What makes you feel put together/well groomed? I'm struggling!

[Putmynewshoeson]

I had a baby in December and, although I've managed to lose the baby weight and am back in my pre-pregnancy wardrobe, I constantly feel scruffy and like I've lost my way.

I've recently done my own nail extensions and painted them a nice neutral pink and that's made a huge difference, but I wondered what works for you? So I can steal your ideas :)

I don't have great skin unfortunately, I have a lot of expression lines already (mid thirties) that only Botox is going to fix, and I have hooded eyes that are quite saggy eye-lid wise. I'm not sure what to do with my skin/make up really. I don't like to wear a lot but like to wear some, but I feel like what I was wearing before is no longer flattering.

And my HAIR. Fine, doesn't hold a shape so never really looks styled.

SIGH.

Basically - HELP.

What changes can I make to feel a bit more put together?

anyone?

I always think my DP looks better put together than me and I reckon it’s cos he irons, hangs up and generally takes care of his clothes better than me! I’m not trampy, but don’t quite look as crisp as him.

I got some blonde put in my fine, limp, brown hair and it's made me feel a lot better!! It's a bit of a change and it has more volume and texture from the dye

I should say I had a baby in May and I still feel like shit mostly but that's helped!

Eyebrows groomed and dyed makes a big difference to me (I do this myself)
Hair trimmed (I get my partner to go this since Covid and it's fine for me!) Looks much tidier. My hair is crap and won't hold a style either. A blow dry helps to give it a touch more volume and I smooth down the flyaway bits with hairspray. I'll get the straightener out for a special occasion!
Natural make up - a good foundation especially. I like Mac Studiofix

Eve brows and daily skin cleansing.

I need a good foundation actually
My hair is already blonde but I think it could do with looking a bit more natural

I have no idea where to start with my eyebrows! I generally do a quick pluck and pencil in, I'm a bit out of date!

Good make up. I confess I spend quite a bit on make up and I feel it's worth every penny.

I also have a policy of only buying and wearing clothes that I absolutely love when I put them on. This had made a huge difference to how I feel about myself.

I drink lots of water, get as much sleep as i can and do a lot of exercise; the difference in my skin and general glow is obvious if i skip either for a week or so. Easier said than done with little kids, i know!

Now that i’ve hit my 30s/motherhood/sleep deprivation i find i actually look best with minimal, fresh faced makeup. It makes me look younger. For day to day all i need is a decent concealer, a good natural looking mascara, a cream blush and a nice sheer lip tint or balm. I dye my eyebrows once a month so i can ignore them the rest of the time. Early Twenties me would have been horrified at the distinct lack of winged eyeliner

For fine hair, try using products that don’t contain any silicones and that contain protein - aphogee two minute reconstructor is great for a quick deep condition that gives your hair a bit more lift and wave if you have that sort of texture. Highlights also help - i’m getting mine redone for the first time since before lockdown this week and it’s about bloody time!

Taking a bit of time to really think about my clothes and how i combine them (rather than just what is fashionable/clean/nearby) has made a big difference to making me feel put together and allowed me to shop more sustainably and intentionally. I don’t buy anything for everyday wear unless it works with at least three different outfits, preferably more.

Strip lashes or extensions if you can afford them. Along with tinted moisturiser and a natural lip stain, that's all I need to feel polished.

I instantly feel better when not wearing leggings

#lowstandards

A decent bra
A nice moisturiser (my main criteria is that it smells nice!)
A good perfume that lasts
A well-fitting wardrobe. I think sometimes, even when you get back to your pre baby weight, your shape can have changed a lot. I'm not saying yours has, op, but I know in my case I had to totally adjust my usual 'look' because it just didn't suit my figure anymore. Once I'd found some better fitting/more flattering outfits I felt a million times better.

Magnetic false eyelashes! They are amazing. I wear them sometimes if I'm working from home but want to feel a bit less like a slob and a bit more glam. The eyeliner is magnetic and the lashes have little magnets so they stick. Can keep reusing them over and over too so good value 😊

Following! I could have written your post OP! 😑

I've recently bought some flattering jeans, some good quality T-shirt's and some new shoes. I'm really ring out a new CC cream foundation and hair is next on my list. 🤞🏻

@gingerbreadfox - what brand of magnetic eyelashes do you use please?

