What has made a real difference to your style and beauty?

[Darkdiamond]

Just that really? What have you done that has really worked or that you can't go without? A product or habit or anything that you think has really helped you to look better. I am just in a bit of a rut and want some inspiration! Thanks!

@CinderellaParker It's a mix of trendy art teacher, dark academic - that’s sounds fab and right up my street, I love a bit of boho. Please could you tell me what shops you buy from / any links to your favourite items?! 😍

Would you be willing to share the details of the style analysis consultant? Positivity in human form sounds worth her weight in gold.

She's in Perthshire in Scotland so maybe a bit far but DM me and if she's not right for you then I might know someone else. x

A lot of it is via Vinted because I have had to replace my wardrobe twice now - some things I've gone from 20, to 16 and now 12 in the same item!

Essentially it's Sahara (v art teacher!), Toast, cashmere jumpers from all over, bit of Brora and House of Bruar (b v v careful there as some of it is a fright!), cardies from places like Woolovers and M&S. Lots of fab scarves. And I'm currently breaking in a lovely pair of burgundy Solovair Derby boots!

Nowhere super secret! Need to find a winter coat and have a vision of a car coat length navy herringbone tweed...

Edited to add that now I'm pretty much at my goal weight I'm trying to prioritise ethical purchases - natural fabrics, knowing where things were made, buying from smaller makers in UK such as Community Clothing and Solovair. But that sounds unbearably prim so apologies!

Breast reduction - Transformational on many levels, but being able to wear whatever I want now, including bikini tops that don't look like scaffolding, has been the best thing I've ever done for myself.

Laser hair removal and a home ipl machine means I am pretty much hair free where I want to be.

Haircut and highlights every 10 weeks.

Regular man-pedis make me feel well groomed even if I have let my hair dry naturally, or am out makeup free.

Plenty of sleep and water.

1. Exercise -loads of Pilates, walk everywhere, lift weights.
2. Fewer, better, clothes.
3. Dermatica rosacea treatment.
4. Dyson Air Straight.
5. UK Lash Serum plus tinted eyelashes.
6. Always wear blusher and/or bronzer.

Working out what my best colours are for my skin tone. (Deep winter if you must know.) I didn't pay to have my colours done, I just worked it out for myself by following various pages on insta, learning from them and a process of trial and error. When it clicks it's like a real lightbulb moment.

Losing weight. It's the single best thing that has happened to me and has completely transformed the way I dress.

Allowing my hair to go grey/white naturally. I have been lucky and have gone grey/white well. It really suits me, it's striking, I get heaps of compliments on it and the condition of my hair is so much better now I am not constantly dyeing it.

Having my teeth straightened with invisilign. Absolute game changer. My smile is nicer, wider and more symmetrical and I no longer hate having my photo taken.

I do spend quite a bit on various skincare steps which I am rigorous about in the mornings, but lazy about at night. But honestly, while I could certainly look worse for my age, I have no idea whether they have made any real difference or not. I don't know what I'd look like if I didn't use all these things!

For the last 15 or 20 years or so I have been extremely careful about allowing my face in the sun and I wear a factor 50 SPF on my face all summer with factor 25 or 30 the rest of the year. I am never without it. I am also never without a hat if I am sunbathing or wandering around in very hot sun. Again, no idea what I'd look like if I hadn't done that, but I have avoided getting the sun on my face for a very long time now.

Also agree with fewer, better clothes. But that comes easier when you lose weight. You don't begrudge spending more on things that you feel lovely in and you don't waste money on a ton of cheap things just because they fit and feel comfortable, even if you don't really like them.

It’s very ok-thank you very much! I had gastric sleeve surgery almost 5 years ago and it’s been absolutely life changing

Also, I drink a lot less. That has gone hand in hand with losing weight (on the WLIs because you naturally go off the booze to a large extent). My face used to be bloated, by eyes looked puffy and tired and piggy. My skin looked blotchy.

I don't know how much of the recent improvement is simply down to losing 5 stone and how much is down to cutting back massively on booze, but my skin looks fresher and my face is less bloated and blotchy.

Another Mounjaro, I look so much better as a size 8/10 then I did as an 14/16.
Better quality makeup.

Going back to basics and loving myselve for who i am being happy and greatful for the little thing.

Is this one that actually blow dries as well, like the Babyliss Big Hair, or just a heated smoothing brush? I am after one that just heats and smooths like straighteners, but in brush form. I think they have titanium barrels?

There was a teacher at my daughter's primary school who was very stylish but not trendy.
She was mid 50's, tall, very slim, and wore maxi skirts, boots and a sweater with a scarf round her neck in the winter.
In the summer she wore the same type of clothes but more summery with sandals and painted toenails.
She always looked so effortlessly elegant but I'm short and more rounded so I don't think its me, but more than 30yrs later I still remember her.

