Does anyone want to join me in giving themselves a DIY extreme makeover?

[BEAUTlFUL]

No, not literally, we won't be doing our own liposuction with straws, or posting messages like, "Keen sewers: I was trying to give myself a lower-body lift but can't reach to sew up the back", or anything.

But does anyone else feel hideous? I do and I'm sure it's at the root of almost all my problems (low self-esteem being the main one).

I need to diet, get hair cut, sort out flattering clothes and ditch fugly stuff, stop biting my nails!, get pedicure, keep up to date on fake-tanning... all that.

Does anyone want to join in? If we were very brave we could post "Before" photos in our profiles then invent a month-long makeover plan, then do "After" pictures, but that might be a bit scary.

We need to ge up earlier and prioritise doing our make-up! And do a beauty treatment three times a week (body scrub, face pack, hair conditioning treatment, etc) just to nourish our Inner Temptresses.

I know it's non-PC to long to look gorgeous, but I'm fed up looking fat and frumpy and desperately need to reinvent myself! am i alone in feeling like this?

I know the awful irony of having a vain log-in name and posting this message, btw.

ah see my hair is quite thick so thats probably why mine always fall out. going to give it another go with your method though.

can i just say 'AARGH!'
i don't know whether to laugh or cry that so many of you want curls lol

it has made me feel marginally better that i can stick to pondering exfoliation and moisturising and have now found two things i don't require - eyelash dye and curling products lol . i obviously have two natural advantages - get me! feeling better already

Not sure if any of you have tried it before, but what about warmed olive oil for frizz? Heat it up, massage into scalp and full length of hair til saturated. Wrap in warm towel or shower cap to keep heat in and leave for 20-30 mins (maybe in bath while lying in that special treat bubble bath!) then shampoo/condition as normal.

I have no experience of this myself as my hair is poker straight, but seen it a few places when I was looking into oil cleansing method.

Thanks so much for the info on using rollers I have these, as well as a truly booyhoo-esque collection of heated tongs/straighteners/stylers but of course I never use them, just buy them and take them home with that feeling of, "Job done. That's the hair sorted then."

Yes, booyhoo, it's a syndrome and I suffer from it too!

Ladies, I had my hair cut tonight and I am transformed! I got her to cut a big, straight fringe into it cheap Botox and I'm LoViNg It. I feel vv bitchy and modern with my fringe, and flicky-out layers.

Went home via supermarket and bought loads of salad, fruit, lean meat and fish. This reminded me of LilacClaire stocking up on Ryvitas, so Oi! LilacClaire! How's it going?

Came home and the first thing DH said was, "Wow!" Then "You look much younger." (Is that good or bad? Have decided to take it as good and ignore obvious unsaid message of, "You were looking well old when you shuffled out of here earlier.".) Then, "It reminds me of when we were first dating." Then got a big snog in the kitchen, and I let him unpack all the groceries. Talk about Fringe benefits, eh?! Eh? Geddit?

GIRLS: GET A FRINGE. THEY AROUSE MEN.

Sorry, it was womma who has the buy-the-stuff-then-leave-it-in-cupboard syndrome.

no i have it too, i just didnt admit it!! lol

Right, seeing as you're here right now, can I persuade you to do a 15-minute Beauty chore? Go on! What could you do right this minute? Face pack? Drink a glass of water? Wash your make-up brushes? Pore-strip?

???

hmm, well i got a free face mask out of a magazine so i suppose i could do that. soo havent drank enough water today so i'll do that aswell. btw did we get an answer on the best teeth whitening product?

Best teeth-whitening product...? I only know about the whitestrips, haven't done anything else!

I'm going to remove make-up now and get ready for bed. Thank you all so much for joining this thread, have just re-read the whole thing and it's just so brilliant to have you all here sharing your tips and how you're getting on. I'm walking to school and back twice a day now (that's grand total of 4 miles) just because you all seem to do so much exercise!

Thanks again. Get your Beauty Sleep!

Hi there, can I join?

This thread has inspired myself to start taking better care of myself.

I've realised I have some strong and some weak points.

