What are your NO-NONSENSE style and grooming tips? With products, if poss...

[HildegardVonBingham]

I'll start:

• If you have fine hair it is often best to get it cut shorter. If it's long it can look straggly and wispy. I have accepted my fate, and my hair looks much fuller and healthier now it's all cut to one blunt length.
• The idea that you have to have your nails 'done' all the time is insane and costly. Just keep them clean, filed, and use cuticle oil. In my view a grown-out manicure or acrylics looks bad.
• This is the most hydrating and natural-looking lip tint on the market. It's sooooo good - you can apply it without looking: https://www.clinique.co.uk/product/1605/4772/makeup/lipsticks/almost-lipstick-in-black-honey-pink-honey-and-nude-honey
• If you use a retinol (and you should), use it in conjunction with a serum and moisturiser so that the skin barrier repairs, and you avoid flakey bits of skin round your nose. Naturally wear SPF!!!
• Better to get clothes a size up and have them tailored and taken in. Even a woman with an amazing body looks like a sausage bursting its casing in too-small clothes.
• Colour theory is real. If you have 'high contrast' you can get away with wearing a lot of make-up. I think that a 'full glam' looks amazing on women with darker skin tones, but as I'm pale and blonde I can't really carry a lot of make-up. The 'bold lip' is a massive scam!
• Gradual tan on the body and tanning drops in your moisturiser can make you look slimmer and better-rested with minimal effort if you are pale.
• Your trousers should be almost too long - this makes your legs look longer.

Would be interested to hear any other NO NONSENSE advice you may have.... for instance I would love to know the best exfoliant to use on the body, and how I can avoid getting disgusting calloused hobbit feet from exercise 🤓

Remember it well @Lifestooshort71 it was a beautiful colour

I still mourn Clinique’s Rosy Plum in the ridged silver holder.

Ooo, can you tell us more about this please?
How long will it last?
How much was it?
Is it a brand name?

I had a Brazilian blowdry things a few years ago, and them first time I had it done I really noticed the difference and it definitely reduced the time spent on my drying and styling my hair but the 2nd and 3rd time I didn't notice too much difference. It was almost £300 so I haven't bothered since!

Interested to hear about yours please!

The one I had is called lisse by alfaparf. It’s hasn’t completely straightened my hair (I’ve retained volume and a slight wave, which I love). It was £200 and is supposed to last between 3-6 months.

I get a keratin straightening treatment every six months which costs me £200 a time. I have done for the last five years or so. I absolutely LOVE it. It's not poker straight after the first couple of weeks but just smooth and swishy.

I've been thinking about this for awhile. Do you still have plenty of volume and body in your hair? Mine's quite thick and I wouldn't want it dead flat.

Me too!
It looks gorgeous! And my lips feel great 🥰

@LovelyUser a big thank you from me and several others who are now fans of the Burts Bees ‘Red dahlia’ , and the 17 lip butter! Brilliant recommendations thank you!

I am a fair skinned soft autumn and this unglamorous and inexpensive lipstick is the most flattering shade I have ever worn! Not drying at all, and can go on sheer or build up for more colour.

www.boots.com/17-creme-lip-10306928?srsltid=AfmBOoom3dCVFJyLBBiDnbIkgqtCHpPeAD3a8VhquLCe6U_BjMdJBZ-I&queueittoken=e_sale2025uk~q_6af08204-5639-45a7-a14b-4180fbde7409~ts_1770122426~ce_true~rt_safetynet~h_61e858ab1016a3d14e0f19b033c766037ec24a60bcfff070d34405a576111db4

Also to add:

• as PP said, tubing mascara great for avoiding smudging, Revolution have a new one that works nicely
• double cleansing, the best balm cleanser imo is the Banila Co one
• correctly fitting bra and underwear, no clothing will look right unless these fit properly
• frequently applying hand cream especially in winter
• dermaplaning - not everyone likes this but personally it makes my makeup go on better and also scrapes off any dead skin cells

I’m keen to try dermaplaning… im wondering if I will still need to lip wax or if the dermaplaning removes hair as well? Seems like a strange thing to ask. I don’t have hectic lip hair but I do wax because it can look a bit dark.

