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

honestly no it didn’t make my teeth more sensitive, I was also worried about that. I have pretty “good” teeth they were just yellow. I didn't have sensitivity before hand though. When I say lip blush I mean I got them tattooed (it’s not like a tattoo tattoo, google it if your interested).

As for using your lip oil and lip balm, one thing I find useful is just having one lip balm (cheaper ones) in every pocket. Access is key.

Think I'm also gonna order a couple of silk pillowcases as i don't like wearing a silk bonnet thing

I’m either on or off. If I am leaving the house it’s:

shower, including hair wash/dry
Skincare including body lotion
Makeup
Perfume
Teeth brushed and flossed, tongue scraper
Nice clothes/jewellery/accessories

If I’m just dossing about at home I usually have a bath instead of a shower. I do skin/teeth etc but will be in joggers and a sweatshirt, no makeup. I’m presentable if someone comes to the door but wouldn’t go out in that.

I tint my brows and lashes, get my hair cut every four weeks, brows waxed every three, do my own nails/toes, and a couple of times a week do a gradual tan moisturiser and drops in my face cream.

My halfway house is reformer Pilates on a Sunday where I am obviously dressed for that (flared leggings, gym top, usually a sweatshirt over and a big coat at this time of year) but I do do a wee bit of makeup and shower/hair first. I often nip into the supermarket after so want to look reasonable-ish.

I think I got mine from dunelm, I have wavy hair that gets a bit captain caveman (thank you hormones) and it is one less battle to deal with

Daily night shower and shampoo
Deodorant and brushed hair and teeth
Contact lenses
Essence facial oil and spf
makeup - primer, bb cream, blush & highlighter (layered powder over cream), cream eyeshadow, eyeliner, mascara and lip balm- i also set with setting spray and powder.
Clean dress, tights and knickers
Shaved armpits and legs if I am exposing them

If at home, I wear an old night gown all day long and hair is unbrushed but would do skincare, wear makeup and deodorant..

I mean, I suffer MH issues but know I need routine else I’d never do anything but my standards are probs quite low:

shower every two days
hair brushed daily
get dressed daily
teeth brushed every day
deodorant daily
moisturise face every two days after shower
clean nails daily
keep nails clipped
earrings and nose stud always worn
clean pjs every two days
clean clothes every two days
clean underwear and socks daily

believe me, when you suffer with your MH, the above seems really hard.

I have my shower then use bio oil, then I potter and do other stuff, ie coffeee etc, then before I get dressed I use a scented moisturiser. I then use bio oil again before bed..

I stock up on f&f Tesco and M&S bits just trousers / jumpers / basic tops / fleeces for eugh days

@Stuckinthemiddlewithyouuhohlovely and fresh, lemony and just.. clean

It perks me up, especially in the gloomy days of winter. Also for a cheaper pick me up - L'Occitane en Provence Almond Shower Oil will transform your showering experience and make your days a little lighter.

If I were you I’d make your current steps absolutely routine before adding in lots of new ones. It just makes it easier in my experience once it’s all second nature.

for me, I get my nails done so they are always tidy. I also get lash lifts so that my eyes look more open even without make up. Tidy eyebrows and moisturised skin and lipbalm. This is a good base to then add make up on the days I can be bothered.

I often go days without washing hair but will pull it back into a tidy bun after about day 2 with the use of dry shampoo and ensure there are no flyaways and it’s quite sleek.

deodorant and perfume daily essential for me and never wear visibly dirty clothes.

Bare minimum: I do not wear makeup as I just look better without it but clean, fresh clear skin, earrings, hair brushed, lip balm, nails clean, good fitting jeans and a good blouse or cashmere. Presentable and not fussy. In summer, it's long smock dresses and sunglasses.

Thinking of the ADHD side of things, I would say to make things as easy as possible for yourselves and reduce the friction. A simple, achievable routine is going to be easier to stick to.

I have my hair cut every six weeks and highlighted every eighteen. I do my eyebrows and shave my hairy bits fortnightly. I wash my hair every 2-3 days use dry shampoo on other days and because I’m pale skinned add tanning drops to my moisturiser.

I always plan my clothes the night before, including shoes and accessories and plan whole outfits, not just jeans and a top. I also get my handbag/work bag ready.

I like elf tubing mascara, so buy it on 3 monthly repeat order from Amazon so I don’t run out. Once something essential is half used up, I buy or order a replacement so that I’m never without. Boots £10 Tuesdays are good for makeup and moisturiser.

My daily routine is morning;
Shower + hairwash if doing.
Use deodorant, moisturiser and brush teeth.
Dress.
Put foundation on.
Do hair.
Add jewellery and perfume.
Finish make-up: lip gloss and liner, mascara and blusher.

evening:
cleanse
serum + retinal
moisturise.

It sounds a lot, listed out, but most of it takes very little time. Keep it all handy and you can wizz through.

