Anyone up for “making changes to feel and look better” thread?

Definitely in.
5 weeks post partum so living in leggings and ignoring the state of my twice c-sectioned stomach.

But have started to take supplements again, applied a sheet face mask tonight and have a haircut booked for this weekend so might slowly start to feel human again.

Next on list is to cut down on how many pastries I'm eating!!
Been meaning to read glucose goddess for ages.
Need to start pram walks too. Carrying baby in sling right now, which is super convenient for short walks to collect toddler from pre-school but can't go very far.

Yes! I love a bit of self care. Product names helpful.

Things I am doing

• Body - Daily Flexitol on my feet and elbows. Palmers coconut oil and epsom salts Cream based body scrub. Coconut body oil at night. Coenzyme Q10 firming body cream. Fake tan with right undertones for my skin. Cardio and strength classes. Fast 800 for weight loss. Almost no alcohol and sugar. Half a plate of green veg every dinner. More water. 7-8 hours sleeps, low carb and liquid melatonin when needed. Sex. Only buying clothes that suit me. Vit B,C,D and K (Better You spray), zinc for immunity daily. Spatone when needed. Mediterranean diet.
• Face - laser hair removal on face, teeth whitening, green tea only, Prai throat and decolletage cream, Elemis collagen for eyes not sure it works, Paw Paw lip scrub, Bobbi Brown undereye corrector for dark circles, Lancome BROWN mascara, Benefit eyebrow setting gel, vaseline under eyes at night
• Hair - fringe trim 4-6 weeks, haircuts when needed, blow dry fringe opposite way daily for nice flick

• sorting out two enamel chips on my front teeth, invisalign at later date.
• doing more to define my brows
• perfect pink lipstick for daily wear
• more earrings as recently pierced
• building capsule wardrobe foundation basics

• added inulin powder for fibre?
• face yoga exercises, just started but have high hopes
• laser hair removal on my Frodo toes
• scelerotherapy on my legs next autumn, had it a few years ago, only minor veins to remove but feel more confident in shorts

Me

@Minirrriot sounds good. I like Stila cream shadows or Tilbury

I have installed a water softener into my home to improve my skin and hair. I've also added collagen and vitamin c supplements to my diet and I've been going to bed earlier to try and improve my appearance.

The Harvey water softener has made a huge difference. The texture of my hair is much softer and less of it is falling out. The texture of my skin has also improved. I live in London so I had really hard water before.

I'm 40 this year and god knows I look a fright. I do need to sort myself out a bit.

But those of you considering Botox, remember that once you start you need to keep it up for life. Think how many hundreds of thousands of pounds that is just to prevent showing younger women what normal ageing looks like. You can't just stop once you've started as you don't age ina normal way and it looks really horrific to just stop - whole chunks of the face suddenly sag because the muscles haven't been used for so long.

Before you know it you're 70 with Plastic Face...

Can anyone recommend a bf friendly treatment for cystic acne? No point seeing a dermatologist til I can consider retinoids again

I've started using The Ordinary retinol at night. Early days so no difference yet, but I have high hopes!

Also using Revitalash but I had to stop because of a horrible bout of conjunctivitis. Will be restarting soon.

Looking after my cuticles and nails which have been long neglected. I've bought cuticle oil pens and have them all around the house. I've also bought a fabulous top coat for home manicures.

Now I have to find time for all this extra refurbishment 😆

@Secretboringsister do you like your hair? I absolutely wouldn't colour it personally in your situation- imagine the pain of growing it out again!- but what about changing the cut to something a bit modern? I have thick hair, and when it's grown too long I have a tendency to be a bit lazy with it, either in a bobble or straightened, but nothing of interest to it.

Thanks, will check both of those out;)

Oh I love this one:

37 years old. Almost a year post partum, in the middle of extensive house renovation which was supposed to end in December (lol), so if I am not working/taking care of my daughter I work on the house. I am working from home, but starting a new job in June with two day in the office. My basic skin care routine is fine (I've bene doing serums, Vit C, retinol, acid peels etc. for almost 10 years, I don't think I need to add anything) but I plan to:

Skincare:

1. buy a LED light mask
   
2. book myself for microneedling
   
   Bodycare:
   
3. regular dry brushing for legs, scrub for the rest
   
4. buy a bronzing moisturizer
   
   Make up:
   
5. combination of pandemic, working from home, pregnancy and now house work left me with a pack of mascara and nothing else :D So I have to make a trip and buy all make up stuff such as foundation, bronzer, eyeshadows etc.
   
