Help me not look so old and haggard!

[UmbrellaSoldiers]

I'm hoping some of you wonderful people will have some clever little tips and tricks to help me.

I've recently noticed when I look in the mirror I'm just looking old and tired. I've never been one for lots of make up, usually just mascara and lip gloss if anything but I do have various beauty products for if I want to make a REAL effort 😂 I use face moisturiser every day but that (and washing my face) is my entire "skincare routine"...

I'm overweight and don't have loads of confidence at the moment and when I catch a glimpse of my reflection I just look old and kinda sad. I've had a tricky few months and recently been diagnosed with possible Long Covid so it is partly psychological - but I am thinking if I can do something to potentially look and feel better that will help on a psychological level too!

What are your hints and tips to look less tired and old?! I'm not trying to look young again, I'm early 40s and happy to look my age but honestly some days it's literally my 75 year old mother looking back at me from the mirror 😂

Please help!

I'm hoping someone has a better answer than me! I feel exactly the same - and like you, my skincare routine is wash face with a damp flannel in the morning. I don't even bother with the daily moisturiser.

If it helps, I've found that having my eyebrows waxed roughly every month makes me look better. More alert.

l am similar - almost 40, about 16kg overweight. However, while I know I’m not looking my best and working towards losing the weight a few things help:

• Retinol nightly and chemical exfoliator daily (but probably less regularly if you’re sensitive skinned).
• Regularly taking my vitamins and collagen.
• Drink loads of water (boring I know).
• Pick 3-4 makeup items that make the biggest difference to your face and you can quickly and easily apply to get consistent results. For me it’s a brow gel, cream blush, pressed powder and dark brown lipstick.
• Find a hair cut and color that works with your natural texture, learn to do it at home. I always look and feel better when my hair is done.
• Sleep on a satin pillowcase.

Also - don’t beat yourself up about your appearance. You almost certainly don’t look as bad as you think.

Face massage/face yoga, retinol, collagen supplements, daily walks and a smile - bet you don’t look bad at all.

More strongly defined eyebrows ( I don't mean fake, just not fair/mousey ) blusher, and a little eyeliner. You could use a BB cream or tinted moisturiser, and a little colour on your lips. I find( in my sixties) that a bit of colour makes all the difference. I use Trinny London BB cream and blusher, they are quite glow-y.
It also helps to be aware of what colours suit you in terms of clothes - for example I can wear grey if have a little make-up on, but I can look washed out if I am bare-faced. Whereas bright blue or black or coral always work for me.

Fake tan - not orange - but I find it evens out skin tone. Anything that is glowy and brightening - Trinny BFF colour matches your skin.
I don't do these but they are on every list! Sleep and drink more water!
Hair cut/trim
Don't save things 'for best' Wear the nice clothes. Wear earrings in the day (if you have and like them)
Pamper yourself

Things that have helped me/friends are:
Hydralonic and vitamin C serum
A decent moisturiser
sunscreen
A daily walk
A yoga session per week
Face yoga!
Face roller thingy
Collagen supplements (pricey but research a decent one)
Vitamins - D/B12 at least
Fish oil
Slimming world
Decent sleep
HRT
Hair straighteners

Make up - I don’t wear a lot either but always wear a tinted moisturiser from No7, mascara and some Victoria Beckham eyeliner. Tinted lip balms are nice, eg Burts Bees.

Exfoliate at least once a week, exercise (get your blood pumping), eyebrows shaped, brightening / anti ageing mosituriser.

Cut out the processed food, eat plenty of fruit, veg, wholegrains etc , drink more water, walk. Honestly this is what gives you a lean figure and glowing skin.

Posture- find some exercises to improve that -stand tall

Thank you so much everyone! Lots of great tips here I am going to try and implement some from tomorrow!

I have started taking various supplements on GP advice for the long Covid symptoms so hopefully that will start to make a difference soon.

Going to have a sort through my make up tomorrow see what I actually own and try to learn how to use it 🤣

Thanks all

Hi OP. I've had my eyebrows microbladed and that's made a huge difference to my face. I now have a proper full arch and it seems to have lifted my whole face.

I also found a hairstyle that suits me and I can maintain. I always had hair that looked great when I left the salon but I just couldn't style properly myself. I've finally found something that looks good even with the minimal effort I'm willing to make every day.

Not sure if it's genuinely helpful or just in my mind, but I take collagen, vit b and d and magnesium. These are all supposed to help skin and hair and general wellbeing.

The other thing that is making a real difference is weight loss. I've cut out most sugar and alcohol and am eating real food and less ultra processed junk and I really do feel better for it.

The other thing which has helped me with feeling better was starting HRT - I had a lot of debilitating health issues that have been helped by this.

The best thing I did was to lose weight. My face, previously like a pudding, became such a nice shape. I didn't go gaunt, my face just looked so much better. Cheekbones, not so jowly. I did it by cutting out in between meals eating and moving more. It is looking a bit chubbier again, I now feel like a dowdy mess again. Time to depudding myself again. And keep up with the skincare routine.

Nothing will beat eating healthy food, good fats and less sugar but I started doing gua sha with a good moisturiser from Holland and Barrett every morning about 6 months ago.
I recently met up with a friend that I haven't seen in a while and she said 'wow you look youthful' so I'm assuming it's helping!

You can buy a gua sha implement from Amazon really cheap and I just use it to do a quick massage on my face after I put on my moisturiser.
YouTube for instructions.

Can someone give me some advice about collagen please?
Tablets or powder?
Best place to buy?

TIA

@Mollypolly2610 I buy bovine collagen powder from willpowders. It's Davinia Taylor's site. It's completely tasteless and decent quality

thank you

I have this too - it's good for joints, hair and nails.

@LoreleiG can you link to sny good face yoga please?