This is all fab thank you!

@SequinSmile I think you've hit the nail on the head - I'm slim again now but my shape is definitely a little different.

@kevinn can you recommend any make up products that you rate?

@Phoebesgift which lip stains do you use, that sounds perfect as I never wear lipstick (my teeth are naturally a bit yellow toned)

@gingerbreadfox which ones do you use? I've seen lots of different ones advertised but am always a bit wary as there are really mixed reviews. Do they look quite natural?

@DanceWithYourBalloon hello! Sorry to hear you feel you're in the same boat hopefully this thread will help. I should invest in decent jeans, I'm a short pear shape and find it so hard to get decent jeans that I live in ill fitting Primark ones

@KnitFastDieWarm I love your username. That's really interesting re hair products, I have fine quite silky hair and I find it so difficult to know what to do with it. Teamed with quite a round face I've never get been able to find 'the style' that makes me feel put together cut and colour wise

I so end a lot on makeup but don't really look like I'm wearing any apparently, colour matching foundation so it truly matches your own skin is key and it's going to be in a Beauty hall that that happens.

Good posture, carrying yourself well makes an instant difference.

It's been 8 months since I had the baby and lockdown hasn't helped my laziness at keeping groomed. I was kind of living in leggings and scraping my hair back.
I think my biggest problem is my hair, it's long and healthy but has no style.

I have quite a lot of coats. As they are the thing you see most in the autumn winter I always try and wear the best coat for the outfit. Lots of people make an effort with their outfit and then shove the same scruffy black coat over it. So over time try and curate a collection of flattering and varied coats. Wool type coats are much smarter looking than waterproofs so whenever i know there won’t be rain they are my go to. A good camel coat can make you look so chic. Also blazers over jeans instantly make you feel smarter.

I am obsessive with skin care and layer serums, bbc creams etc. but to look put together quickly for my it’s curl my dyed lashes, pencil my blonde brows and blush.

I'm in the same boat as you. Baby in December. Still a bit of beef to shift but I can wear most of my old clothes at least. If I was slimmer than I am, I always think a shirt tucked into jeans looks really smart. Sadly my wobbly tummy doesn't suit that very well.

I've just bought some chunky flat black boots that have made me feel a bit smarter when I'm wearing jeans and a jumper while being practical as well.

I always feel a bit better when I've got a bit of fake tan on. I use Bondi Sands mousse and it just lifts me out of corpse territory.

For make up, if I've not got any tan on, I use a really light foundation or tinted moisturiser, fill my eyebrows in with brown eyeshadow, tiny bit of eyeliner and mascara and a bit of blush. It takes less than five minutes but it does make me feel better.

Salon hair colour will make a difference but I can't afford that until I go back to work.

@Putmynewshoeson

Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue (applied with a damp beauty blender)
Hourglass Dim Light powder (light sweep only!)
Lancôme Hypnose mascara
L'Oréal eyebrow pencil (cheap and fab)
Hourglass blush
Urban Decay Naked Palette
Benefit Dandelion Twinkle Highlighter

I dread to think how much that has all cost me over time but I honestly think with make up, spending a few more pennies really shows.

I use a’kin rose hip oil on my face and it really brightens my skin, a noticeable difference since I started using it. A pair of earrings adds a bit of sparkle and I keep my eyebrows neat.

Also, could not agree more with @Carycy about the coats. A shite coat will instantly ruin an outfit and there's nothing you can do to hide them.

I invested in a dark charcoal Hush wool coat last year, and a real leather jacket recently. Both will last absolutely years and just finish off an outfit.

Eye brows! I always feel so scruffy and like my make up looks really poorly applied if I haven’t had my eyebrows waxed for a while. I feel like a new woman when they’re freshly waxed and tinted.

Also a bit of fake tan makes me feel much better about myself, even though nobody but me and DP see much of my skin in the colder months, it really gives me a boost. I honestly think I look slightly slimmer and much healthier with a tan. I use the bondi sands gradual tanning milk a few evenings a week (when I can be bothered) and the st tropez face tan mist every other day.