God I look dreadful

[AvonCallingBarksdale]

At the hairdressers and I know those mirrors are close up and not the most flattering but my god I look every one of my 48 years, fat and just very bleurgh.
I can’t shift my post menopausal spare tyre (well if I stopped eating so much I might), but even then I seem to have lost the ability to apply make up effectively and I’ve probably put on at least a stone over lockdown. It’s just a real sucker punch when you see yourself in close up and wonder where/when everything went south 😬. Not sure why I’m posting but any top tips?? I have friends who are my age who look great - those ones tend to be much slimmer so that’s probably a key point.
Please God I end up at least with a decent haircut!

No one will ever look at you as harshly as you do, the lights there won't be helping.
Are you getting enough sleep? I know when I'm knackered I snack a lot more presumably to get an energy hit?
I bet you look lovely btw 💐

I'm going to the hairdressers tomorrow for the first time in umpteen years. I will wipe some Vaseline on my glasses and all will be well

Well you got your hair done so I hope that gave you a boost. Get your makeup done at one of the counters? Hairdresser lighting can be very unflattering though, don't stress over it.

I totally understand. When I go to the hairdressers I always feel pretty good about myself until I sit there and see my lovely hairdresser who is about 19 and realise that, despite careful make up and decent clothes, I look about a hundred compared to her.

We have nice chats about clothes etc and I light say oh I recently got some nice stuff from whistles for example. Oh really? She says. My mum loves whistles stuff and my gran.

Get on a diet, see a plastic surgeon and you’re off x

Focus on eating healthily rather than 'dieting' - i.e. quality not quantity. Try to get your five a day, drink plenty of water, avoid sugar and highly processed things. This will help your complexion and will also help you eat 'mindfully' by reducing sugar cravings, so should lead into weight loss.

Re. make-up - is it time for some new make-up? What worked when you were in your 30s isn't going to work when you're in your late 40s - you might need to look at different colours and so on. Same goes for clothing - a style rethink might work wonders.

No amount of weight-loss, make-up, or even cosmetic surgery can turn back the clock, it's a question of making the most of what you have.

No one looks their best at the hairdressers. This meme always springs to mind.

Thanks all . Vaseline on the entire mirror would have been an idea, Gatekeeper
ClariceQuiff I have had the same makeup routine forever - tinted moisturiser, powder and a smear of lippy. You’re right - I could get away with that for many a year, now not so much but I’ve never really sussed how to apply makeup properly so maybe a trip to the makeup counter is in order.

Plastic surgeon is a bit drastic… for now

Haircut is great so that’s a start.

@StrychnineInTheSandwiches 😂😂

I’m 54 and know how you feel! Suddenly I look haggard!! I looked closely in the mirror the other day and was shocked.
It’s not weight with me but my face, I look old.

If you've never really worn makeup a cc cream and a bit of bronzer/blush can work wonders.

@StrychnineInTheSandwiches

No one looks their best at the hairdressers. This meme always springs to mind.

Me every time - my salon also uses those horrible white disposable towels which make you look like a nun.

Sometimes you just have to thank God for aging fading eyesight

I have so much empathy... I'm 54 ..and haggard as hell. I'm slim, so can confirm that it's not a weight issue..in fact I think it makes me look worse.. I'm wrinkly and saggy, and never mastered makeup so I think that ship has sailed.

I'm not especially vain but sometimes I do look in the mirror and think 'when the FUCK did that happen?!'

I'm glad I can't see close up any more

I’m going for a two pronged attack at the hairdressers next week, I’m going to wear a mask AND keep my glasses off the whole time I’m there, what I can’t see can’t hurt me (I know it’s bad, I don’t need to see the evidence)

If you've never really worn makeup a cc cream and a bit of bronzer/blush can work wonders

What’s a cc cream? Is it what us oldies call a concealer?

1. Get a hairdresser who is older than you
2. Go to a hairdresser where the mirrors are falsely flattering
3. Weight is key, not too much, not too little

@blinder Complexion corrector so along the lines of a tinted moisturiser.

Thank you Verity!

@Beachlovingirl

I totally understand. When I go to the hairdressers I always feel pretty good about myself until I sit there and see my lovely hairdresser who is about 19 and realise that, despite careful make up and decent clothes, I look about a hundred compared to her.

We have nice chats about clothes etc and I light say oh I recently got some nice stuff from whistles for example. Oh really? She says. My mum loves whistles stuff and my gran.

This! So true!! Especially the bit about clothes!! My hairdresser also told me that I was about her mums age. Further enquiry revealed that her mum is 60. I am in fact 44 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️

I'm so pleased my hairdresser has flattering mirrors !!!

I hate going to the hairdressers also and does not help that I had alopecia and eyebrows are barely visible so very self conscious. Absolutely hate it also but always feel better once have hair cut and colour done so worth the hassle. Bet you look ok but it is those really bright lights and mirrors everywhere.

It's the same with some changing rooms, the lights and mirrors make you look hideous, why they think having such unflattering lighting/mirrors will sell clothes I just don't know.

Well I feel a lot better now knowing I’m not alone! Some good tips too thank you. I knew about BB cream but not CC.

I feel exactly the same. My hairdresser is 48 and she has clients telling her she needs to have fillers and botox as she looks old. She got paranoid as obviously she's looking in the mirror a lot. So far she hasn't done it.