Strong points:
my figure is ok (I'm 6 months pg so won't be doing much more than walking or swimming)
my skin is good at the moment (pregnancy + dermalogica are a good combination)
my mat clothes are quite nice (second baby) and actually make a nice change from my pre-preg wardrobe that was tired and frumpy from lack of time/money for shopping since DD was born
my diet and water consumption are quite good and I walk a lot

Weak points:
my hair is a mess, in an in-between/growing out stage, with some grey that I haven't covered
I haven't painted my toenails for over a year
I don't bother with make-up anymore
since I moved house months ago I haven't located my accessories or jewellery or nice jackets (renovations ongoing so lots of things still packed)
I tend to wear jeans every day despite having some nice things
I don't shave my legs often enough
I haven't done face masks/hair treatments etc for ages (used to do this every week)
my feet are reptilian

My biggest problems are lack of time and money, so I think the 15-min a day thing is a great idea. Last night I put on a face mask, and tonight I buffed my fingernails!

I have booked a haircut for two weeks' time and might revert to previous hairstyle rather than continue growing it.

How much do you tend to pay for haircuts? I can't afford professional colour as well as nice cut. I struggle to find 45 pounds every two months for a cut (London). My Dermalogica habit is a bit expensive but having had acne most of my life I'm prepared to prioritise products that actually work.

Post-baby I will really need new clothes but again lack of time to shop and lack of money will probably be big problems.

I've always believed in buying quality clothes, capsule wardrobe etc but in reality my clothes are dull and not particularly individual. I used to pay such attention to nice accessories but I've lost the inclination since having DD, plus of course she grabs jewellery so it's easier not to bother.

I look forward to reading more tips and being inspired, meanwhile I'm breaking the post-10pm rule! Goodnight!

Me too - should be asleep, I know! Hi naturelover.

Well, a good and bad day. Went to the gym, did 20 mins treadmill and 25 swimming. Put make up on, but only at 7.30 this evening when I was going out.

Otherwise have eaten really quite badly (still in post nicotine phase, which means carbs and sugar are pretty regular requirements) and not drunk much water.

Am intrigued by all this talk of hair curlers. Quite fancy that, as my hair is getting thicker and doesn't respond too well to straighteners. As for teeth whitening - can't face trawling the thread, can you just tell me what to get?!

Beautiful, you are very lovely and inspiring. Night night.

CJ -- awwww! Thanks! I think you had a good day: gym + make-up = Very Good Day. As this is really a makeover month, you can justify make-up free days as "giving my skin a breather". I'm slapping slap on each day, but really only as a reminde that I can look nice with it on. Very eay to fall into pit of ugly-depression and give up entirely. You have NO done that, so please give yourself a pat on the back!

Sorry about typing, really must learn to preview posts. Keep sounding like weird Spanish lady. "You NO do that!"

Teeth whitening: I like Crest Whitestrips Premium, which you can get on eBay. They're little films which cling to your teeth and bleach them. You wear them for 20 minutes a day. Not cheap (about £25) but I remember they did work well.

Hi Naturelover!

You can easily get into the swing of this v quickly. Lovely that your hair + clothes are sorted. I'd say don't worry about post-preg clothes yet. Just deal with the here and now otherwise you'll fall into a slump as it'll all seem unattainable. Anyway, I still wore maternity stuff - trousers at least - till DS2 was 2 or 3 months old.

Your supposed "bad" points are all v easy to fix, I'd say.

• my hair is a mess, in an in-between/growing out stage, with some grey that I haven't covered

You've booked the cut already - yay! - but I'd say carry on growing it out. Can you ask stylist to give you an in-between style that will carry you onwards with the growing?

• I haven't painted my toenails for over a year + my feet are reptilian

Well, that's your job for today. 15 minutes - soak them in warm water then scrub hard bits with pumice, cover in hand (or foot) cream and wear socks all day. Tonight, when they're all soft gorgeous, take another 15 minutes to give yourself pedicure in front of TV. Sorted.

