If you're good at having a beauty routine, when do you do it?

[spiderontheceiling]

I need some inspiration! I've never really taken much care of myself and, in my mid 40s, it's really beginning to show. Over the years I've read umpteen articles so sort of know what I should be doing but it's when that I struggle with ... full time, busy job, DH who works 60 odd hours a week, 2 DC who both play a lot of sport and need taxiing to that. Plus the usual cooking, laundry, admin etc (we do have a cleaner)
I shower every morning & use face wash and, as I always wake up with terrible bed head, at least rinse my hair every day and probably wash/condition it every other day and then blow dry it. I leave the house looking normal but, depending on wind/rain, can look fairly wrecked by the time I get to the office! I moisturise and use sun cream every morning. I usually put I make up too but not always. Make up is foundation, eye shadow, mascara, blusher & lip stick.
In the evenings, I take my make up off & use face cleanser.
I cut my finger nails when they need doing and sometimes file them. Gel doesn't work for me. I keep my toe nails painted.
I have a Phillips Lumia, noticed results with it but haven't used it consistently.
I have dry skin on my legs and pots of body cream but never quite get around to using it.
Actually, I have pots of all sorts of things which I never use!
How can I improve?

It’s easier if you thrive on routine which I do. My mum had routines too so it’s normal for me.

Hair needs a styling product to hold styles. I use Aveda for hair and dermalogica for skin.

I start with eating very cleanly, hardly touch alcohol and lots of water. Takes no extra time.
Morning and night I do my serums/retinol and moisturisers. Takes 5 minutes tops.
I've got my hair washing down to weekly and air dry it while doing other things. 15 minutes a week.
I sleep in a silk bonnet so I wake up with my hair the same as I went to bed. I have it styled every 8 weeks but as its waist length and wavy, it's pretty forgiving in between.
I wear thickening, lengthening mascara, lipstick, and fill in my eyebrows. My skins good from my diet and skincare, so that's all I need. Takes 5 minutes.
Once a week (twice in summer) I shave unwanted hair while in the shower. Im blonde so thats sufficient. Takes 10 minutes.
I commit the sin of sunbathing, so am always naturally lightly tanned except for my face, so once a week use a fake tan on it under my moisturiser. 2 minutes.
I paint my nails with a quick dry polish in a light colour and touch up redo as necessary. 5 minutes.
My clothes are very basic, almost a uniform of simple things I know suit me. None of them get ironed.
The only thing I (pretend!) I don't have time for is excercise, as I'm at my best with a 45min brisk walk each day, but often don't (bother to) fit that in.

It sounds like you are doing quite well to me! What is beginning to show exactly??

In general terms

Is your make up maybe a bit dated? If so try a Bobbi brown counter makeover to start. Unless you have brilliant skin or a really outdoor glow you probably do need tinted moisturiser over 40.

Is your skin on your face dry? If so post a Description of it on S*B and people will have suggestions. a gentle exfoliator -flannel or chemical is usually a good thing.

If the wind / rain is wrecking your hair on the way into the office then a hood or umbrella is the only way to solve that. You mind find pinning it up or using a silk pillowcase reduces the bed head.

If your make up is tired, you might also benefit from an update hair cut and colour

Body lotion - can you attach it to another habit. Eg clean your teeth and put on body lotion? When is easier - evening or morning?

I have always looked after my skin but also don't have time or energy for complicated stuff. Back in my teens I got into the habit of obsessively cleansing and moisterising before bed and moisturising in the morning. Over the years I've just adapted those routines as needed - eg I always use a serum morning and night (currently Clarins double serum at night for a general all-over serum and then a hylaronic acid serum and a vitamin c serum in the morning).

Hair requires proper hair care products. Use salon-quality shampoo and conditioner. If your hair is in poor condition, some kind of treatment product occasionally can make a huge difference. Even just a hair mask or something that you use instead of conditioner while you shave your legs/ wash your body etc. And a good leave in conditioner - I use the Innolux elixir one - is brilliant if your hair is in poor condition and needs fixing.

A quick make up review to ensure it's appropriate and that your make up isn't old and out of date is a useful thing. Is your foundation the right one based on how your skin is TODAY vs how it was when you chose it? Similarly lipstick/blusher/eye shadow.

Oh, and I am terrible about body lotion. I use bio oil in a bath about once a week. V relaxing and also extremely moisturising. Then just slap on a bit of moisturiser if I really need it because I'm wearing shorts/dresses! The CeraVe moisterising creams are, I find, great because they're not oily and do seem to keep my skin moisturised for longer.

I always do a full body moisturise before bed. Means I wake up smelling lovely 😆 I put vaseline on any dry bits too.

An hour before bed I do my face routine which takes less than 5 mins, I often gua sha too.

It's a lovely ritual for me so doesn't feel like a chore.

I have thick long hair so that is only washed couple times a week. My morning is - wash face, add vitamin c serum, add Spf, had Erborian CC cream, add lipbalm. I'm not bothered about makeup any more.

I started by just doing just 1 thing.