Clean hair, nails done (gel once a month) and perfume. I also have four rings that I never take off (ome amtique diamond gold ring and three silver stacking rings on the other hand), a moissonite tennis bracelet (that I realised after putting it on that I can’t remove it by myself and im single so no handy husband 😂) and I also keep small studs in my second hole in my ears. I don’t wear make up at home, but if im working I do wear tinted moisturiser at home and light make up if in the office. I also try and dress properly even if at home - work ish type clothes for working and something like jeans and a shirt for home.

I am a bit of a scruff but my minimum is;

1. Shower every night before bed (skim routine then)
2. shower in the mornings if physically going into the office (thank you night sweats)
3. Clothes that match- everything I own is in a variation of navy blue and grey with some hints of red so I can mix and match
4. Sunscreen, foundation, concealer, mascara, blush and lipstick

I have very fine hair that needs daily washing.

That's it really.

I always thought I was doing the bare minimum:

Hair washed every other day, blow dried
Shower daily
Body moisturised, currently a Vaseline one (just lost 6 stone and trying to limit the sagginess) 😬
Facial skin care (essence, La Roche Posay/serum , Superdrug/eye cream and moisturiser, L'Oreal)
Perfume (technically aftershave - Spicebomb)
Deodorant (obvs)
Eyebrow "mascara"
Undereye brightener
Dress for work/jeans, shirt, jumper at weekend
Wedding ring, watch and a necklace
Nails short, clean, if I can be arsed, polished

like pp said, I limited any new clothes to neutrals and one or two colours (I just chose colours I like, but you could choose according to your "season" tones) and so I can be reasonably sure that anything in my wardrobe goes with anything else. Not that any of the babies in the toddler groups care, but it makes me feel a bit better marginally less like a mothering machine who has disappeared under the housework

definitely worth thinking about op, it also saves time if you are not stood there thinking "what goes with this..."

Just want to send some solidarity.

I am also have ADHD like traits and I have very poor executive function. I love looking after myself and looking nice but with 3 young children to get off to school every day and clubs to be taken to most evenings, well the kids come first and take up most of my time and processing power, and my WFH job means there isnt that external pressure to be clean polished and ready for the day.

I always feel better if:
My clothes are first wash clean, even if they are my somewhat scruffy schoolrun clothes
I have had a wash in the morning and an everything shower at least twice a week
I put on my serum and SPF before heading out the door
And yes making sure hair is brushed before leaving!

Less every day things include decluttering my clothes - I used to hang on to really scruffy tshirts, like ones I would use to colour my hair, because they were so comfy, or my comfiest leggings even if they got bleach on them and had marks 😬 I now throw away everything I wouldnt want to be seen in by someome I knew in the street, or if its something I liked when I bought it but actually dont feel good or comfortable in.

I would also like to go back to getting my eyebrows tinted and threaded and get my lashes tinted and maybe lifted, as I really prefer to wear makeup but dont have the time every day.

What I really need to find is a good skincare makeup hybrid, BB creams are always too dark for me and that would really help.

Also ADHD here! Two small kids, and I WFH but still have to look professional on calls.

I use a uniform - sports leggings and a long sleeve top in winter (I have several Adanola sets which are my fav), and then for the school run I chuck a jumper over. Teeth brushed, face washed and SPF on, deodarant and perfume on, and hair in a slick back bun using some hair serum.

I start work when I get home after the school run, and I pop a bit of make up on (tinted serum, eyebrow gel, blusher and mascara) and a work appropriate jumper / cardi over my top.

I always wear a necklace and gold earrings so they stay in all the time. I file and polish my nails with Rimmel pale pink nail strengthener once a week on a Sunday. Eyebrows waxed once every six weeks so all I have to do is put some tinted gel through them.

I tend to exercise at some point during the work day, and so then I shower in the night before bed.

It’s such a personal thing.
For me it completely depends on what I’m doing.
If I’m not working and not going anywhere special then I cleanse and moisturise my face. I don’t wash my hair or wear make up and I’ll wear basic clothes which I can garden in or relax in.
If I’m working then I always shower the previous evening. My hair is clean. I wear some make up. I wear smart, professional clothing, no trainers, leggings, jeans, hoodies etc.
If I’m going out somewhere nice I shower, wash my hair, moisturise my body, cleanse and moisturise my face, wear make up, jewellery, perfume and my best clothes.

I’m pretty chill in that I’ve never been a “must have make up on” kind of person. But you won’t catch me dead outside the house with joggers or leggings on, those are exercise or lounging at home clothes to me (unless I’m exercising outside, of course).

My minimum standards:
daily shower, body moisturiser, face wash, moisturiser, clean teeth hair brushed

for work I have makeup and smartish, clean, ironed clothes.

I think any less than that is kind of self neglect.

@Soontobesingles it is never self neglect to not wear make up, don’t be daft.

Low bar for me. Bath/shower each night, the following day hair & teeth brushed, face washed, no sleep in my eyes & clothes no more than a day worn already (apart from underwear).

In that case, every single man (and quite a few of the women) in my office 'self-neglect' if make-up is a must.

I’d echo the people saying get your clothes ready the night before. It definitely makes it less likely I’ll be in an outfit I feel “not right” about the next day.