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So you have a minimum standards of appearance ?

104 replies

Stuckinthemiddlewithyouuhoh · 21/02/2026 15:52

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

OP posts:
mdinbc · 21/02/2026 21:07

My routine is fairly basic, and consistent.

Plain soap and water with cloth for face in morning, then toner.
Serum for brightening
tinted moisturizer with spf
eyeliner, mascara, tinted lip balm
night time face - remove makeup, moisturize, lip balm
Hair washed Monday, Wednesday, Friday
alternate days a good brushing, then spritz with wave spray and scrunch
Hand lotion after every hand wash!
Nails kept trim and tidy, sometimes clear/translucent polish
Pedicure with gel only May - Sept

DuchessofStaffordshire · 21/02/2026 21:12

I'm autistic and love routines and sameness. My routine is very simple. I run and/or go to the gym everyday and shower straight afterwards. I use Pears soap as I find it better at leaving my skin clean and I'm a heavy sweater. I wash my hair every 3 days and use dry shampoo in between. I apply Aveeno oil to my damp skin after showering and use Aveeno Dermexa lotion to moisturise my face. I have good skin and don't wear makeup as I hate the feeling of it. False lashes, nails etc would drive me mad. I wear SPF every day. I apply nail varnish to my toes as it protects my nails whilst on long runs. I have a basic capsule wardrobe which makes dressing very simple. I have a very clean diet and don't drink alcohol. This plus exercise makes a big difference to how I look and feel.

gillefc82 · 21/02/2026 21:14

Stuckinthemiddlewithyouuhoh · 21/02/2026 19:50

Oh yeah I was forgetting exfoliating
I've just done one of them nose strips and I've pulled a bit of skin off and now it's a bit sore ! I'll give the rest to dh

Please don’t use those nose strips @Stuckinthemiddlewithyouuhoh! They can really damage your skin (as you’ve discovered!) and there are much better ways to exfoliate/clear out your pores. I’d recommend The Ordinary’s Glycolic Acid, soak a cotton pad and sweep across your nose and any other areas where you had congested pores, bumps or blackheads. Don’t use it every day (maybe every 3 days) and make sure to use SPF as it can make your skin more sensitive.

gillefc82 · 21/02/2026 21:25

I’d also recommend the EOS body lotions, massive bottles for around £15 on Amazon. Really moisturising without feeling too heavy on the skin and it comes in lots of different scents. I’ve got 4 which are all lovely but my absolute favourite is the Vanilla Cashmere - a gorgeous musky vanilla blend that pairs really well with any vanilla based perfumes without overpowering them.

Also might be worth checking out Fragrantica for perfumes that are similar scent profiles to Daisy (scroll down to the “reminds people of” bit:

www.fragrantica.com/perfume/Marc-Jacobs/Daisy-1361.html

Flingotheflamingo · 21/02/2026 21:35

My hair is always “done” - and by that I mean clean and either straightened or curled. Never tied back. A tan of some sort on my face, rarely foundation. Eyebrows neat and tidy, eyeliner always. Well moisturised lips. Small earrings. Cartier bracelet. Nails always done in French manicure style. Perfume at the moment is Tom Ford Neroli Portofino.

I avoid patterned clothes. I generally wear trousers, as opposed to jeans. I’m slim - size 6, so that helps.

I’m a full time working mum of 2. I will not be winning any glam awards, but I am always ready for the world.

Lavender14 · 21/02/2026 22:13

Stuckinthemiddlewithyouuhoh · 21/02/2026 20:05

What do you to whiten your teeth?
And does the led face mask work

I'm thinking of getting one of them

I just use whitening strips for my teeth. I do think the led mask works, I think they've been documented as working but also that you'd lose the effects fairly fast unless you're being consistent with it about 3 times a week. I got mine on black Friday sale, im not sure I would have spent more on it but I personally do feel a difference in my skin when I use it.
For me is actually just a good prompt for a bit of self care and slowing myself down and feeling a bit 'extra'!

I think zara perfumes are lovely and very reasonable for every day!

Stuckinthemiddlewithyouuhoh · 21/02/2026 22:18

halftermhalfawake · 21/02/2026 20:41

you could add a silk pillowcase/satin bonnet, my hair (whats left of it!!) is better for it...a little less breakage

I actually have one but I don't like using it but I could try a pillowcase although I need few as I change it nightly

OP posts:
Stuckinthemiddlewithyouuhoh · 21/02/2026 22:20

Anotherwine · 21/02/2026 20:51

Minimum -

nails done
moisturiser
face skin care routine daily
hair brushed and styled
lip oil
eyebrow tint
mascara ( tinted moisturiser also even better)
“Nice” casual clothes for when CBA - no fluffy jumpers or stained / stretched loungewear
decenf underwear
stud earrings

That's my gap in my wardrobe

Nice” casual clothes for when CBA - no fluffy jumpers or stained / stretched loungewear

OP posts:
Stuckinthemiddlewithyouuhoh · 21/02/2026 22:26

mdinbc · 21/02/2026 21:07

My routine is fairly basic, and consistent.

