'Glow Up'/ "Princessing" 2024 Thread 1

[Chaiselongueallday]

I've had some success with these in the past. Have realised that over the years I've picked little habits from these that I've been able to sustain so I thought ahead of the new year I would start a thread for 2024...anyone else want to join me?
I'm 46 this year and want to focus on being healthy, happy with my style and attuned to my body and skin. I don't want to waste time worrying about not being good enough. I am including a bit of health and fitness on my list as I feel better in my clothes when I'm toned and generally healthy in body and mind. I'll be doing yoga, walking and mad living room dancing. I'll not be bothering with foundation (unless a very special occasion) this year fed up of wearing a mask..so looking after my skin will be important. I won't be spending on fast fashion ...I've done quite well on this in the past, inspired by this board and capsule wardrobe threads.

I'll think about a more detailed list and post it later.

I've copied some useful info from a previous 'Princessing thread' below for anyone that fancies it and needs inspiration.

*The term "Princessing" was invented back in 2011 by a poster called Blackswan. It was the year of the royal wedding and she proposed that every year you should get ready for a wedding you were attending as if it were your own.

I took that idea and ran with it!

The general idea behind that original thread and all the "Princessing" "Grooming" "Operation Revnovation" threads since has been to make small sustainable changes that help make you feel better. To make this measurable, most people finds it helps to make a list - not too long, no more than 20 items really of the changes you want to make. The original thread had one general list but as no two people have the same priorities I think it's better for everyone to have their own individual list. To anyone in need of inspiration the original list was:

1. 8 glasses of water a day

1. Exfoliating
2. Using some kind of teeth whitener
3. Using some kind of regenerative face cream
4. Intensive nail care (feet and hands)
5. Some kind of eyelash growth serum
6. The Shred / other intensive exercise
7. At least 2 extra fruit & veg
8. Healthy breakfast daily.

10. Hair oil (moroccan hair oil for eg, or kerastase etc) 11. No alcohol during the week 12. Daily vitamins 13. Body brushing 14. At least 2 servings of salmon or other fatty fish per week. 15. One early night once a week. Suggest 9PM. 16. Regular hair removal 17. Give up one naughty favourite item e.g. chocolate/crisps 18. No more fizzy drinks 19. DAILY body moisturising. 20. Warm water with lemon first thing in the a.m.

You don't have to post your list but I would recommend you write it down somewhere for yourself.

Original Princessing thread*

Any mask recommendations?

Me too!
-minimum 1.5l of water a day
-use eyelash lift kit every 6 weeks
-use eyelash serum every night before bed
-sort out my feet!
-look into getting Botox on my forehead
-have hair cut every 8 weeks
-use lip balm throughout the day
-1/2 hour brisk walk every week day
-aim to eat 30 different fruits / veg per week
-drink mainly decaf tea
-no alcohol during the week

Also
-try to stop looking at my phone in bed
-use Xmas money to book a set of 6 personal training sessions
-aim to get minimum of 7 hours of quality sleep a night

✅ spin class
✅ weights - just a short session - trying to really work on upper body and being able to do a few proper blooming press-ups! And also get my arse back some squats are in order
No alcohol yesterday but did waver earlier thinking oh I'll just have a little glass tonight. I can't believe how much of a habit it's become. But didn't sleep well last night and I think that always makes me knock myself out the next night.

I've also started to be more mindful with how much I pick up my phone throughout the day and got up and moved around instead, or just ignored it. Got a lot more work done AND the house is looking tidier as I've distracted myself with a 5 minute spruce up rather than scrolling. So this is the only thread I've looked at today.

Well done everyone so far!

Full body scrub, shave and moisturised.
At least 2L of water.
Wore some light makeup and new perfume.
Exfoliated, cleansed and moisturised face.
Didn't make it to the gym, way too busy back at work. (Let's say it was a rest day.) I have another v busy day tomorrow but I do need to go.
Chose some classic jewellery for a simple look.
I need to put on more hand cream, they are quite dry at the moment.

I have a spa night planned on Friday to use my new face and hair masks and foot soak.

Well I got off to a slow start as was unwell - so started today.

So far so good!

• green tea and skyr yoghurt breakfast
• vitamin c serum under moisturiser
• 20 minute walk
• one hour yoga - check!
• And…4 squares dark chocolate (this is good - ie it’s not a packet of biscuits!)

Back to not eating chocolate - I had some Neidreggers Marzipan Dark Chocolate at New Year ( about 8 of the little blocks) gone now so back to normal .

My scalp feels prickly and painful like my hair is pulling so I need to book in to have it cut soon,

I;ve ordered some nice showergel - a little luxury on these winter mornings makes such a difference .

Using my brow serum every night still , really pleased .

Need to have a look through my wardrobe and wear some of the things that get pushed to the back .

I would like to try and grow my sparse brows out (overplucked them in my teenage years) - any recommendations with proven results at all?

