering a free month at the moment but there is a waiting list as a dermatologist looks at your photos and you have a consultation.

Laburnam I used a Spanish pharmacy and google translate. They delivered to my holiday address but would have delivered to the UK

Thank you 🙏

Retin A has smoothed the texture of my skin and is starting to have an effect on lines after 14 months.
Cerave moisturiser, LRP factor 50 are daily staples.
Other than that botox helps to fool people into believing I'm not an angry troll (until they get to know me).

I am 37 and think I need some Botox in my life post lockdown! Can anyone recommend where to go, I’m clueless! I don’t want to go to some dodgy salon. I’m in the south east - work in London so anything I that area should be reachable. Also, what is baby Botox?

I'm getting my eyebrows bladed and getting Botox after lock down. Nothing to lose!

@empireants thank you so so much!! I ordered the lash lift and the eyelash serum. Lash lift was soo cheap from eBay! Hope it isn’t dodge.
Unfortunately the nail kit is sold out everywhere. I might just start sourcing every part of the kit individually and build up from there. Might not be that much more expensive as I’d only get one or two colours to start with. I’m feeling so happy and motivated from this thread! Thank you

@empireants one more question for you! Which electric file did you get? I’m sourcing the cuccio kit individually with good success as all the kits are sold out. Will start with just one or two colours. I’d love to hear which file you got.

@Lndnmummy hi

I didn't trust myself with a nail drill with a foot pedal so bought this one:

www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07WKB1TMT/ref=cmswwrcppapiii_5gOWEbJ3PKG10

It works great. I watched quite a few videos on how to use them and I only use it to aid removal of old dip powder and to lightly buff nails. I still do all filing and the majority of buffing by hand.

It's annoying the Cuccio kit is sold out but if you get the bottle for steps 2 & 4, 3 and 5, that'd be fine. Step 1 isn't essential as you can just use acetone to prep the nail. For steps 6 and 7, you can use any brush cleaner and cuticle oil (I love CND Solar Oil). You can also use any brand of dipping powder. I have loads of Rosalind ones I got on Ali Express which are great. You can also buy them on Amazon but they're more expensive on there (still really good value though).

This thread is very interesting,the biggest difference i found was cheek fillers, considering am pretty old,and lost facial fat,
Skin is quite good, no real wrinkles but some fine lines i need to get rid of round mouth and chin area
Anyone able to point me in the right direction for glycolic acid,and the best place to buy it from, and what the result might be please
Thanks

Paula's choice has an excellent glycolic (AHA) gel.

The best beauty decisions you can make are to fix your skin, your teeth, your hair, reach a good weight for your figure and develop a sense of style. Personally I think the eyebrows and eyelashes and botox, fillers will date and/or are risky

@princessTiasmum I use The Ordinary's Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution. I only use it at night about twice a week as I also use retinol products. It's great, it exfoliates my skin, removing any dead skin and making it look more glowing. Highly recommend it. Pixi Glow Tonic is also really good but much more expensive.

Elllllle and Empireants thank you so much, i have used the ordinary before and just ordered some HA
I have some Retin A i got my son to send me from Spain, i'm not sure it has made much difference,except to crows feet
I am already slim, but lost some hair, [due to stress i'm told] thinking about the rogaine for hair and eyebrows
Will order Glycolic acid now
What strength Retinol is best, mine is 0.025,
I will ask him to get me a stronger one if needed

empireants just realised it was you talking about the lattisse for eyelashes
I use it every night to guard against an eye problem, [under a different name]] but has same ingredients] i was hoping it would give me longer lashes it has done nothing,but hasn't changed my eye colour either
Was talking to a lady who uses it for the same reason, she said her lashes grew so long she had to trim them

Retin A and Botox. There's no such thing as baby Botox'?!? You either have it or you don't.
I've bought everything under the sun and spent £££ but no cream will sort of my crows feet and frown lines.