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!

The biggest things for me have been time and money.

Make it personal; find your best colours and style type for your body. This influences clothes, makeup and hair. I'm a deep autumn with theatrical romantic kibbe type with classic style and a natural look hair and makeup. So my hair colour is warm deep rich brunette with caramel highlights and honey moneypiece. My necklines are VNeck, sweetheart and scoop, my waist is always defined and trousers are bootcut rather than wide leg. My makeup is warm, eg peach blush and lips instead of pink.

I lost 6 stone on a high protein whole food diet and weightlifting up to 5x a week, the meds also helped. This has transformed my body from a wobbly size 20 to a trim size 10. This has developed into a Vinted obsession, I love good quality clothes that fit nicely for a bargain.

Always style and blowdry my hair and make an effort with beauty treatments, a hairmask/ tooth whitening/ facial/ mani or pedi.

Having the time and money is the key to looking good. I also practice slow intentional living, no one looks good feeling rushed and stressed. Slow down.

Do you go somewhere to have micro needling done or do you do it yourself at home?

Six monthly scale and polish. The posh dentist only charges £20 more than my horrible NHS dentist and are really friendly. My teeth look fab after a visit

Botox for my 11s, I look so much happier in the summer (didn’t realise how much squinting in the sunlight gave me the RBF)

colour depositing conditioner. I used to have bleach and dye every 6-8 weeks and it was frying my hair, would go too warm even after a tone and I didn’t particularly like the results. I box dyed my hair back to its natural colour a couple of times and now stretch it out with a weekly conditioner. My hair is starting to improve condition and it looks natural against my colouring.

fake tan - I use bondi sands on my body, just slap it on with the mitt in the morning and wash off when I finish work on WFH days. I use the luxe drops with moisturiser for my face.

gel polish - bright on my toes, nude pink on my hands. They always look neat and groomed. I do them myself now every 3 weeks, and do occasional touch ups if one breaks or chips.

Korean skincare has been amazing for me.
Whatever serums and moisturiser you put on your face always put on your neck, chest and backs of your hands, it makes a massive difference.
Losing weight makes my clothes look better.
Exercising (weights and walking) makes me feel and look so much healthier.

Same! I have read a lot of derision on MN towards us ironers.. 'life is too short', 'I don't iron because I have a life' etc.

Aside from the fact I need my clothes and sheets ironed, I use my ironing time to catch up on a cheesy/trashy show or watch a movie. It is actually the perfect multi task activity. So win win!

I used to be very dismissive of ironing (only in my head, not on MN 😂) but I have been converted. I don’t iron everything but some things just have to be ironed and I am currently evaluating whether I need to take a travel iron or steamer on holiday with me as about half of my suitcase is made of linen! I’ve had a cheap steamer for a while but I recently invested in the Tefal one with suction. It couldn’t replace an iron for things like shirts but it’s an absolute game-changer for fabrics like linen which go shiny if over-ironed.

Invisalign. Ive had that done in the last year. As part of the treatment some of my gum was cut away. I did not feel a thing and it has made a huge difference to my smile. Someone told me i looked a lot happier recently. My emotions haven't changed but my confidence has.

Having my hair cut in a short bob.
I thought I would always want my hair long but it looked like rats tails. I had it cut with the intention of having a fresh start and growing it again as it grows so fast. Hiwever the difference is amazing. It makes me look fresher and I'm getting loads of complements about it.

I have gone lighter with my eye lash and eyebrow tinting and it looks great. I've gone from black to dark brown.

Ive changed how im applying my my make up so it looks up to date. I've just followed tik tok tutorials. Yeah, they maybe aimed at some one in their 20s but the blush, concealer, bronzer combo works well for me.

Changing everyday clothing from jeans to dresses (also helps with the comfort of a misbehaving post-menopausal body!)
Moisturiser anywhere I can still reach 😊

Please can you tell me about the hand held steamer ? Which have you got ?.and what fabrics is it good on? Thanks in advance

I’ve been in it for 3 months so far. Skin is more clear (luminous) and hydrated looking (like I’ve just used a good skin care mask). I haven’t noticed anything yet with my hair but tbh I didn’t think I’d be able to notice until the 6 month mark.

