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 🤓

Thanks

All of these!

I have started using kinkind solid shampoo. I have a very sensitive scalp and dry, curly, silver hair and love both the purple and fermented rice shampoo. Reasonably priced and seem to last a long time.

Those are all just opinions, not 'no nonsense' tips.

For the Clinique lip tint would this work on black skin? I am caramel complexion.

For dry feet : please see attached pic of foot cream that saved my life.

Yes, I have to agree (but I don't hate you for it). Ironing your clothes really does make a difference. Have to admit, however, that I only do ironing in summer as I have, unfortunately/fortunately, acquired too many linen dresses.

Clinique's black honey, and the other honeys, have very mixed reviews. Have a look at Clarins sheer, glossy lipsticks.

Is your skin tone cool or warm? Cool needs blue tones (pinks, nudes, berry); warm more yellow tones (corals, nudes, etc). It's trial and error.

A friend tipped me off about Bravissimo stores. Their fitters are wonderful. The bras aren't that much more expensive that M&S. It may change your life. They also run a charity which recycles old bras.

I think the Clinique black honey lipstick is rubbish. I was so disappointed when I bought it. It’s gooey and has no staying power whatsoever. I much prefer using a cherry Nivea lip balm stick in its place.

I gave up on Western skincare around 10 years ago. I'm 56, don't use a retinol but have had my skin praised by professionals. Double cleanse at night, layers of hydrating toners & always SPF50 (My preference is Skin1004). Olive Young Global is a godsend. Black Honey looks awful on me. Lisa Eldridge Baume Embrace Melting Lip Colour is a good alternative. If you can, get your eyebrows professionally shaped regularly. It doesn't cost a lot but makes a huge difference.

Bought myself a decent hair brush (used to use supermarket cheapest) for my hair it’s made such a difference.

https://amzn.eu/d/cFMuOCP

Agree with most of your points - but why is the bold lip a "scam"??

I love wearing a warm-toned red lipstick as it's perfect for my colouring (pale & reddish-blonde). The formulation though is what matters to me - a satiny semi-sheer texture for everyday is great as it's not obvious when it wears off a bit. My favourite was the Lipstick Queen "Saint" range - now no more, so I buy on eBay etc!!

A no-nonsense tip re lipstick - use a neutral lip liner & apply all over before your lipstick!

Re your callused feet - Swedish CCS foot cream! It has 10% urea in it, which my chiropodist said is key to treating dry skin. My feet were transformed within a few days.

Wash your face.
Wear your hair in the way that best suits your lifestyle. It shouldn't be a chore or a pain in the arse.
Wear sunscreen.
Keep your nails short and clean.

I notice that the people who look clean and practical are the most graceful and stylish, not the ones who wear a shit ton of makeup, fashionable clothes and who are trying not to show their age. It's really difficult to shift to this mindset when consumerism have been telling us that we need to spend loads of money on cupboardfuls of stuff just to be presentable. It's really quite sad that we're so afraid of becoming older, when it's such a privilege. All that insight we gain over the years and we want to look 20!

re: having "Your Colours Done". Recently I met a woman on holiday who'd been told Her Colour Was Turquoise. She wore it constantly, resolutely & proudly but it just swamped her personality, which was much more quietly watery.

I absolutely hate "My Colours" and it's less to do with my facial/skin colouring than with my personality. For example: Reds are supposed to suit me. I can wear red & get compliments, but after a day or two I feel really uncomfortable and long for blues and greys.

So helpful! Do you use primer as well as cc erbiarian? And if so which primer do you use?
and where did you get your silk pillowcase from? Sorry!! So many questions! X

Wear SPF, the Beauty Pie one is the best.

Spray Davines OI Milk on wet hair before drying; it does wonders to smooth and boost fine hair.

Wear natural fabrics; cotton is not expensive. Try and invest in 100% wool knitwear and coats; keeps you warm, no sweat, no static!

Simple gold hoop earrings go with everything.

Gel manicures. Plain colour, short nails.

I agree. You have to balance what you look like with practicality.

I agree with having my hair a bit shorter than my hairdresser would ideally like and have it cut to suit my waves .
Also I don’t get manicures as unless you can spend the £ on having it done regularly then it looks shabby .
my nails are clean , neat and short , I use hand cream at every opportunity.
i also like Clinique almost lipstick in black honey as I don’t have to think about it

I think what some of these colour advisors get wrong - or omit to advise on properly - is the intensity of the colours. So she'll have been wearing a strong turquoise when what she really suited was a paler softer aqua.

Also, I think some people do a bit of basic training in it without having a good eye. It's like stylists - best to get recommendations & also look at their own clothes/make-up to gauge whether you think they've done a great job on themselves before they start on you!!

I love bluish-pinks - but they really don't suit my strawberry blonde warm colouring AT ALL! But my home is full of cushions, crockery etc in the colours that I love but don't wear, which makes me happy 😊

I had a colours and style consultation years ago. My consultant was independent and great, she categorised colours based on cool/warm, bright/muted, light/dark. Also, how to fit it into your style, including how to wear those colours that aren't your best. So, really not restrictive but helping you feel like you. I still wear things that are not my colours, but are me.

That’s a bit mean! She’s not forcing you and it’s just ideas and advice!

I like reading these threads as it gives me some ideas

Hello I use this one and it’s a game changer. I also use Aussie oh my gloss products but my hair is thick so can’t advise if they’d be good for you. The bonnet is great though and they often do 10 or 20% off x

https://onlycurls.com/products/only-curls-satin-sleep-turban-leopard?variant=43409476550811&tw_source=google&tw_adid=&tw_campaign=23309355961&tw_kwdid=&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23300111472&gbraid=0AAAAADQLIuj2v2vEgAsbshsySj-ytVIiV&gclid=Cj0KCQiAprLLBhCMARIsAEDhdPeAvxtdCEfDrxrLgfSwCWxOtXSraA6CHUBwwCrJtFXQDepafMwiXAYaAsEdEALw_wcB

Loving all the tips, suggestions and thoughts. great thread.

Simple gold hoop earrings go with everything.

Or silver in my case. Gold doesn't suit my colouring.

@HelpMeUnpickThis thank you, I will be getting this foot cream! I have a friend who has a similar complexion to how you describe yours and I’ve seen her look very nice in a deep berry lipstick that’s similar to the black cherry. However I think that if you’re unsure on the shade, the ‘nude honey’ shade is more versatile and definitely suits a warm complexion (I am white but with warmer undertones and I wear the nude honey more because it has more brown in it and is a bit more subtle.) Do report back if you buy it and get on with it!

A foamer works wonders for any cleanser - I mix 1 part cleanser to 1 part water, and find it's a lot gentler on my skin.
Bio oil on wet skin - game changer for lovely, hydrated glowy skin.
A dab of Sudocrem on a spot overnight really helps to reduce it.
Batisse overnight dry shampoo - saves a wash, and smells divine.