What beauty and hair lessons have you learned over time?

[something2say]

Hi! I am a long time poster who loves a thread in this section, because it is so simple and pleasing in a complicated world. Threads on this board make me smile and feel nicer.

I was reflecting this morning on how much I have learnt about what beauty routines work for me and what suits me, and am curious about what you've learned?

• I struggled to find a light foundation / powder combination to just dust over. I tried Trinny, Mac and Terry. All made me oily / too made up. I now use Laura Geller and it is great. Can hardly see it, never shiny.

• Eye makeup - black doesn't work for me now, the Maybelline dark grey eyeliner is the only one that doesn't smudge (tried loads of others) and it looks best on me as a side wing with a touch underneath, corner only. Layering black inside and out makes my eyes look small and I always regret it. Wing tips make them look wide. Mascara top only.

• No lipsticks really work for me now. I wish to find a nice one but they just don't work for me.

• Hair has also been a big change. I've got long, thick curly hair which will be dry and frizzy if I let it. I have gone full Curly Girl and it has done wonders for my curls, which are now like coils on wash day. I use Faith In Nature shampoo and condition, their aloe vera conditioner which is the lightest and which works beautifully on my low porosity hair. I grew out the lowlights, stopped using a hairdryer and started doing deep conditioning hair packs in a heated hair cap from Amazon.

• Hair longer than bra strap no longer works for me and I need layers. I will never try to grow it longer again as it is boring.

What have you tried and learned?

I forgot the name of it but I have this leave-in conditioner that I use in my hair. Wash it as normal but when I get out the shower and it’s partially wet (air dry) I scrunch this conditioner in it and it makes my curls beautiful. I tried the full curly girl method but it didn’t work for me (too crunchy) but as my hair is on the thick wavy/curly side this simple method works wonders. I’ve had so many compliments and my hair feels so soft. It’s a shame I can’t remember the name of the conditioner but I think it would work with any leave in conditioner probably.

Same on the lipstick and curly girl method OP!

I cut my own hair, I was fed up with paying £50 (and that was 10 + years ago) for a hairdresser to say I needed “long layers to pull the curl out” and basically give me almost a one length cut to make me look like a Christmas tree. I bought haircutting scissors from Amazon and used to do a unicorn cut but now do Wayne Tuggle’s method like this: vm.tiktok.com/ZN82oc94V/

Never use a full layer of foundation after 40. I just use a small dot and blend out really well. I love L’Oréal cc cream - it comes out green then turns skin colour and somehow lightly covers imperfections without looking mask like. I think it has been discontinued though. Also like the Laura mercier pressed foundation as a light cover for a quick school run make up.

I now apply mascara by putting the wand right at the root to start then blinking as I apply so my lashes pull through the wand. A bit like this: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C6mcjXaAJ8e/?stkn=MWF5YzJrem5laXpkaQ==
It makes my lashes so much thicker, more separated and curly (I don’t use an eyelash curler). It makes my eyes much more defined, even beauty clueless DP said he really liked how I’d done my makeup when I started.

not exactly style and beauty but low carb is the one diet that works for me. I just need very simple easy to follow rules, I don’t have time for calorie counting etc.

Thanks for the videos!

I have very dry skin on my face and Ultrabland cleanser and Skin Drink moisturiser from Lush has been an absolute game changer. The only thing that properly moisturises my skin and doesn’t leave it feeling tight. If they ever discontinue those products I will riot. I get lots of compliments on my skin (I’m in my 40s)

I also love Origins Drink Up Intensive overnight moisturising mask for my dry skin.

if any other dry skin havers out there have tips please share!

Brown mascara suits me much better than black

My teenager daughter is a great source of tips and suggestions

Life is better and I’m richer in money and time when I don’t get drawn into the salon nails ritual. I buy Rimmel French manicure nail polish which is cheap and dries quickly and which gives my nails a groomed feel without the time or expense - or damage!

It’s worth spending on good shampoo and conditioner. Olaplex is great. I like color wow too.

Salon facials and most in salon treatments are a waste of time and money for me. I prefer to spend on a good LED mask, electrocurrent device and good serums instead.

If I stay slim ( but not too slim as you need a bit of coverage on your bones to protect them as you get older) clothes look much better on and fit nicely. They’re also cheaper as I can buy anywhere and from ‘younger’ brands. When bigger I found that I had to spend for better cuts etc.

Its worth saving and spending on your health over all else as if you feel good you look good - or don’t care whether you do or not!

Im jealous of your curly coils!! They sound lovely.