The first thing I did was clean my face properly then when I got into that routine I said to myself after I do that I’ll put cream on my arms. Then added other bits.

I built it up slowly. Now it’s become a habit of about before bed.

I thrive on a routine and actually do better on working vs non working days - non working I tend to be lazier and let things slide!
Every morning and night I have a fairly complex skincare routine - won’t bore you with it but lots of vit c sunscreen tretinoin lactic acid etc.
3 x week I use LED mask at night - just do it whilst watching tv for 15 minutes - really noticeable difference if I don’t do it.

Every night I do a DN Natural on YouTube massage usually focused on eye bags and jowls./ around 6 minutes total.
Every morning, I use gua sha for around 2 minutes.
I should use Nu Face every morning but fallen off the wagon and tend to use gua sha instead.

I enjoy my morning nighttime routines and watch a film or YT video.

Every 5 nights, I wash my hair(major deep condition), have a good scrub in the shower, shave and apply fake tan. Take nail polish off and reapply - I just use a nude colour (Maybelline Rose Poudree is my HG). This is the most important part of the routine - if I skip this, extend it by a day or so, I feel awful (too pale, hair goes into almost locked tatty curls and nails all chipped and horrible). Unfortunately sometimes I don’t have the energy to do my 5th night beauty routine so I need a deadline to ensure it happens / a night out or a really hot day so long sleeves aren’t possible etc.

I work out Mon- Fri - just 15 minutes HIT with weights and then a 5 min Pilates core routine.

Every 3 weeks, I dye my roots and my eyebrows.

Every Sat morning, I do a face mask - either an egg white or sheet mask and do microneedling. I switched to a 0.5mm needle so I only had to do it once a week / very impressed with results so far.

My body care used to be better but I just started on HRT as a topical oestrogen gel which has complicated things / I can’t really apply any other lotions (I put it on my inner thighs and upper inner arms) so I’ve just stopped altogether. I used to love slathering on body oils and creams in the mornings so I do miss this. Think I need to ensure I’m moisturising my knees/elbows/feet/hands so need to do better at this. I love Soap and Glory Line Crush cream.

I think that’s enough! I know I’m high maintenance but am 50 and struggle with low self esteem. The above helps me to look people in the eye with confidence.

Just realised I haven’t talked about my make up routine but that’s so ingrained at this point it’s like telling you I brush my teeth 😂
No major makeup / just bb cream/bronzer/mascara/lipstick. I set a 5 minute timer to keep me to time 😂

I spend half an hour in the morning (quick wash, brush teeth, dry body brushing, face massage 5 minutes tops, face serum, eye cream and moisturiser or suncream (depending on the weather), brush hair, deodorant. It really does take half an hour unfortunately. And I wake up earlier every morning so I don't skip the whole routine.

I very, very rarely wear makeup so that saves a lot if time. I might use a lip gloss but not very often. Luckily hair is OK most of the time, even better since I started using a silk pillow.

Evenings is between half an hour and an hour and would be proper face cleanse, dry body brushing again, brush teeth, shower and hair wash every 2-3 days, body lotion or oil all over, nail oil, foot cream, face serum, face overnight treatment or face oil, hand cream.
I tend to use a tool depending on the weather on my face every few days which would be a roller, or radio frequency/LED something, in the winter I use a laser thingy. I alternate various extras in the evening but these happen weekly: manicure, pedicure, body scrub, intensive cellulite treatment (I have a machine or I make a body wrap for my legs); facial which includes deep cleansing, mask, massage; hair mask.
Evening routine would happen before I make dinner or before bed.

It's not military precision and it all depends on how well organised I am in other things but I truly enjoy spending time on myself so I'd rather wake up earlier of go to bed later than miss out.

One thing I very very rarely need to do is hair removal. I've managed to get excellent results with at home IPL but it took forever to get in the habit of following the routine. Got around to it in the end.

Oooh tell us about your laser machine @Branster is it for skin rejuvenation?

I’m impressed you have a cellulite machine and make your own body wraps - are you a beautician?

Op what you’ve described re your life is very “normal” and I think first obstacle is you thinking that ferrying children and having a dh that works long hours is stopping you spending 15 mins on a regular routine!

And when you say you rinse your hair, do you mean shampoo or just get wet?

If maintaining a skincare routine is difficult then you need to get the basics in order. Bare skin can be cleansed in the shower with a face wash and some toner, moisturiser and spf applied once you’ve dried off, it needn’t be an hour long ritual. You’ll help yourself massively by doing the below:

Drink lots of water. LOTS
Take a good multivitamin every day without fail.
Don’t smoke
Keep caffeine intake low and in mornings only ideally
Try to avoid alcohol as much as possible
Eat fresh food as much as possible and avoid high sugar content items
Always remove your makeup before bed and double cleanse
Buy Caroline Hirons Skin book for specific concerns it’s a must!

It may seem like a lot but small incremental changes will start reaping the rewards quickly.

I shower in the evening. Apply oil cleanser 1st to remove the make up, rinse in shower then wash face with Cerave. Moisturize body as soon as I'm out of the shower. Apply serums and face moisturizer

In the morning I don't cleanse again, just apply serums, moisturizer and spf. Sometimes make up but I've got it down to a very natural daytime look. The key is to get the right products that are both quick and do what you want them to do.

