What is one thing you do...

[ScruffMuffin]

... that makes the most difference to how you look and feel about yourself?

I'm in my 40s and have always been what could be described as 'low maintenance'. I have pretty good skin and just use moisturiser on it; I never wear makeup, but used to wear tinted moisturiser and mascara when I was younger and could be arsed. I have very long, wavy hair that I'm quite proud of. I never use heat on it and don't even like cutting it if I'm honest, so it's waist-length and a bit straggly at the moment.

Also, I hate shopping and have no idea what my style is, so for work it's simple trousers/ jeggings and shirts, the odd long skirt, and usually boots. At home I wear jeans and T shirts. I'm short and overweight. The biggest thing I think I could do to improve my appearance and health is to lose the excess weight, which I'm working on. I'd love to hear any quick and easy tips that work for you though! At the moment, the most stylish thing I do is paint my toenails!!

Ironically, I'm the proud owner of a teenage fashionista. I asked her the same question (what one thing could I change, that would make the most difference) and she replied, "Dress less homeless!" 😂The cheek!! She is now disinherited...!

Edited to fix a typo.

@CinnamonJellyBeans sun cream is pretty essential when you're as ghostly white as I am. I can definitely eat more oily fish though. Yum.

If I had to describe my style, it swings between 'jeans and T shirt' and 'old hippie'!! Boho all the way!

Get your eyebrows threaded - best fiver you’ll ever spend. You can maintain them yourself.

Amazing hair - would be more amazing w/a blunt trim from your DD.

The split second fix I use is wearing scent; makes a massive difference to mood (other people’s too).

Gecko dungarees are the apex of chic.

My daughter HATES the gecko dungarees!! I agree with you, that they're the best thing ever!

I can't bring myself to cut my hair, yet. Soon, maybe!

Where does one get their eyebrows threaded?

Only if it contains prostaglandin which the majority available in the UK don’t. Just check the ingredients on the list.

I go to the wee walk in booths in shopping centres tbh. I never know when my days off are too far in advance to make appointments , the last beauty salon was booking 6 weeks in advance !!!!

Thanks, I'll take a look. I'm limited to school holidays, but luckily, it's half term!

My once-every-two-years haircut isn't due until November, so I'm wavering (pardon the pun) on that front!

Eyebrow shape and tint definitely!

It really makes a difference especially on days where i don't want/need to wear make up.

Also nice perfume everyday always makes me feel more put together.

Your hair is simply stunning and tbh I wouldn't do anything with it other than a professional trim. I found this which may help. Link below.

I personally hate dungarees on anyone over the age of 5 so not my favourite item. I think the boho look would be perfect for you.

How about a throw over from One Hundred Stars to put over jeans and a tee shirt for a bit more glam? To answer your question it is hair and make up.

https://www.themodelbuilders.co.uk/beauty-tips-for-ginger-models/

Good matching underwear, serum, spf, threaded eyebrows and perfume.

Your hair is absolutely gorgeous. I would love hair like that.

Your hair is fabulous.

The thing that makes the biggest difference to how I look and feel is cutting right back on sugar and 'brown' foods (catch all term for bread, pasta, pastry, cakes etc). Boring but true for me.

Thank you! :)

Get your kids to take you shopping and style you!

That would be a brilliant bonding opportunity and so much fun!

I was thinking about this post last night, because you are me a few years ago, I'm a few years older, and I just wanted to say that in many ways, this is a great time for you! You just haven't realised this yet! You have wonderful hair, and it won't change that much, just a bit of white possibly, so that's a great feature. This is where being ginger wins (I think it's always a winner, myself, but some strange people used to say it wasn't when younger)!

I also am quite short and so it's true losing weight helps enormously, as it doesn't tend to distribute well.

But beyond that and a moisturiser, I think you look wonderful and are probably coming into your own, which is a nice thought as you seem a little down on your looks when there's absolutely no need.

Christ alive, with hair like that you don’t need to do a thing more. But if you felt so inclined, I agree that a brow and lash tint would define your features and pretty low maintenance. Your skin looks good but for more of a glow I would try some low level active ingredients such as vitamin C or lactic acid.