Plain soap and water with cloth for face in morning, then toner.
Serum for brightening
tinted moisturizer with spf
eyeliner, mascara, tinted lip balm
night time face - remove makeup, moisturize, lip balm
Hair washed Monday, Wednesday, Friday
alternate days a good brushing, then spritz with wave spray and scrunch
Hand lotion after every hand wash!
Nails kept trim and tidy, sometimes clear/translucent polish
Pedicure with gel only May - Sept

Hand lotion after every hand wash! Yes I could do this, just need a mini hand cream for every sink, what hand cream do you use ?

OP posts:
Stuckinthemiddlewithyouuhoh · 21/02/2026 22:28

gillefc82 · 21/02/2026 21:14

Please don’t use those nose strips @Stuckinthemiddlewithyouuhoh! They can really damage your skin (as you’ve discovered!) and there are much better ways to exfoliate/clear out your pores. I’d recommend The Ordinary’s Glycolic Acid, soak a cotton pad and sweep across your nose and any other areas where you had congested pores, bumps or blackheads. Don’t use it every day (maybe every 3 days) and make sure to use SPF as it can make your skin more sensitive.

I'll get some of that but wait till this sorebits healed first !

OP posts:
gillefc82 · 21/02/2026 22:31

Stuckinthemiddlewithyouuhoh · 21/02/2026 22:28

I'll get some of that but wait till this sorebits healed first !

Get yourself some of this - https://www.lookfantastic.com/p/la-roche-posay-cicaplast-balm-b5-multi-purpose-repairing-balm-40ml/13938507/

Its recommended by dermatologists as a barrier repair cream for use after people have had skin peels etc so is great for speeding up the recovery process.

La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Balm B5 Multi-Purpose Repairing Balm 40ml | LOOKFANTASTIC

Buy La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Balm B5 Multi-Purpose Repairing Balm 40ml - Join Beauty+ Rewards & earn points today! Free delivery over £25.

https://www.lookfantastic.com/p/la-roche-posay-cicaplast-balm-b5-multi-purpose-repairing-balm-40ml/13938507/

Stuckinthemiddlewithyouuhoh · 21/02/2026 22:32

Flingotheflamingo · 21/02/2026 21:35

My hair is always “done” - and by that I mean clean and either straightened or curled. Never tied back. A tan of some sort on my face, rarely foundation. Eyebrows neat and tidy, eyeliner always. Well moisturised lips. Small earrings. Cartier bracelet. Nails always done in French manicure style. Perfume at the moment is Tom Ford Neroli Portofino.

I avoid patterned clothes. I generally wear trousers, as opposed to jeans. I’m slim - size 6, so that helps.

I’m a full time working mum of 2. I will not be winning any glam awards, but I am always ready for the world.

I shall try this Tom Ford Neroli Portofino next time in the shops
Is it lemony?

OP posts:
Stuckinthemiddlewithyouuhoh · 21/02/2026 22:36

gillefc82 · 21/02/2026 22:31

Get yourself some of this - https://www.lookfantastic.com/p/la-roche-posay-cicaplast-balm-b5-multi-purpose-repairing-balm-40ml/13938507/

Its recommended by dermatologists as a barrier repair cream for use after people have had skin peels etc so is great for speeding up the recovery process.

Crumbs that actually what I've done isn't it! Ripped off some skin, blimey that's why I probably stopped using them, as ot used them in years, then I forget !

Thanks for all tne recommendations

I might try and check in with myself on this thread so I can try and gold myself accountable for a week

OP posts:
Stuckinthemiddlewithyouuhoh · 21/02/2026 22:36

Also just done a boots order for more perfume

OP posts:
Stuckinthemiddlewithyouuhoh · 21/02/2026 22:37

Think I'm also gonna write down these minimum standards in my notebook

I fond there something about writing things down helps it go into my brain more

OP posts:
Stuckinthemiddlewithyouuhoh · 21/02/2026 22:39

Fallulah · 21/02/2026 22:37

This is a very good dupe for the MJ Daisy perfume. I love it too and don’t think it’s a particularly ‘young’ scent!

Thanks I'll also check this one out
I just ordered the jean Paul gueitier one as its on offer
40percent off in boots
But a cheaper daily one would be great

OP posts:
Brightlittlecanary · 21/02/2026 22:45

I guess I’m quite high maintenance, but have learned it starts from within,

so a healthy diet, 90 percent of the time and 3 litres of water a day, and exercising inc weights, 5 or 6 days a week. When you do this your body and skin looks good naturally after a few months. Min alcohol, let your body recover so keep it to nights out.

my skin care I suspect is quite excessive, but I’m in my fifties and it’s working, I’m relatively wrinkle free other than my forehead. I use retinol, then hyrolonic acid, then nad + then moisturiser, twice a day and take powdered collagen twice a day as a drink.