   Diet/exercise:
   
6. No time for exercise for now, but I walk with my daughter everyday for an 1-1.5 hours and do Tom Daley's 6 minute abs/butt
   
7. Looking for a second hand running buggy

I’m in desperate need of an overhaul - I’m fat, frumpy and in a huge rut, but, although I’ve acquired: a course to teach me how to dress for my colour/shape, an exercise app I find fun, all the vitamins and supplements I need, the skin smoother and a lumea etc etc. I am struggling with the motivation mentally to put it all to use. Some days I get all dressed up and ready and feel great, then catch myself in a shop window and just die inside at the sight of me.

I suppose I’m scared that I’ll do all of this and still feel shit about myself. I feel just completely past it at 41, early onset peri for years already has broken me. Everything has changed - skin, hair, body, mind. And I can’t lose weight for love nor money. I’m trying to embrace it and change with it but I just can’t find any joie de vivre.

My husband on the other hand is really enjoying his mid-life - losing weight, the sports car and great new wardrobe etc. it’s just galling. I feel like I just don’t fit into my own life anymore.

Sorry, this is not the uplifting kind of response you want op! But I’m just wondering if anyone else has felt the same when there’s so much “work” to do in improving yourself?

Have you acquired all of those and tried to make changes at the same time? It is very difficult to make a complete overhaul overnight, it is much better to make changes gradually. Perhaps you could focus on one thing, e.g. taking supplements for a month and then add another thing such as 20-30 minutes of exercise 2-3x/week?

Im going to go back to using my at home laser thingy, best 70 quid ive ever spent.

I only have to shave once every 4/5 weeks and only patches here and there on my legs. Going to start on bikini next.

@Epli I’ve had a go at a few of them but I just don’t keep up with them. Brain fog is a real issue and keeping up with work and kids is the priority. When I have some time I just go to bed early as I’m too tired and low to contemplate doing anything else.

Supplements and water is probably a good place to start as I bet I’ll feel an improvement pretty soon. I gave up sugar a few weeks ago, which has really improved my energy and clearer thinking. I’m going to lower the carbs too as I’ve slipped into snacking on them for a hit in lieu of sugar. Hopefully this’ll help with my skin too.

I suppose I just need to keep believing it’s all worth it.

@ItsNotForYouJen I hear you. Maybe it was lockdown but aged 40 everything suddenly accelerated. I was gutted. The course sounds an amazing investment. I got my colours done, as I am one of those people who does not know what suits me, and that has been fantastic. I can spend £40 on a dress and know it looks fine for the occasion as it is in my colours. The other big change I did was getting into the healthy BMI range. Truth be told early 40s is THE best time to change diet and start an exercise routine if not already. The only diet that worked for me is Fast 800 (also the lighter version 5/2). It is not just a diet, it is a way of eating i.e. a mediterranean diet.

I am very careful in thinking about what I would and would not do, and cost is a factor.

@Emotionalstorm i would love a water softener. Can you link to the one you have? Does it need salt added to it?

my hair is thanking you in advance!

@mrsfennel i did one series at a laser place and am looking to buy a home one for my bikini. Will you please report back on how bad it hurts.

@anon2022anon thanks for your message! I don’t want to do middle aged short cut . I can pm a photo if it helps.

❤️

I need all the help I can get tbh!

I have this one :

https://www.harveywatersofteners.co.uk/products/water-softeners/harveyarc/

You do need to add salt to it. It costs us on average £9 per month if we buy the multipack.

I should also mention, it's much easier to clean the bathroom now because there's no limescale.

I'm in, 43 soon and with two boys aged 5 and 3 I just don't always have time to devote to myself but want to make a push to do so what with sorting and summer coming now. Will read through thread for tips.