For clothes, it sounds like you already have a good sense of your own style. Instead of trying to change it, how about buying better quality. For example, if you spend your life in jeans and a t-shirt, buy the heavy T-shirts that M&S have in stock atm, they sit beautifully and look expensive (I suppose they are at £28). And how about changing the shape your jeans? I love the river island barrell black jeans with silver loafers and a white T-shirt.

Losing weight will always make you feel better if you’re carrying extra pounds provided that you don’t starve yourself. Instead of focussing on food, how about taking up weight training? CrossFit looks like great fun and could lead to a new hobby and new friends as well as a stronger body and I’m sure you’ll naturally find yourself eating better as well.

But you look fab just as you are.

You are all lovely! The problem with clothes is that I keep wanting to lose the weight first (and I REALLY need to), rather than buying nice stuff in larger sizes! Getting my DDs to help style me is a really good idea actually.

I've ordered the nice moisturiser and some (cheaper) lash serum that has good reviews, and I've painted my nails rose gold!

I'm quite active in my job. For medical reasons I can't run or do anything high impact/ weights, but I can cycle and swim and quite like doing those.

Agree that having red hair rocks. I keep thinking I'm going grey, but at 46 I've still probably got under 5% greys.

I'd totally wear hippie/ festival/ Wicked Dragon/ Joe Browns all the time if I could afford to!

@ScruffMuffin my tips is don't wait to lose the weight. Buy a couple of things now, on Vinted to save money, that you can go out in feeling confident- some up to date jeans or trousers and a couple of great t-shirts. Plus one coat to take you into Spring, so I like mac type efforts, lighter wool stuff, on Vinted search for good brands from 10-15 years ago and they will be lined and better tailored than most stuff in the shops (unless you want to fork out a lot of money, which I don't).

To lose weight consistently and set up a better eating lifestyle takes months, even years. There's no point in not enjoying how you look now, plus even if you lose a stone, it doesn't dramatically mean you can't wear anything you wear now.

Just my advice. I'm also losing weight and also have reasons why that's very hard due to illness, but I feel a lot better about myself having dressed myself as the size I am, and now things are feeling a bit looser, it's all good.

@Fluffywhitecloudsinthesky good point about coming into my own: the DCs are almost grown up so I can afford to pay myself a bit more attention now. I like getting older, worrying less about stuff and being more sure of who I am. Despite being an introvert+++ I've been told my personality is bright and strong (I'd describe it as more childlike and competitive tbh), but I really don't go out or mix much at all. I spent my 30s being scared of leaving the house. My 40s have been a bit better - I've figured out WHY I dislike it, and feel like I'm less phobic of other people because I almost totally avoid them!

Right, I'm going to get myself a couple of nice things now! Even just nicer jeans and T shirt than usual.

Don't wait though- you are wonderful as you are! If you wait for this magic time you are back to a size 10, or have perfect hair, or have longer lashes, it could be years, it could be never. Just decide that you'll change things along the way if you want, and don't if you don't, you might find some new habits stick and some are too faffy. I love gold nails as well, my dds sound similar in taste to yours and getting them to advise you, or even do your make-up (my dd did mine recently and I kept a couple of tips from her) is a great idea!

Decent hair cut

Well fitting bra
Well kept teeth & nails

My hair is just a bit lighter in colour than yours, OP, and my eyelashes are very fair indeed. So although I feel shallow for caring so much, the single thing I can do to make myself feel more... finished and noticeable, I guess! - is to wear eyeliner and mascara.

Watch out for that stuff though, it left a red line on my eyelash line that took months to go away.

I really haven't bothered with new clothes for years. I'll buy the odd thing online, and when my usual jeggings wear out, I buy the same again.

No more! I've just ordered some decent black jeans, a pair of colourful harem pants (my hippie side... and comfy for work), a couple of those criss-cross front T-shirts, a patterned T-shirt from M&S and a monochrome tie-die effect tunic top. I feel a bit bad about it when we're so skint, but that's never going to change! It cost under £100.