Only wash hair once a week. Usually wash then apply a deep conditioner and leave on for a good hour before showering and shaving. This when I also do any maintenance like plucking eyebrows, paint nails etc.

On the days I wash my hair it takes about an hour but the rest of the week it's literally 2-10 mins each day. Very do able once you get in a routine.

I use something called Tria, for fine lines but I can't tell if it does anything else for skin in general. It does work for fine lines though, it treated my firehead and niw I yse it as prevention. Not so much laughter lines around the eyes because I'm scared of using it there. And I'm at peace with that area. On another thread about Lyma laser (I'd love one of those!), someone said there is a laser specific for eyes. At any rate, I don't use it in the summer.

For cellulite I use Sensica and I am very pleased with it. It takes a while for each session and I only do the area from knees to waist on legs only. It comes with a useless oily gel, once that ran out, I started using it with Nivea cellulite gel. It can be used with normal conductive gel too.
For wraps, it's not as fancy as it sounds. I use clingfilm, again from knees to waist on legs only. I apply this disgusting smelly seaweed stuff from Blue et Marine (they sell it on Amazon as a powder you mix with water or as a ready made sloppy muddy 'lotion'). Put it on, rub it around a bit, then cling film on for about half an hour. I don't have the patience or time to lie down and relax with it on so I do the ironing whilst I wait. I always do this before a beach holiday.
All these steps, I introduced gradually, over the years and there is some seasonality to it.
I absolutely dislike going for treatments because I can't stay still for so long and get bored and I don't like people prodding me etc. I did adapt some of their tricks though and use where I can. But I do enjoy doing all the little things myself. Trial and error over a long time.

I also think you’re doing quite well! My skincare routine is cleanse, serum, spf and doesn’t take 5 mins twice a day. Then minimal makeup. Eat healthily, drink water, minimal alcohol, sleep enough. Occasionally I’ll do a face mask in the evening but only because I want to, not because I actually think it’ll improve anything long term.

Worried about OP’s phrase:
in my mid 40s, it's really beginning to show
Signs of ageing are not necessarily signs that you need to do more. Might just be a natural change to be embraced rather than be agonised over.

"I have dry skin on my legs and pots of body cream but never quite get around to using it."

I keep a beauty/toilet bag beside the sofa in the livingroom with lotions, cleanser, nail file, etc. in it. When I sit down to watch tv in the evenings, I cleanse, apply lotions, do my nails, etc.

Good idea! I keep hand cream and lip balm in the car for when I’m stuck in traffic.

@Branster Thanks for the info ( I fear for my credit card!)

I started using magnesium salts in my bath a while ago as I’d heard it helps with sleep. It did nothing for my lack of sleep but after a couple of months I noticed my skin was very soft, and I had no dry areas at all, not even on my heels which at mid 50’s were becoming very cracked. I haven’t had to moisturise my body for a while now. There’s just no need.

Are your DC still at an age where you’re with them in the bathroom as they have a bath? My youngest is, and I use the time that he is in the bath to do something eg file nails, apply hand cream and a quick one coat of clear polish, or put body moisturiser on, or put a face mask on. Tonight while I’m doing his bath I’m walking round with a foot mask thing on my feet and thick socks, as I used a pumice on my hard skin when I had a bath earlier.

I agree you’re doing pretty well. More than me!

The only thing I’d add in is a retinol at night, a good one. Ideally a prescription tretinoin (0.05% building up to using 0.1%). You’ll need to be really hot on the moisturiser and spf (very drying and makes you very sensitive to UV) but it’s great for ageing skin (retinol & high factor sunscreen are the only ‘anti-ageing’ topicals with any good evidence behind them).

Someone up thread recommended the Caroline Hirons book. I wouldn’t bother. It’s basically rehashed stuff from her blog, read it there for free (the ‘cheat sheet’ sections give you it in a nutshell). Take the advice with a pinch of salt though. She’s a saleswoman at the end of the day, not an expert in skin.

I don’t use my pots of things either. The lids are a faff. I only buy things with a squirty spout now so that I can apply it in literally one second. Yes, apparently, I am THAT lazy 🤷🏼‍♀️😂

Thanks for all of the replies. It's really interesting - and quite reassuring!
My comment about work/children was just because two or three of my most stylish friends are SAHM with school aged children. When I've asked them for advice, it hasn't been that helpful as they tend to make time during the day.
The comments about having hand cream in the car reminded me that pre-pandemic, I used to have some on my desk. I also used to have vitamins in the office as somehow it was easier to do there. Only 5 days out of 7 but at least I was doing it then! I need to work out what I had there and take it back in again.
Quite a lot of the rest just sounds like I need to get into a habit. It doesn't matter when I do it, I just need to do it! Having some things by the sofa is a good idea.
It was also useful to read posts from those of you who do a range of different things as I'm not sure I'd ever prioritise making the time for that. I may as well be realistic!