So you have a minimum standards of appearance ?

[Stuckinthemiddlewithyouuhoh]

I’m trying to be more consistent
deffo have some adhd traits

so I can swing from one day glam to the next day homeless look

so what I’m trying to do is draw up some minimum standards
so hair washed every other day
bath or shower everyday

feet mosturised

skins care
my whole routine atm is face wash
advanced night repair
then Estée Lauder
sumpreme moisturiser

but I’ve neglected doing this for months

should I be improving this skin routine ?

id like to try fake tan
so I’ve just bought some tan luxe drops

which I’m going to try either sunday night or Monday

I’ve gone through periods of nail biting but I’ve managed to stop again
so they are looking the best they’ve done. In ages
so I don’t know if I’m gonna use gel polish at home
or sally hansen hard as nails
just to strengthen them ?

any other ideas you can add to this ?
or what do too do for yourself ?
how to do make yourself so this ?
any tips on being Consistant

I’ve just binned a jumper I don’t like
wasn’t sure if I liked it when I got it in the sale
and the colour didn’t suit me

so maybe I need to get a few new bits for my wardrobe and sort though my accessories

I think if you’re going into work more polished and hair washed is essential.

WFH/student/SAHM you can afford to be a bit more relaxed about these things. Dry shampoo is good if you cba to wash it.

What new bits do you need for your wardrobe?

It’s really down to personal preference. For me the minimum is clean, deodorant and scrunched hair (curly naturally). I choose beyond that depending on mood

yes I think I could do with a few new bits
I keep putting off getting new stuff as think wait until
I lose a few lbs etc
or I’ve lost quite a bit of wait till I’ve regained and balanced out a bit

maybe new jeans
maybe a few new tops
so ready to come out of the winter where you have to be wrapped up so much

What products do you used on your curly hair ? And how often do you wash it

I hadn’t washed my hair for 6 days and it was looking pretty skanky, so I put dry shampoo in it Friday night.
Was running Saturday morning so didn’t want to ‘waste’ washing it Friday night.

I find if you don’t brush your hair, you can get away without washing it for much longer.

I have wavy/curly hair
so if I didn’t do it for days it would end up so tangled

which thinking about it adds
to the way my appearance can swing from glam to homeless
because when it’s washed and scrunched it looks great
even the next day still looks good
but by the third day
birds nest !
xx

As a bare minimum, I’d say washed hair, deodorant, clothes that have been ironed, clean teeth and nails. I personally don’t rate the Sally Hansen nail treatment - I think the OPI nail envy is better and it comes in both clear and colour options. I would have recommended Nailtiques Formula 2, which was the miracle product that transformed my bitten, very weak nails, but sadly this was discontinued a few years back so you may struggle to get hold of it.

For me, my bare minimum also includes:

a good spritz of perfume - in these colder months, I’m loving my vanilla scents (Kayali Vanilla 28, Tihota by Indult Paris, Spiriteuse Double Vanille by Guerlain, Orchidée Vanille by Van Cleef & Arpels or Eilish by Billy Eilish)

groomed brows - have naturally thick brows that, if left unchecked, make me like a grumpy/perplexed walrus, so a brow wax every few weeks and using a tinted brow gel each day to keep them in place is a must!

some coats of mascara to open up my hooded eyes - I’m loving the Prada Pradascope mascara at the moment

a tinted lip balm to prevent any dry/chapped lips - my favourites are the Butter Balms from Summer Fridays and the Pout Preserve Peptide Lip Treatments by Ole Henrikson, as they are not too sticky on the lips, both offer a range of tints/shades and all smell divine

and if I have any breakouts (perimenopause really is a constant fucking delight), then either a skin tint or strategic concealer.

Oh, and make sure you are wearing SPF (at least 30, ideally 50) every day! It’s the number one thing to help with ageing, not to mention preventing melanoma, and there are now so many options that have the highest levels of UVA and UVB filters but don’t leave you looking like a ghost! Check out Korean or Japanese brands (Beauty of Joseon and Isntree do good ones) or the Australian brand Naked Sundays, who make a fantastic SPF50 setting spray that can be used as a top up for your sun protection on bare skin or over make up and it doesn’t shift/disrupt your makeup underneath.