Can you tell me the line and colour because that link is taking me to a generic page for Boots offers? Thanks!

Your link doesn't work for me - but I'm guessing it's the Boots 17 crème lip - in Barely Coral, or Nude Haze, or Copper??! All look like soft warm shades, which I may investigate ...

I have dermaplaned my cheeks up to my ears and under my chin for years and no, the bum fluff doesn't grow back any thicker. I don't do my tache or my chin as it just cuts proper whiskers off at skin level so I still Veet my top lip. What I do find though is that under my chin (where I do get the odd unwelcome squatter), when I've dermaplaned it, the nasty ones are much easier to see as they grow back and get plucked. Nobody else sees them so it doesn't bother me but on my top lip? No.

I have dermaplaned my cheeks up to my ears and under my chin for years and no, the bum fluff doesn't grow back any thicker. I don't do my tache or my chin as it just cuts proper whiskers off at skin level so I still Veet my top lip. What I do find though is that under my chin (where I do get the odd unwelcome squatter), when I've dermaplaned it, the nasty ones are much easier to see as they grow back and get plucked. Nobody else sees them so it doesn't bother me but on my top lip? No.

The dermaplaning will remove hair as well! Only thing to note is, if you have significant lip hair I'd say probably better to wax as it will last longer.

@EleanorMc67 @Frillysweetpea sorry, didn't realise link was no good! It's the Creme Lip in shade Copper from 17. The other colours aren't great (at least on me) but this is 10/10. I have medium brown hair, hazel eyes, very fair neutral to olive skin.

Yes, I definitely still have volume....my hair is really thick and used to be a complete frizzy mess before I started getting the treatments.

It is too poker straight and flat when I first get it done until I've washed it a few times. After a week or so it's better and then stays smooth for months. I have it done twice a year, I think officially they say it lasts four months but I can easily stretch to six. I am very careful about what shampoo and conditioner I use..... nothing with silicones, sulfates or salt in them and only washed every other day....that seems to make the difference with being able to stretch between appointments.

Someone recommended bepanthane nappy cream for under eye prep if you get flakiness when applying eye make up concealer - great and cheap as chips

on the other end of the scale , medik8 advanced peptides serum - I use a lot from the range but this is the product wh I out it on I could really see a difference https://www.medik8.com/products/liquid-peptides-advanced-mp

any recommendations for shape wear? I’m quite slim but there are some things where I want a totally lump free look. There was a recommendation on insta for wear commando - but spendy and have to pay import duties from USA on top!

@Fluffywithteethhave you tried Skims? I have pants and bras and a bodysuit. Nice fabric, good colours- I would suggest sizing up though, especially in the all in ones. They run a bit short so you can feel a bit ooh-ah up the hoo-ha, and not in a good way.

Thank you! X

I find dermaplaning gets rid of the hair on my chin and upper lip (I just pluck any I miss, but if yours is thick it might not work). It also makes your skin lovely and soft.

Bepanthan nappy cream is great for dry skin, my gp recommended it for eczema too.

I bought the red dahlia lip balm but it did nothing for me. However I found Elf Glow Reviver Slipstick in Cherry on Top hit the spot.I’m a pasty red head,if that helps.
I don’t really like tubing mascara but am on the hunt for a long wearing volume curl and length( yes I want it ALL😆) mascara,preferably not specifically waterproof and not hideously spendy. Thus far I’ve had 17 Bigger Better lash ,allegedly an update on Doll’d up that was discontinued- it so isn’t,though if you’re a natural look gal it would be good. Rimmel Thrillseeker mega lift had potential but made my eyes itch. Essence volume and Curl also had potential but panda eyes within an hour. Maybelline Great lash I have in waterproof ,does less than the 17 one. I was using Benefit Roller lash for years but that’s now decided to smudge under my eyes. Suggestions welcome.

The Beautypie The Perfect mascara is excellent @Yogachick - if you curl your lashes, it really holds the curl, where I find most don’t on my poker straight lashes, they just flop down again. I’ve only bought this mascara for probably 5 years now, I do dabble with ‘new releases’ but nothing compares