I'm in 🙌

I've been in Center Parcs all week so not officially starting until Monday. Center Parcs is great for step count (10k+ every day) plus I spent a lovely afternoon in the spa, but I have eaten a lot.

Starting tracking with MFP on Monday, have a grocery delivery tomorrow morning with some healthier food in it! Am also going to sit down and plan how I'm going to achieve my goals. Starting with booking in hair, eyebrow, massage etc appointments.

@Jollyoldholiday Would you mind telling me about the eyelash lift kit? Has anyone here used it before, and what were the results like compared to a salon. I briefly considered having an lvl at a salon but was put off by both price and also not really knowing what the results would be!

@Love51
I haven’t used it yet but can report back once I have! It’s from a company called Sassy Saints

Now I've de-lurked I should add mine. I'm focusing on beauty til mid February at which point that should be embedded and I want to start some weight training.
Currently I'm maintaining taking vitamin D. I'm increasing water intake, using handcream and flossing.

I've invested in grown up skin care, and bought some hair dye! Planning to do "something" semi permenant with the eyes / brows and also learn some new ways to do make up. I bought some foundation and blusher when I bought the skincare.
I'm doing 30 days of yoga plus some other exercise most days.
And dry January!
I've also googled a place to get a dress taken in as I went to a winter wedding when I was at my heaviest (end of 2022) and splurged on a dress as compensation for how bad I felt about myself. It is a really nice dress so hopefully I can get it taken in and get some more wear out of it.

Revitabrow ( and there's Revitalash for eyelashes that my DD uses )
It is ££, tried others but not as good
You use it till you get results then as a mainrenance as brows/lashes hair falls out as a natural cycle .
I've got a "before" photo from about November and I'll get a recent one and upload it

And have them dyed or do it yourse;f ,

Love this. I'm in!

Ohhh thank you @70isaLimitNotaTarget I had seen that one whilst researching them but it's always good to know they produce good results! I'll get it on the wish list! Thanks again x

Joins the thread! 🙋‍♀️

Love that list, going to take the following habits from it straight away:

• add lemon to my glass of water first thing in the morning
• body moisturising
• early night once a week

Nearly at the end of my first week, and it's been a mixed bag so far. I managed to tint my eyebrows today, but since hitting meno my brows have gone awful; wiry, greying and sparse. I don't think I can afford micro blading so may need to look at a serum. I've not made it to any yoga classes, but I have done 3 walks, 2 workouts and 1 spin workout. I've come to realise I can't do all out exercise like I used to; I have to space it all out in order to recover. Loving the Caroline Girvan YT Iron workouts I am doing, but my muscles are aching where didn't realise I had muscles! Armpit muscles, seriously??

Best of all, my Xmas weight is all off, and I have tracked cals and stayed under 1600, plus hit my protein and fibre macros every day. I have also intermittent fasted every day for at least 16/8 and eaten 2 veggie days.

Still a long way to go, with a lot of weight to lose, but I took more time in styling myself before I met a friend for coffee today and felt better for it!

I’ve really enjoyed this first few days of princessing. Big takeaway so far is that the Salux cloth is amazing!! Keep feeling my arms because that combined with moisturising every day means they are feeling so silky!

Not managed dry brushing yet. Project for this evening.

Other than that, have managed my vits every night (and have added vit D too); managing to cut the caffeine; managing the eye cream every day and serum as well. Also done two exercise classes, and another booked for Sunday.

I’m another one who overplucked in the 90s, so wondering if I should add the revitabrow into the mix too :)

Had no energy this afternoon after a very early start this morning, I didn't manage the gym but will go tomorrow. Forced myself into the shower tonight and felt much better. Body scrubbed and moisturised. Hair washed and styled. Face mask, tone and moisturised.

Booked my nail appt for next week, I'm going for a nude shade with gold striped accents. Looking forward to switching up from my navy and goldleaf NY party nails.

Today's plans:

• Big Tesco delivery of healthy food
• Start MFP today (although tomorrow will be a glitch as I'm cooking a big roast before the boys go back to university)
• Collect sale orders from M&S and Next, try on and only keep the items that look great and go with things I already own.
• Go for a walk
• File and paint toenails

@Poblano
that’s a great list. Have a good day

I am doing quite well

• Bikini trim and lumea check
• yoga and Pilates check
• nails done
• booked in for lashes, brows, hair

Need to improve - water and weight training which I haven’t done this week . I am also not at all on the right track with the diet due to Christmas food still remaining all over the house🙈

I haven't properly started yet but have been doing my skincare routine now for about three days - just cleanse, tone, serum, moisturise - and I can't actually believe the difference it's made to the way my skin looks. Salux cloth has arrived and so has sunscreen for face: and I found my water bottle so just need to give it a good clean now. I also went rooting around in my stash and found some quality foot cream to start using, and bought some eye masks in the body shop sale. Baby steps!

Oh, and I re-installed MFP and weighed myself - heavier than I've ever recorded (though I have never logged so close to the end of a pregnancy before). Still, it's motivating.