Ultimately, I wouldn’t over complicate it - just stick to a few things as part of your routine that you know you will do consistently and that make you feel good about yourself.

this is my minimum: studs/small hoops. Eyebrow gel, translucent powder, tinted lipbalm. 50 spf moisturiser (garnier I think rn) I have a nail strengther on my nails (also a biter/in nail biter rehab). I wear my everyday perfume everyday (it's a light, clean smell....although my ex MIL said it was too young for me - 30s! But that's another thread lol)

I have a basic toddler mama leggings/Next tee combo or midi dress in summer. It's not gonna set the fashion world alight but post c section body still recovering from more surgery etc.

the less said about my post partum regrowth fuzzy hairline the better. I got a pack of nice claw clips and a hair oil and that's that until such time that the hairdresser becomes an option

Showered or bathed every morning, hair washed every other day.

Always get dressed, can't bear spending too long in pyjamas

Don't wear makeup unless I'm going out or into the office

Is your hair extremely long or something?

It's, ong but I wouldn't say extremely

Long

My minimum standards are clean, ironed, neat and thoughtfully put together outfit.
A few pieces of simple jewellery each morning.
Clean, styled hair.
Skincare and light makeup.
Daily shower or bath.

I tan maybe every other week, don’t bother with nails and things like that.

Oh thanks for adding that
a tinted lip balm to prevent any dry/chapped lips

I will check out the nail envy
They are finally good again and iwant to keep them like it

Spf

And spritz of perfume

What tan do you use?
In the winter do you just do the face?

Minimum standard for me is clean and not smelly
I’m going to try going forward to iron and everything because I think if you’ve got iron pressed clothes you can forgive a lot

Personally mine are:
shower daily
everything shower/scrub/bath once a week, usually when I have clean sheets on
wash hair 2-3x per week
make up really only when going out for lunch or to work, otherwise just mousturise!
skincare - micellar face wash, moisturiser, vitamin c, niacinamide toner and some sort of acid for redness

I work in retail with a clothing allowance so I have seasonal new clothes each 6 months

Thank you for your advice I'm so curious what this perfume is ?
Yes it's just the basics I need to work on
And just try to be consistent

Wondering if I should have a sort through of my accessories

I shower everyday, always. Full body moisturiser. Skin care routine, morning and night, including micro current device.
Wash my hair every 3 days, thanks to dry shampoo, but always wash it if I’m going out out.
Nails every 2 weeks
Eyebrows every month
Pedicure every 6 weeks
Waxed every 3 weeks
Hair cut and colour every 8-10 weeks
But I mainly WFH so most of the time I’m dressed in yoga pants and a hoodie and resemble a bag lady 🤣🤣
I can and do pull it together, by putting my face on, wearing decent clothes and jewellery etc if I’m going out or into the office.

I do the basics:

Daily shower
Hairwash every third day
Either a blow dry or curling brush
Estee day and night cream, plus under eye cream
Clinique take off the day
Daily floss
Hand cream (hand and feet)
Perfume
Light make-up: foundation, concealer, blusher, transluscent powder, mascara, lipstick (takes about 3 mins).

Clean, ironed clothes.
Good shoes

OPI have a sale on at the moment if you buy directly on their website:

https://www.opi.com/en-GB/search?query=nail%20strengthener&view=product&queryID=c4d0ad569e8262dd1defdea742275eeb

Definitely don’t do gel - it dehydrates your nails and can cause more damage over time. If you want to go down the route of a nail lacquer that lasts longer/won’t chip as easily, then look into BIAB, which isn’t as damaging to the natural nail. My Mum used to bite her nails down to the quick and since having BIAB done, hers are so much stronger and often longer than mine. Otherwise, invest in a good nail primer/base coat and top coat and take your time between coats, ensuring you seal the edge of the nail properly and avoid using your nails as a tool to open things etc!

What Full body moisturiser do you use ? That would eb a good one for me to add and body skin is much drier these days
One I'm almost out of is the elemis body oil, but youhabe to melt it in warm water so its a bit of a pain

I don't even have any yoga pants, and I want some for home, wheres a good place for them
I'm only 5ft4

Shower twice a day
moisturise - e45 and Chanel crème
concealer , brows , mascara , lipstick lipgloss
hair in pony tail
basic top and adanola leggings for gym
nice belted coat over the top

evening
shower / exfoliate every other day sauna steam
cream- palmers cocobytter
moistjrise face

I’ve started sorting my clothes. If I haven’t worn it this winter, it’s gone. I’ve also sorted out my lingerie drawer and my thought process has been if I’d be embarrassed for a new partner to see it, bin it 🤣