• I don't bother with make-up anymore

If you have that lovely glowy preg skin, just slap on powder, mascara and lip gloss. Can you dye your eyelashes when pregnant?? If so, get the kit from Superdrug and do them yourself. I have just done this & difference is staggering.

• I don't shave my legs often enough

15 minutes! Do this today! Then you'll naturally stop wearing jeans so much.

• I haven't done face masks/hair treatments etc for ages (used to do this every week)

Just choose 2 evenings a week - say, Tuesday and Thursday - and give yourself a small, 15-minute treatment then. Don't agonise how often you used to do them - you have created life, that's more important than facepack.

When all this is done, get your DH to help you find your accessories and jackets. He will immediately comply as you are now looking so foxy & beautiful.

morning!

i actually had a compliment yesterday

one of dd1's friends said to me 'i really like your hair like that - i don't often see you with it down!'

so i guess the de-frizz stuff and not dragging it back in a croydon facelift because i haven't had time to think about anything else is a Good Start... and i haven't even had my hair consultation yet!

third day walking. had small contre-temps with dh who suggested i was making it up that the car didn't work in the mornings. it didn't work when he tried it either... i didn't get any compliments from him. apparently booking the mechanic and organising life/ pick-ups without his knowledge is Not a Good Thing... must be emasculating or something. will ask him to do manly stuff like change a plug or something later as recompense.

anyway, i didn't do very well at water glugging yesterday, so will make a huge effort today.

my silver wedges arrived yesterday but will have to back as they don't fit...
and my skincare stuff i ordered has been sent surface and not airmail as i requested, so have had brief apology from company - they are sending a new airmal delivery today, and i can keep the surface lot if when it arrives, freeee.

so, good and bad.

naturelover, can i ask which dermalogica products you use? at 38 i haven't really found anything 100% effective at keeping acne at bay (although i seem to have a lot of skincare stuff enroute lol) - would be interested to know what you recommend?

did not get up early this am. will scurry off and attempt to Make Effort.

BEAUTY MISSION

Today I want to hear compliments you have received from people. Spoken word, amorous advances or shouts from builder all qualify. Do this for me, as I keep posting mine and will look hideously cocky & braggy unless you do yours too.

BEAUTY MISSION ENDS

lol - i completed the mission before you posted it - do i get a prize?

or have to do an extra 15 minute beauty chore for being chippy?

I am ashamed to admit I am still in my not-very-glam pyjamas I didn't get much sleep last night.

When I do get going I promise the results will be STUNNING (not necessarily in a good way)

Yes, Madwoman, I'm going with option 2! Slap handcream on, ull on the Marigold gloves and do 15 minutes' housework!

(I just did this, so you're not alone.)

I was trying to think how we could incorporate beautifying into our everyday lives. For example, softening hands while doing housework (see above). What else could we do? Slap moisturiser on before batch-cooking, so the steam opens our pores and allows the moisturiser to work better? Anything else?

I'm so annoyingly virtuous today - just had a home-made smoothie of banana, strawberries and WATER. How do-goody is that?!

ProvincialLady - don't worry! Do a 15-minute chore this morning so you feel on track again.

Morning all, thanks for letting me join in, very quick update from me

the good...
eyebrow threading booked for tommorrow
jogged for 25 mins this morning
lady garden trimmed
stayed off booze all week and drunk lots of water
Eating more healthily
found some Decleor eye cream in back of the airing cupboard while on my beauty mission yay!

the bad...
feet still rather manky
not booked haircut yet
skin still pale blue/ white

the ugly...
erm...see above!

Will put lip gloss and mascara on before I go and collect DS2 from playgroup. Not wearing a great outfit today but I am out of my PJ's! COme on provicial, you can do it, dressed, mascara and lip gloss by lunchtime, you will feel much better!

Not had any compliments yet - but will fish for them if I don't get any in the next week!
Looking forward to hearing yours though, don't be shy, get them on here

oh blimey

bodyshop hemp or neutrogena norwegian formula?

oh, and can i just say to all those curlies considering the fringe option...

DON'T DO IT!!!!

still rofling at 'you look so much younger' though