What changes made the biggest difference to your overall appearance?

[AtLeastInHeavenICanSkate]

Inspired by some other threads (NC alert) I’ve decided the time is ripe for an overhaul/glow up. My plan is to make significant changes over a period of time and do a new one each month whilst keeping the old changes- nothing revolutionary but needed and I hope to get long term benefits/results.

at the moment my diet is pretty crap-which will be my next focus - the first was a new hairdo (which is a change and growing on me!), then multi vitamins, then 2L of water each day then a form of exercise each week.

In the short term before as I’m making bigger adjustments I’m hoping to get some advice on what are the likely to be the most significant gains to look like me but better.
I don’t like the feel of acrylics and currently don’t wear any make up.

well that wasn’t the title I was going with but can’t get rid of the ai one.

Losing weight, walking and strength training. I look 10 years younger than I looked 10 years ago, according to friends and family. This makes me sad, in some ways, because I was walking around oblivious to what others thought of me 10 years ago!

Keeping my eyebrows shaped (professionally) and having my eyelashes tinted. You can still have a manicure even if you don’t like the feel of acrylics - it’ll help you look and feel more ‘put together’.

Strength training is a good one, it completely changed my body shape (for the better)

Improving physical strength - the change in posture and toned muscle makes a huge difference.

Losing 8 stone.

How good is your skin?

I really simplified my skincare down to 3-4 excellent products, and also visited a dermatologist and did a prescription programme for 3 months.

Skin’s glowing now with no issues springing up, and much less money and time spent on skincare.

As you say you don’t wear makeup, this could be a fit.

Teeth whitening- do not bother. Unless your teeth are a disaster, even the whitest shade of teeth will be barely visible in terms of making a difference.

Balancing your hormones is a huge one but that would be an essay and frankly, as a non-specialist who has benefited without really understanding the science behind it, I’m ill-placed to write it

Quitting alcohol has made the biggest difference.

My weight fell, and my skin is so much better.

For me it has been taking up Pilates. I exercise quite a lot already but Pilates has made me more flexible, improved my posture, got rid of my lower backache and made me more confident that I can drop something, bend down and pick it up without getting stuck or making that 'grunt' noise.

Had Invisalign to straighten my teeth and composite bonding on my top four - best money I have ever spent - makes such a massive difference in how I look.

Keeping as close as possible to youthful weight, using eyebrow pencil, blusher and under-eye concealer which I never used to and it makes such a difference, using a brown liquid eyeliner along the lash line in addition to my normal eyeliner pencil, having hair regularly cut and professionally coloured.
But the weight is the biggest, putting on a little so your face isn’t gaunt & wrinkly but ensuring you still have a waist that goes in is the look I go for (early 50s) and I think it makes a huge, huge difference.

A really quick fix is to have your eyebrows professionally shaped and tinted (costs around £20 where I am ). I wear hardly any make up but really feel this makes me look more groomed and together. I’m relatively late to the party as a first timer at the age of 60!

You should eat your vitamins. A multivitamin is okay to start with but really, you should be eating enough healthy unprocessed foods along with exercising frequently to ensure your vitamins and minerals are perfect.

Further the 2 litres of water per day is a myth, the body gets roughly 20% through food alone. Further all drinks count ([herbal] tea, water, juice etc.).

The biggest change will only happen after lots of work. A new haircut won’t be enough. Exercise, eat healthy, breathe through the nose, avoid UPFs, be outside. By winter, you’ll have some change that will be positive.

I've just started invisalign and I will be having whitening and composite bonding. I'd put a picture in chatgpt and asked it to show me what I will look like when its done.it looked too good to be true, my smile looked so much better. Does your smile look wider now?

Exercise. I do something six days a week. It’s made everything better: posture, shape, energy, confidence, cellulite (though I still have plenty), under-eye circles and even - I think - my hair.

Wear clothes and colours that suit you. Be positive about yourself. Get onto vinted and have fun with new clothing styles

Grooming
You are what you eat, as my mother always said.
Posture
A good hairdresser
Ironed and well fitting clothes
Sleep hygiene
Natural mani/pedi and look after your hands and feet
Dental work if required and smile
Absolite cleanliness

Oh, good, because I was going to reply "Turning 70" 😂 Not the kind of difference you're looking for, though.

I use Just for men beard dye on my eyebrows every month or so and am always amazed at the difference it makes!
You could pay to have your eyebrows shaped and dyed professionally but the home version is as cheap as chips and works just as well in under ten minutes.

I did something similar in my 40s, mainly as I was post baby and was having recurrent infections. I started by focusing on being healthy and looking better was definitely a welcome side effect.

I took up weights and yoga, which definitely improved my muscle tone and so helped clothes look better. I improved my diet, which made me look better and feel better. I saw an image consultant, so got my style mojo back which helped me. I concentrated on simpler, nourishing, often natural, skincare and haircare. I don't wear much makeup, so focus on having good skin and healthy hair.

Losing weight. Everything else was marginal in comparison

Weight training. I have been Weight training since the 1980s and always loved it but about 8 years ago I lost my way with everything. I rediscovered my love for it and suprised at how strong I still am.

Haircut. I said I would never have short hair and then I saw a picture of myself and my hair looked like rats tails. I had it cut into a bob that was layed at the bottom and flcky out and absolutely l Iove it.

Eyebrows, I've always had them professionally done but insisted on them being dark. I put my photo through ai and it suggested that I thinned the arch a bit and went for dark brown. I did and the difference is amazing!
I like having a few false lashes on the outter corner rather than a full set.

I've had invisalign and whitening. Best thing ever!

Other things I love are having lip blush, and pedicures! My feet need a loy of TLC otherwise they look like they belong to a hobbit.
Im 61 and seem to be holding up OK.

My skin is in good nick but since my 20s I have worn sunscreen virtually everyday even in winter ,and increasing the factor in summer, wore over size sunglasses and a big hat on hot days, I've never smoked and drink about 2 pints of beer a month.

Hair, it is y0ur crowning glory and will make the biggest difference to our overall appearance

It why hen they did programs, 10 years younger - they alway left the hair until last - as it has the most dramatic change in appearance

Strength training and tretinoin

I've met a few new people recently through joining new activity clubs and several thought I was 10 years younger than I am. Not in a "guess how old I am scenario", either. For example I was asked what is on my bucket list before I turn 40, or how many years I have left before I can compete in the masters division (40+). I'm 47.

Hair colour change and golden tan.. and botox ; )... and drinking lots of water