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.

Giving up smoking and drinking yreas ago. The difference is astonishing. In my 20s it made me look sick with dark rings under my eyes.

Don’t be over weight. Lift weights. Moisturise.

That’ll do it!

I agree that ideally we should all be lifting weights, but you must agree that plenty of women look great without lifting weight at all. At least in middle age, in old age might be different.

Losing 3 1/2 stone on MJ.

Of course they do. But if you are heading to older age, it’s a must do. Plus, no one is going to look worse for lifting weights - nothing is more effective. I have transformed my late 50’s body in a year, and given myself a fighting chance of avoiding frailty and decrepitude in my 60’s and beyond.

Fair enough. OP hasn't given her age and I think I just presumed not yet menopausal and in her 40s....

You are right. But honestly, I wish I had started earlier!

I also came here to say having my eyebrows shaped (threaded, in my case). It feels like quite a dramatic difference to how I looked only ten minutes earlier.

I think people underestimate teeth whitening. I really notice yellowy teeth on people 40 and beyond especially if you have pale skin.

And a haircut that suits.

I don't drink or smoke, swim, cycle, do Pilates (mat and reformer), use tretinoin and have a strict skincare regime but those are the two I think make most difference most immediately

Cleaned up my diet due to inflammation and have lost 3 stone. Didn’t do it to lose weight but I’m happy I have.

Equally, blindingly white teeth look false and startling! On the normal dental scale A1 id the best shade of natural whiteness, but of course many go beyond that and their teeth look like Katie Price’s! Perhaps the best thing to do is to get a deep clean, then whitening.

@ElleintheWoods, would you mind sharing your dermatologist recommendation, by PM in you prefer? I totally agree good skin is key to aging well, and considering professional advice. Maybe I should start my own thread...

Can anyone recommend a teeth whitening treatment that really works - I had laser by my dentist decades ago now which was great, but apparently that’s no longer available in the UK. These days my teeth look really bad, but I don’t have a huge budget. I see various brands on Instagram - things like strips, but with not great reviews.

My NuFACE. Absolute game changer to lift my face and the difference to my eyes is unbelievable l.

Oh and Charlotte Tilbury setting spray for make up. Why did I not get the setting spray memo years ago.

My dentist makes moulds of your teeth and you get a whitening gel to put in them overnight. I did two weeks on the top and two weeks on the bottom - too much to have them both in my mouth at the same time!

Cost around £400 and the results are amazing! My husband had just done the same as his are even better as started off quite stained.

Will be interesting to see how long it lasts!

Bingo

I’ve been working in a glow up for the past 3 years. Here’s what I’ve tried ranked in order of how much impact they’ve had…

1. Weight loss - lost approx 2st on Mounjaro. Everything just fits better and I don’t worry as much about just wearing things that will flatter me. I can wear things I actually like! People keep telling me I look well when I think they mean I’ve lost weight 😂
2. Hair extensions - my natural hair is fine and frizzy. Wouldn’t grow past my shoulders. I finally have long swishy hair that keeps a style. Also bought a shark airwrap type styler which keeps it looking sleeker.
3. Microblading - 90s blow plucker. I now have eyebrows that I don’t have to draw on.
4. skin care regime - tret, azeliac acid, spf50 plus Cerave cleanser & moisturiser have improved my skin no end.
5. Philips Lumea ipl - no longer need to shave. It’s well worth the initial input.
6. collagen, red light mask, Microneedling. I don’t want to go down the injectables route so giving these a go instead. Only started in Jan and it’s a long game so time will tell.

Ive tried to focus on making the best of what I’ve got naturally so trying to avoid fillers etc. I would love to try Invisalign but I’m not sure I can be bothered with the hassle! Definitely need to start strength training next though.

Recently had my teeth straightened and veneered.

Paying attention to good basic nutrition, nothing faddy, no gimmicks. Just eating a varied nutrionally balanced diet. Made everything else so much simpler. Skin was already glowing, hair and nails strong and healthy etc.

Honestly - personalised formulation of tretinoin, niacinamide and azelaic acid from Skin + Me. You can upload photos and track progress. Mine is like
night and day.

If you want to have a go, here’s my linkydink

Are you still on it? Have you managed to keep the weight off?

Losing weight - once when I was with Weight Watchers years ago and now with Mounjaro. I've lost 15 kilos and it makes a huge difference to what I wear. Also I had upper eye skin removal which has taken years off me.

Sleep, low booze, loose weight limit sugar and carbs and lots of protein and fiber , teeth whitening, Botox amd microneedling

Posture is the single quickest and cost free thing - walk like a queen and stopping poking my head forward.

Losing 22kg.

Planking.