Three weeks to get stunning!

[Smallfry79]

Hi all.
Slight exaggeration in the title but basically I have been invited to an event in 3 weeks and want to look the best I possibly can in a short space of time. It's a semi formal night out/party.
I'm 5ft2 and borderline overweight at just under 10st. I'm 45 with a saggy belly and problem skin.
I reckon if I could lose 6lbs it would make a huge difference but that might be ambitious.
I'm generally pretty low maintenance and don't know last time I was at a beauty salon.

So what are any quick fixes to make me look my best and get a glow going?

My thoughts:
Have hair cut and colour booked - byebye greys
Drink lots more water.
Get to bed earlier - currently get about 6.5 or 7 hrs a night
Get some exercise each day, even just 20 mins
Get some fresh air every day
Be more disciplined with cleansing and serum twice a day
Cut back on chocolate, crisps and white bread
File and mind my nails so they grow a little and don't look like bitten stumps.

Do you think this will make any difference in just three weeks?
Any other quick fix suggestions to help me look my best. I've thought about getting my brows done but there isn't much to work with and I'd be afraid I'd end up with two ridiculous drawn on slugs? Still might risk it.

All suggestions welcome

Your suggestions sound great for feeling good :)

Do you wear make up? You could get it done professionally on the day. If not, get a blow dry / styling on the day if you have length in your hair. I like a manicure for a special event, I'm also partial to a light fake tan! But that's very personal. I also like body contour underwear - smooths lines and bumps! And a new outfit!

Get some retinol or a peel mask or something on your skin once a week

Some glowy make up (or Botox)

I always look better with a bit of fake tan

No booze, no bread, no breakfast. Salad for lunch, protein plus veg for dinner. 3 weeks of that and you'll have lost the 6lb, easily. It sucks but it works.

Thanks for replies.
I do wear makeup but I'm not very skilled with contouring or eyes so might be a good idea to get it done professionally.
I can cover my redness and even out my tone but not really make myself pop so to speak.

I've a few dresses ordered online so depending on how much skin I'm showing tan might be a good shout.

Can retinol make your skin worse before it gets better or take some time to adjust? I'm conscious of the short time frame.
That and my skin breaks out sometimes.

If you go for retinol, start at a low dose, like medik8 crystal retinol 3, and use every 2 nights, working your way up. Your skin will need to get used to it, unlikely an instant effect but can improve texture and appearance; one to be doing anyway though!

Get some shapewear for under your dress. Primark do them pretty cheap and it really makes a difference to smooth everything out.

Oooh -interesting project! Keep this thread going with progress as that will also help with motivation.
Agree with previous comments -walking outside in daylight is good for boosting morale which will help with your ‘glow’’. Swimming is good -even better if you can do outdoor swimming. I find swimming boring, but get a buzz afterwards.
Yes to hair colour/shape wear.
Cut out crisps and chocolate completely! No benefit at all from them - sugar affects water absorption in cells and is terrible for skin.
Keep us updated!

I agree that 3 weeks of intermittent fasting would help. You may lose a couple of pounds but even over such a short period you will look more sleek generally with better definition in your face.

It doesn’t have to be breakfast that you skip. I find a 16:8 regime where I don’t eat between 4 pm and 8 am the easiest to manage and most beneficial. To lose weight you need to cut out all rubbish and concentrate on fresh fruit and vegetables, and good protein like fish, eggs, nuts, seeds. A weekly veg box can help with this if you don’t already get one or grow your own food.

Ok so shapewear is def something I must get.
I will look at retinol, you are right it would benefit me longterm.
Maybe if I was better in general I wouldn't need this last minute panic😂
I have heard good things about fasting so must look at times that would work for me. Def couldn't finish for the day at 4! As I'm not very big, I feel even a few pounds would make a difference. My body isn't awful, it's my belly and face really.

I wouldn't do anything drastic (microblading etc.) to your brows, but you might be surprised by what a huge difference a shape and tint makes.

Surprisingly, good lash extensions - good ones, not the kind that are obviously fake and touch your forehead, can add a tonne of definition and glam. I go here

https://www.google.com/search?q=edy+lashes&oq=edy+lashes&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqDAgAECMYJxiABBiKBTIMCAAQIxgnGIAEGIoFMhAIARAuGK8BGMcBGIAEGI4FMgYIAhBFGEAyCAgDEAAYFhgeMggIBBAAGBYYHjINCAUQABiGAxiABBiKBTINCAYQABiGAxiABBiKBTIGCAcQRRg80gEIMjE0N2owajeoAgCwAgA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#lpg=cid:CgIgAQ%3D%3D,ik:CAoSLEFGMVFpcE1MN2p4enowSzJBaVF3NkhLMVFUUDlDZkI3WFlKcHVwQzJrcDJn

Good luck @Smallfry79. Hope you have a great time and feel fab!

That's not near me but I could look for something similar local.
I might look up some brows I like online and have a chat with a brow specialist to see if it can be done on me.
Would be a good idea to put more effort in and get them done regularly anyway as people say they can really lift your face

I had a mini makeover a few years ago. The things that made the most difference were: trip to the hairdressers, professional eyebrow shape, and teeth whitening.

John Lewis have a free personal styling service which might be worth a try. Another thing that might be worth doing is colour analysis.

Love this exercise to tone up quickly:

Re' nails, I have never been able to grow my nails and I have tried everything.
I won't have acrylics or gels, but I do love the look of nice nails. I tried Elegant Touch false nails when I was going to a special 'do'.
I was so impressed with how they looked, really natural easy to put on, (but I did use a brush on glue instead of the tube which comes in the pack, too messy)
The amazing thing is they stayed on for nearly two weeks!
I use French 114 - nice colour, not too long, squoval shape. There are lots of styles and colours, and I get mine from Superdrug for about £6.

Good luck with your glow up!

Thanks all. Good to have back up idea if nails don't grow too.

Think I am going to call into a salon at weekend to chat about brows and maybe retinol.
I'll keep going with the water and exercise.
Once hair is done and maybe tan and good make up I'll be the best I can be at short notice.
Thanks

Alternate day fasting (not eating every other day) - quick weight loss, glowy skin, more energy

Fake tan

Double cleanse and snail mucin for flawless skin

hair dyed and blow dried

Similar situation - making more effort with skincare and diet!

Your plan sounds good, you will look lovely.

Something low investment would be getting a few sheets masks, you can get hydrating ones that should help to give you a nice glow in the short term.

A bit more investment would be a microneedling facial (get a week or 2 before the event) or hydrafacial, they can also give a lovely glow.

I'd start religiously exfoliating and moisturising any body parts that might be on show in your dress.

Slugging hands with vaseline at night will smooth texture of skin on your hands and may help nails. In 3 weeks you should be able to get good growth; I would leave any polish off for now and oil them regularly (dunked in oil or at least rub oil on them), that's how i managed to grow my previously peely horrible nails.

Agree with others about tan, shape wear etc.

Also agree that 6lbs should be very achievable but be careful with too much exercise as it will make you more hungry.

Good luck OP and have a great time!

Forget about losing weight and all the other high-pressure unreasonable demands you want to put upon yourself.

Choose a great outfit that you feel entirely comfortable in. Get your hair, nails, feet done.

Swan in like you own the place and enjoy yourself.

Hydrafacial few days before the event. Blow dry on the day

Thanks all.
Love the idea of swanning in like I own the place. Confidence really is the most attractive trait.
If all the above suggestions don't work, I'll just have to fake it!