Losing weight has made the biggest difference. I lost 7 stone over a few years a number of years back and eat really well to maintain it. The weight loss really makes me look younger also because the clothes I wear look so much better and my style has changed from what fits and covers me up to what suits my shape and what I want to wear.
The eating well and drinking water has probably helped my skin too. I don’t drink much alcohol. Also gave up smoking 10 years ago.
I have semi regular botox
I’ve had microneedling and laser in the past as well as teeth whitening but this all needs done again so when I have a spare couple of thousand pounds I’ll get it all done plus a few tweakments. I’d also like colour analysis

Wearing a soft fringe and discreet eyeliner,
Without the fringe I look older,
Without a little eye liner my eyes disappear

Thank you @CinderellaParker i love house of bruar we go every year on our way back from aviemore, love Toast too :)

I guess I had a glow up as I lost over 6 stone, went from an 18 to an 8. I look very different now, I’m in my 5os.

gym most days, so i look toned and defined, particularly my arms, stomach and thighs.
elixabeth Arden 8 hour cream on upper chest, the skin is now completely smooth and line free.
fully hydrated, 3 litres of water a day. Minimal alcohol. Usually drink fortnightly when socialising.
never wear black now, I wear lots of cream, tan, olive, navy etc
Victoria Beckham the drops foundation. Skin looks flawless and dewy but like my skin perfected.
a clean and healthy diet, it really does start from within.
good quality clothes that fit well, I buy a lot on vinted, new with tags, or in sales, some at full price, so me and em, Reiss, studio Nicholson, reformation etc.
hair, I have long brunette hair which i wear in loose curls , I’ve had some softer caramel added in,and also use now a couple of clip in extensions at the sides, indetectable, but adds some volume and thickness.
a little fake tan, in a light honey colour, just takes the edge off.
bio oil on my arms twice daily, skin is much smoother now and almost looks blurred.
iron or steam my clothes, it gives a much better look.

overall I’d say it takes effort. Especially the gym.Every day I wear something really nice, even just to slob around at home. I don’t save clothes for good, (except anything clearly an event dress or say tux trousers) I wear what I fancy when I fancy, I’m never to be found in leggings unless going to the gym, seldom even in jeans, I wear dresses, wide leg trousers, silk or cashmere tops. And when I get ready for the day I feel good about myself, and ready to face the day.

aftee spending a few years over weight, feeling like shit mentally and physically. Dressing in black to try to hide, it’s lovely to now not have to and it is worth the effort.

I eat exactly what I want and stop when I'm full.
I've lost 6 stone plus. I gave up drinking first.
I spent twenty years punishing myself after a lifetime of criticism. I looked in the mirror one day and said it's time to look like you again.
I generally don't eat meat, pudding or bread because I don't like it and it doesn't like me. Cheese I only eat occasionally as it went with the wine.

I can now replace all my very expensive plus sized clothes through eBay. Lots of ladies have slimmed down and there are great natural fibre bargains. I never buy polyester. I wear cashmere in the house and buy good ponte trousers instead of trackies.

I only wear what I truly like and I dress up as soon as I step out of the door. I'm semi retired and spent a lifetime in corporate clothes.

I worked in SLT of beauty companies so I have a virtually wrinkle free skin. I still get freebies so that keeps me going.

Not following fashion buying what suits me and my lifestyle
Zero fast fashion
Regular wardrobe edits
Colour analysis although not strict about it
Getting older and not giving a toot about anyone else’s opinion
3 litres of water a day ! Flat tum and skin glow !
Dermaplaning
Growing brows back in
Good primer and product layering
Walking everywhere extra steps slotted into my day.
Always take stairs
Never sunbathed
SPF 50 everyday

Mounjaro as a tool to lose ten stone
Tretinoin, with otherwise very pared-back skincare
Daily SPF, absolutely religiously
A Peloton bike and subscription
Tinting eyebrows and eyelashes
95% of my wardrobe being black, grey, navy, blue or white, with a tiny bit of green. Virtually everything goes together. I wear almost no colours or patterns beyond stripes. I envy people who can look pulled-together with a lot of colour and pattern but that is not me!
This one is wellbeing rather than style or beauty, but masseter Botox, which has been transformative for my painful jaw clenching

Already have that one. It’s just okay for me!

Is colour analysis for your clothes ? Please can you tell me more, if so? Did you end up throwing lots out ? Is it particularly for clothes close to your face, so not so much skirts or trousers? Any info would be great 😃

A hairdresser that understands my hair listens yet suggests and doesn't cost a fortune

Vinted. I’ve been sending anything in my wardrobe that doesn’t spark joy to the charity shop and buying clothes that do. It’s easy and guilt-free, since I’m not spending very much (average maybe £8 including fees and postage) or contributing to the huge environmental impact of buying new fast fashion. And I’ve developed much more of a sense of what I like and what I think suits me.