i moisturiser my body three times day, bio oil twice a day on arms chest and tummy , once when I get up and once before bed, and I use a a scented body cream before I dress in the morning. The skin on my body looks smooth.

it all sounds a lot but it takes minutes.

my hair can go about 3 or 4 days before it needs a wash, it’s long.

nails, I use false nails, short and square, they stay on a couple of weeks, no chipping, look real and I just do it myself.

i bought a clothes steamer, it’s a game changer for freshening clothes up that have been in the wardrobe,, i just throw what im wearing on the bed and take the steamer over it, any creases drop out and it looks freshly ironed, i do it on tops, trousers, skirts and jeans, it does make a difference and takes seconds.

wear clean clothes, clean under wear, clean socks, each day after your shower. Trousers, jeans, skirts can be worn a few times, but clothes that are clean and wrinkle free look better.

a spritz of perfume. Something that’s close to skin, not overpowering.

I think it’s important to make an effort, to invest in you, wear something lovely every day, and make it a habit, you will always feel good.

GreenCaterpillarOnALeaf · 21/02/2026 22:51

Get your teeth whitened. Game changer for me and always makes me look more put together. Eyelash extensions or a lash lift saves you time. Dye your eyebrows (I do mine at home, use mens beard dye), lip blush worked for me because I have corpse lips. Now I can basically just get out of bed and go after a quick shower.

Get your clothes out the night before - pants and bra included!

Stuckinthemiddlewithyouuhoh · 21/02/2026 22:56

Brightlittlecanary · 21/02/2026 22:45

I guess I’m quite high maintenance, but have learned it starts from within,

so a healthy diet, 90 percent of the time and 3 litres of water a day, and exercising inc weights, 5 or 6 days a week. When you do this your body and skin looks good naturally after a few months. Min alcohol, let your body recover so keep it to nights out.

my skin care I suspect is quite excessive, but I’m in my fifties and it’s working, I’m relatively wrinkle free other than my forehead. I use retinol, then hyrolonic acid, then nad + then moisturiser, twice a day and take powdered collagen twice a day as a drink.

i moisturiser my body three times day, bio oil twice a day on arms chest and tummy , once when I get up and once before bed, and I use a a scented body cream before I dress in the morning. The skin on my body looks smooth.

it all sounds a lot but it takes minutes.

my hair can go about 3 or 4 days before it needs a wash, it’s long.

nails, I use false nails, short and square, they stay on a couple of weeks, no chipping, look real and I just do it myself.

i bought a clothes steamer, it’s a game changer for freshening clothes up that have been in the wardrobe,, i just throw what im wearing on the bed and take the steamer over it, any creases drop out and it looks freshly ironed, i do it on tops, trousers, skirts and jeans, it does make a difference and takes seconds.

wear clean clothes, clean under wear, clean socks, each day after your shower. Trousers, jeans, skirts can be worn a few times, but clothes that are clean and wrinkle free look better.

a spritz of perfume. Something that’s close to skin, not overpowering.

I think it’s important to make an effort, to invest in you, wear something lovely every day, and make it a habit, you will always feel good.

I could body moisturise twice a day maybe but how do you fit in 3 times a day? Lunch or dinner time application?

I rarely drink alcohol but I can certainly up my water consumption

OP posts:
sillies · 21/02/2026 22:58

gillefc82 · 21/02/2026 17:28

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.

Love this thread

Also love vanilla scents which of the ones you listed is the 'lightest' ?

Stuckinthemiddlewithyouuhoh · 21/02/2026 22:58

GreenCaterpillarOnALeaf · 21/02/2026 22:51

Get your teeth whitened. Game changer for me and always makes me look more put together. Eyelash extensions or a lash lift saves you time. Dye your eyebrows (I do mine at home, use mens beard dye), lip blush worked for me because I have corpse lips. Now I can basically just get out of bed and go after a quick shower.

Get your clothes out the night before - pants and bra included!

Do you find it makes tour teeth more sensitive
I'm scared to do any things like that as I don't want sensitive or damaged teeth

I have some nice bits like nice lip oil, just need to get in the habit of using

OP posts:
Stuckinthemiddlewithyouuhoh · 21/02/2026 22:58

Going to have a sort out of my make up bag too

OP posts:
gillefc82 · 21/02/2026 22:59

sillies · 21/02/2026 22:58

Love this thread

Also love vanilla scents which of the ones you listed is the 'lightest' ?

Either Eilish or Orchidée Vanille. Both lovely fragrances.

Greennuttysmoothie · 21/02/2026 23:01

Shower twice a day, hair wash every other day, deodorant, face moisturizer and clean clothes are the bare minimum for me. If I'm leaving the house the clothes have to look presentable. My ratty ones are for indoors only!

I've got one of those dyson hair stylers and this has been a game changer. I style it whilst drying and it helps me feel a bit more put together as it lasts a couple of days.

File my nails once a week and coat them with a strengthener, and have a very basic make up routine for leaving the house. Tinted moisturiser, eyebrow pen, lip crayon that doubles as blush and a bit of mascara.

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