Frugal / Low cost glow up tips

[Grumpyarchitect]

Hey everyone,

I've had a really sad week due to redundancy. Subsequent stress has made me quite ill (finding a new role is difficult unless I move away! However i have an interview tomorrow)

Anyway, my skin is pale and grey ish. My hair was blonde highlighted and it's dark brown naturally (i look like Snape with my natural colour!). They've grown out and look uneven and brassy.

I use purple shampoo but it's dried out my hair so it's frizzy. My hair is a long bob but wavy.

I look so dull & tired. I'm 35. And I honestly look awful.

Any tips of frugal ways to glow up? Good cheap products? I need inspiration or a kick up the bum.

I think it'll cheer me up...

If you’re making a cup of green tea, keep the tea bags and pop them in the fridge for a bit. Take them out, rub them gently over your eyes and leave them on your lids while you have a 2 minute lie down. They definitely help to depuff your eyes!

You can also massage your face with a cold dessert spoon! Cheaper than getting a gua sha stone and the cooling helps to depuff. Loads of videos online.

I started washing my face with a flannel and soap recently, it got rid of the dullness.

After you've washed your hair run a couple of drops of Moroccan Oil through your damp hair. Makes a world of difference to dry, frizzy hair

Thanks everyone!
So far I've put a little fake tan on, body brushed and found some face oils from last year.
I had some Body Shop vitamin C face gel so I used that. Omg so much dead skin came off - it was a little shocking.

anyway, skin is so fresh and soft now.

Next, I need to think about my hair. I think I will go brown after all. It's so damaged from highlights. even if I could afford it, I wouldn't want to ruin it more.

I have a little shopping list for town this week.

Lots of hydration and walking too.

Thank you all so much! Definitely feeling a bit perkier.

Oh yes and I'm definitely getting some of the Moroccan Oil! Looks amazing!!

I was going to mention OP - if you have friends/relatives living nearby and you have a few bits you don't use (I do, stuffed in a drawer), you could have a swap and pamper or just swap event.

I did this a year or so ago, SIL got a brand new perfume (L'Occitane) which turned out to be one of her favourites (discontinued), I swapped a few lipsticks (just sanitised the ends) and we (friend involved) swapped around body and face stuff (mostly travel sizes and samples) and also tried out various hairstyles on each other.

This. It has to come from within. I do a 30 minute free YouTube hiit workout every morning and drink shed loads of water. That gives me a glow. Also try the Ordinary skin products too for retinol etc

For me, it's about the daily things. Get your heart rate up every day and ideally exercuse outside, call/meet a friend every day, drink plenty of water, keep your home tidy (a massive mood booster for me), wear your favorite clothes and focus on bright colours if you are feeling a bit down. Listen to music.

Good posture is an absolute game changer!

Get in the habit of using a body brush (if you don't have one an old flannel does basically the same thing), and moisturising everywhere twice a week. Use beauty produces you already have first.

You can shape and buff your nails and tidy eyebrows at home. For your hair, do something simple that won't send you running bank to the hairdresser every 6 weeks for maintenance.

Very best of luck with the job hunting. You have got this.

@Grumpyarchitect how was the interview?

@TabithaTittlemouse not too bad thanks. Although they didn't seem too nice! A few red flags but that's standard for the Architectural industry.

I've been going for lots of walks and drinking lots of water. Feeling bit better today :)

It's not the cheapest at £25 but the Jonathan Van Ness Complete Instant REcovery Hair Serum is lovely for dried out hair. I'm trying to stretch out my hair colour and cut for an extra month to make savings, and because after having the same streak bleached over and over, my hair is grumbling a bit. It does make your hair soft, shiny and easier to dry. And you only need a half-fingerful, so it will last for ages. Ask for it in your Christmas stocking!

You Tube workouts - Lazy Dancer with Alessia is a good one.

I think I'm going to try this Boots hyalorunic foundation.