I found blotting sheets years ago which liberated me from too many powder touch ups in the day.

Why didn't I pay more attention to my neck and chest when I was younger?!? I've learned that the hard way.

You do need eyeliner when you get past 50. Even if it's with a light hand. Same with lip liner.

Exfoliating in some way is the key to gleaming skin. Chemical or physical. Makes all the difference.

Ive just bought the trial Olaplex set as I have never used it before. What products would you use as a bare minimum?

Less is definitely more over time. Simple but consistent skincare and staying out of the sun beats expensive products and salon treatments. Less makeup in colours that suit you looks far better than caked on, harsh colours, or semi-perm tattoos. And not colouring your hair will mean it's in way better condition overall.

For me, the things I've learnt are

• Hot cloth cleansing (can be with any non-foaming cleanser) where you take the cleanser off with a hot damp flannel makes an astonishing difference to my skin
• Tubing mascaras are a godsend. Long eyelashes and hooded eyes are a recipe for smudging with any other type of mascara, but tubing mascaras are perfect for me and really easy to remove too.
• Very few hairdressers are good at cutting short hair and you should scour their Instagram feeds to make sure they have lots of great, varied, tailored short cuts on there before you let them anywhere near your short hair.
• Your hair takes far longer to rinse fully than you think. Rinse until you think it's properly rinsed. Then rinse for another two or three minutes.
• If I only have 30 seconds to spare, the thing that makes the most positive difference to my face is quickly filling in my brows and applying mascara. Makes my entire face look miles better. It makes a lot more difference than, say, concealer or blusher.
• Shampoos and conditioners for oily hair are a) few and far between and b) sometimes very harsh. Your best bet for oily hair is to use a shampoo and conditioner aimed at volumising.
• Shampoos and conditioners that contain silicon make your hair look great for about three washes and then just leave a load of build up and look dull and lank.
• A fringe takes 10 years off most women.
• You're almost certainly wearing the wrong sized bra.

I’ve stopped fighting my very fine hair and keep it in a short textured pixie cut rather than a bob that used to look flat and straggly within 10 minutes of setting foot outside.

Erborian CC cream is far more flattering than a heavy foundation. My skin isn’t great and I used to think I had to plaster my face in makeup to hide it which had the opposite effect.

A tinted lip balm is nicer than lipstick as I’ve got older. And finding out that I’m a cool skin tone has saved a lot of wasted purchases.

Talking of skin, less is more. Cerave face wash with salicylic acid followed by sunscreen in the morning and a gentle cleanser followed by Cerave retinol serum at night is all I really need.

Number 7 moisture drench lipstick - they will scab your face to work out which shade suits you

Curly girl here. I never brush my hair, and only ever comb it in the shower when covered in conditioner. It does mean pretty much daily hair washes though.

It's the boring shit that works. SPF and avoiding the sun, sleep, nutritious food, water. Avoiding ingesting crap that doesn't work for your body like UPFs and alcohol.

For me, learning to style my hair properly gives fantastic results that last days. My wild frizzy coarse wavy witch hair can be a swishy bouncy blow dry with the right tools and a bit of effort and never takes as long as you expect.. It means my hair bobbles are now redundant.

I like minimal makeup, a bit of serum foundation, concealer, blusher, mineral powder, mascara, lip stain, takes 5m every morning.

I think an everything shower is incredible; body scrub with an african net and gorgeous smelling body wash, shave, hair washed and conditioned with a treatment, top to toe body lotion or oil, heel balm. I do this 3x a week after a workout and sauna and feel glowing every day.

Just some products I love: Sisley loose powder but I think Dior and Kosas have the same but cheaper now

Bioderma intensive eye - huge tube for the money - really good if your eye area is sensitive

I have used By Terry Serum skin tint for years and still love it, I blend with lighter foundation in winter

I have curly hair that is dry and fine. I love all the Amika products. The packaging doesn't look scientific very brightly coloured and fun but all the products I have used are amazing

I use tret on the face and also on my body with a body oil

I use expensive make up because I have always loved it, so don't want to pile on a load of pricey recommendations because I am sure for most things cheap is equally good. I have found the brand Refy - mid range very good for lots of products

I have glaucoma and the eye drops make my lashes very long. All controlled now so I look at it as a plus

I returned to the estee lauder night repair drops and find them better than anything else I had used. I use them day and night and I use a Paula's choice treatment once a week for exfoliation - leave on for 5 minutes and wash off

I no.longer wash or cleanse my face in the morning, just splash with water. It's much softer now.
Rosewater and glycerin mix is a perfect moisturiser.
Agree with pp about doing brows and mascara making the biggest impact.
Lash serum is worth the money.
Daily spf and very little booze really helps skin.