Another thing that made a massive difference to my skin was using a facial steamer everyday. You need to be diligent for it to work but it plumps the skin up ( like it was when I was 1st trimester pregnant 🤪). Doesn’t have to be a fancy steamer , just one off Amazon will do. I’m 48 so for me it was a noticeable difference.

Hi @mizu

I get tretinoin from Dermatica. Have been on it a few years now and it makes such a difference. I also love their other products - moisturiser, cleanser etc and all quite reasonably priced.

Discount code if you are interested: First month for you at £2.90 https://www.dermatica.co.uk/referrer/4N98N5. Worth a try!

I agree with time and money. Living a relaxed, stress free life with lots of time for self care has huge benefits for me.

@Bloozie please could you tell me if the Ambre Solaire SPF serum has any fragrance? I'm desperate for a non-sticky/shiny face SPF but it needs to be fragrance free.
Also, do you then apply your daily moisturiser on top of the serum? Thanks

The ambre solaire invisible serum super uv 50 spf is fab, non sticky, clear, and fragrance free. It’s the only one I’ve found recently that ticks all the boxes I was told to put on top of moisturiser but before make up x

This is a great thread!

For me looking great especially as you get older can boil down to a few things but one main thing is attitude. Keep positive, exercise, get out in the sun (not sunbathing)! and enjoy life.

As for the phyical aspect:

I buy less clothes but when I do they are something I love of good quality and natural fibres that will last a few years. I do admit to having a Sezane addiction and I get a lot of compliments on my clothes.

I have embraced my thick, wavy hair instead of battling to keep it straight for years and I now have hair I love with very little upkeep.

People also compliment my skin a lot. I have always looked after it - SPF daily from my 20s. I don't think you need an expensive routine. I really like cerave for instance. I had replied to another poster on this thread but my holy grail is tretinoin which I buy from Dermatica - this makes such a difference to skincare. Discount code https://www.dermatica.co.uk/referrer/4N98N5 for anyone who is interested which gives you the first month for £2.90. Their other products are also brilliant.

Exercise: Such a health benefit and makes you feel good. I do lots - cycling, strength training and lots of long walks with my german short haired pointer.

Teeth whitening, BIAB every 3 weeks, the L'Oreal Glycolic shine shampoo, tressemme heat defence & OGX coconut spray for glossy (fine) hair.

A good pair of sucky in shorts and Birkenstocks for summer style.

Please can I ask what sucky in shorts are ?.thanks in advance 😊

@EmailsaysOOO good shapewear in other words. ☺️ The thick material ones that don't roll down or feel sticky.

@clickyteeclick I have listed a heap of products I tend to cycle through above. Did you want all the how-to’s as well?

Accepting the changes that time brings.

For style, that means knowing I cant wear the form fitting things I used to when I was slim and willowy. I switched my style to loose and flowy and it works for me! (and is so much cooler and more comfortable too). For beauty, it means knowing that I now have to put the glow and radiance back into my skin - the matte textures and dark dramatic lipsticks of my 20s and 30s dont work anymore. Lots of hydration, light foundatiion, natural look with some gloss and shine are better for me now. Your style and look must change, not to suit the fashions and trends of the age, but to suit you as you change.

Getting to a weight I'm happy with and maintaining it with clean eating, no alcohol and lots of outside excercise; and investing heavily in my hair (I wear it every day so it's worth it). I can't believe how much easier it is to feel good with the basics covered. I feel and look better now in anything I throw on than I used to in the most expensive carefully planned outfits.

Oh sorry I can’t see them on the thread for some reason x

Really good, properly fitted bras. Seamless underwear. You can spend all the money you want on clothes but if you have vpl or visible bra/unflattering boob shape it ruins everything instantly!

And giving up booze!