How do I take care of myself *tips please

[AmIDelulu]

36 and I've never been fussed about my looks. My hair over stimulates me so I often shove it up any old way. Don't care for skincare, some days only use a wipe and moisturizer on my face 🤦🏻‍♀️ hardly wear make up, very special occasions only. Eyebrows the same I was born with.... But suddenly I'm fed up of it and I want to look good. What do I do? What do I buy? Everyone I know uses about 50 things on their face and then another 30 for their hair. Rolling things on their face and masks that look like storm troopers. I don't know where to start. Someone help me lol

I'd start with threading your eyebrows to get some definition, just start slow because fuller brows are still more current.
I'd get your nails done, you'll feel more pulled together and you might enjoy the pampering.
You don't need a feckton of products but what you need depends on any concerns you have (if any, but like pores, pigmentation etc). Get a nice hair mask and just pop in on once a week, that's pretty straightforward. Again a lot depends on what you're working with - dry?a curl?frizz?fine?

A good hair cut and possibly colour will have a huge impact on how you look and feel.

Vitamin C serum or cream will brighten up your skin, as will a face scrub. I like Dermalogica Microfoliant as an exfoliator and the Dr Dennis Gross Vitamin C serum and Dewy Deep Cream (which also have vitamin C in it). Together they make my skin look amazing - all glowy and clear.

Threading can help shape your eyebrows and tidy them up. Although if they are naturally light or sparse, you might be better looking into microblading or brow lamination.

If you’re not used to wearing make up, it’s probably best to start with a natural look. A tinted moisturiser (Hourglass, Chanel Les Beiges, Nars or Laura Mercier are good). Some mascara and a bit of blush - Bobbi Brown cream blushes are lovely and last forever. Lipstick or lipgloss can really perk the face up but the best ones are really personal. Perhaps go to a local department store and book in for a trial with a brand you like.

Sheetmasks are good for giving you a nice glow. Get one's with collagen in.

If you only ever tie your hair back, cut it off into a fun short do.
Moisturise with a good SPF (Nivea will do)
Mascara daily
Spray something nice smelling

All that can be done without huge expense.

I'm a good bit older than you and feel the same re making an effort! I stick with the basics which I find makes a difference. Short version is that I:

• Have a hair cut every 7-8 weeks. Nothing fancy, just a good cut from a hairdresser I trust. Used to get highlights but am now growing out and my hair is pretty healthy (and grey) as a result.
• Eyebrows waxed every month or so. My brows suffered from the 90/00s overplucking, so I want to keep them in good shape as I have a round & pale face and they add a bit of definition!
• Simple skin routine for face - I use an oil cleanser and moisturise daily. Will sometimes add in other things but tend to go back to these two only. Love a good lip balm!
• Make-up - mascara, a bit of neutral eyeshadow (stick form) to cover any redness on eyelids, sometimes eyeliner & maybe a bit of lip colour - a coloured balm or something with light coverage. I also have a tinted moisturiser but don't use it too frequently.
• Rest of body - I get regular pedicures in the summer due to wearing sandals etc, but rest of year don't bother. Same with body hair trimmage/removal (ie, I bother in the summer & not really in the winter!). Nice moisturiser for arms & legs. Regular hand cream & trim/filing nails, sometimes have a manicure but not very often. I have a nice collection of perfume as well, and some nice but not super expensive pieces of jewellery & watch(es).
• Sunscreen (face and body) + cover up with sleeves/hat when needed.

In summary I'm very much NOT the best turned out person I know, but like to keep the basics in order 😆

Heartily endorse skincare - face and body. Have just got into it in the past month. I don't wear makeup as a rule, and haven't changed that, but the difference in the quality of my skin and general "glow" in the last month of am and pm skincare is really noticeable. People keep blinking at me and saying I look very well in a slightly puzzled way.

My face routine is: cleanser, toner, serum, eye cream, and day moisturiser with SPF 50, or night cream depending on what time it is. Sometimes I use micellar water instead of cleanser/toner. Currently the cleanser and toner are Pixi Glow, the serum is No 7 Lift and Laminate, the eye cream is Garnier anti-ageing eye cream and the moisturisers are both L'Oréal Revitalift. But I honestly don't think the brand matters - it's the ingredients, really, so use whatever is on sale and tailor the products to what you want to prioritise. For me that's firming, anti-ageing and colour balance as parts of my face are quite pink.

Once a week I do an Elemis deep cleanse as well which is a really nice reset for my skin.

For my body, I do a fairly light and gentle dry body brush to boost circulation and exfoliate before my shower every evening. Once a week before I epilate I use an exfoliating scrub (currently using up an old facial scrub given to me ages ago), otherwise it's shower gel - nothing special at the moment - followed by Aveeno firming body cream.

What has surprised me apart from the real improvement in my skin condition is how much I enjoy paying myself this attention and how different I feel about my looks generally as a result. I really recommend it.

I do also have eyebrows, lashes and a pedicure once every six weeks or so. Had forgotten about that somehow!

I'm 44 and I'd recommend usIng SPF every day. Seriously just a couple of pea sized amounts of SPF50. If you only moisturise make sure it's a decent one.

When I hit 40 my skin got a lot drier and that's when I stepped it up and I have started to use products for drier skin, which are basically cream cleaners, cleansing balms or cleansing oils, milky toners, hydrating serums, face oils for dry skin, and moisturisers for the skin barrier. So it now has five bloody steps! Then you have specific anti ageing products like retinol and tret but I thought I'd just follow a routine first and see what happens. I've also been doing face yoga which genuinely seems to make a difference.

God help me, I have become someone who genuinely wants to know about face yoga. Tell me more, please

This sounds quite similar to mine. I actually really enjoy it too!

I use Simple cream cleanser. Did buy Liz Earle Hot Polish on Vinted - nice but wouldn't rebuy. It has eucalyptus or something which smells fab but is quite drying on my skin.

Using Bare Minerals facial oil cleanser at night, had it for ages but only just been using it consistently. I love how it feels but will need to find a cheaper alternative or use it less!

Using up Pixi Collagen Toner but it's quite drying so have just bought Byoma milky toner to try. Toner does last for ages so it's probably worth it.

I bought the Inkey List Hyaluronic Acid serum. Feels nice but not sure what it does although serums lock in moisture or something. Also just bought Byoma Hydrating Serum on Vinted to try. Serum feels like one of those unnecessary steps but will see.

My skin was so dry I bought the Ordinary with HA factors and photoceramides moisturiser, also on Vinted. I think ceramides help the skin barrier. It's very thick so definitely a winter moisturiser. In summer will revert to Garnier or similar.

The big change is using facial oil at night. I tried a rosemary oil. I like the feel of oils. I've also used Holland and Barrett vitamin E oil in the past. Definitely helps.

I really like the Garnier mango body butter. Smells amazing. Also free of nasties.

Ooh, well, I was a massive serum sceptic but I now consider it to be a serious game changer. I had been using it on and off previously and it always did a little something, just a bit of brightening, that the other stuff didn't do on its own.

I always presume that if people don't wear makeup then they have perfect skin, eye shapes and eye lashes

In which case you don't need to start wearing any

I've always worn foundation because my skin gets too red

I rarely wear eyeshadow because I have nice eyes

I wear mascara because I like it