Also, one more revelation, Heated rollers. I use babyliss ones. They are amazing and don't feel nearly as damaging as hot brushes and wands for styling. they are so easy and because my hair is fine, I can just shove them in for 5 minutes strategically to sort out any issues

I could go on and on. I am very superficial and have spent a lifetime loving beauty products

That my hair does what the merry hell it likes so the only sensible option is a pixie cut every 6 weeks and accepting days like today where it's going off at all angles and defying the extremely good cut that my hairdresser does.

I love Liz Earle hot cloth/cleanser, makes my skin feel so soft and moisturised.

And that Aveeno very thick oily moisturiser is the only thing that makes my lower legs feel bearable.

If I’m economising I just use the conditioner. However the no 9 - I think - serum is great before blow drying wet hair.

I don't look good as a platinum blonde. In fact, I just don't suit light coloured hair. I also don't really suit coppery tones - I'm definitely best suited a ashy hair colour.

Lipstick with brown hues in them don't suit me at all.

I have come to realise that I have good skin, so don't need more than half a pump of foundation to cover my face. It also feels better to wear less.

I regret plucking my eyebrows. I should just have plucked the few stray hairs and left them be.

Winged liner just isn't for me as I've got hooded eyes naturally.

I actually despise procedures like lip filler, filler, BBL and Turkey Teeth. They all look so horrible, in my opinion. I've never done it to myself, and never would. because I've seen how ugly they look on other people. I've seen so many beautiful women ruin their natural beauty with this kind of shit.

Bouncy blow-outs make women look a whooole lot older than they are. It's an old-woman's style, in my opinion.

What's also very, very ageing is the ugly trend of outlining your lips with a dark lipliner colour, and filling the lips in with a light colour. I call it the clown-look, because women literally look like Ronald McDonald with this look.

Soap brows, especially when the brows and made to look more straight than arched (when that's not your natural brow shape) - when will this trend die? Seriously, I'm sick of it.

I genuinely hate the look of skimpy clothes. They don't look good on anybody, and they're not classy either.

Lastly, flip flop sandals with a heel are utterly vomit-inducing. I seriously hate them. As do I hate the hairstyle where women part their hair in the middle, sleek their entire hair back in a low bon and use gel to sleek down the hair even more. They look like greasy egg-heads with this style.

That nothing will tame my frizz except a salon keratin treatment

That my eyes are far too small and hooded for eye shadow

keeping my hair shorter makes it look thicker

Less is more

Yo yo dieting makes your skin sag eventually

Thicker eyebrows looks better on my face

That before buying a full size product always buy a travel size to try first if you can.

That keratin treatments are an incredible time saver and I don't have to worry about bad hair days or humidity.

That sunblock on face and neck every day is a non-negotiable. That it should be on your hands too, but it's a faff to reapply every time you wash them, so not happening.

That once you find a sunblock you like, mix a dab of foundation into it in your hand and you've got perfect, light coverage.

That tightlining under the upper lid and some mascara is my best eye makeup look.

That there is no lipstick on earth that doesn't make me look like my gran, so clear lip balm all the way.

That having pedicured feet cheers me up all year round.

That laser hair removal, bikini line, leg, underarms is amazing. No more ingrowns or irritation.

That home dermarolling once a week pays off.

That tretinoin is really good shit.

I’m 33 and a mum to 2 so get little time in the mornings to apply make up like I used to. I use the Drunk Elephant bronzing drops mixed in with my Kiehls moisturiser and it makes me look awake, healthy and like I’ve got good skin. I then use a tiny bit of liquid blush from iconic, a coat of mascara and some eyebrow gel to brush them into place, a bit of Vaseline and I’m done. I never skip an eyebrow wax as they shape the entire look of your face.

Regarding olaplex, be careful on overuse as it’s a bonding shampoo and not a moisturising one which can leave your hair brittle and dry. It’s best to use them every couple of weeks.

I’ve invested in better skincare now I’m in my 30s, I use the Clarins double serum which is £65 for 30ml but one small pump of it a day and it lasts me 4-6 months. I use Clinique take the day off balm, Laneige cream skin toner and Kiehls moisturiser and they all last me months.

I moisturise my body every single day now after my shower.

I apply SPF to my face, hands and neck regardless of time of year.

I always keep my nails and brows done. Even if I feel my worst and tired, having nice nails and brows always make me feel better.