TOP TEN TIPS FOR LOOKING PERKY THIS JANUARY

[RolandButter]

ok so no shopping to be done
dieting /cutting back
no going out to happen

so tis operation skincare and other simple tricks to reduce the morgue make up look.
we want california, we want healthy, we want glow.

what are your tips?

High factor face cream like City Block from Clinique to keep skin perky every January instead of leathery and over tanned

Loving the thread!

Boots nr 7 tinted moisturises is brill. They also have a great cream blusher. Quick mascara.THEN Body shop shimmer waves...amazing glow/post holiday look without OTT.

Hand cream: body shop hemp. However- got Crabtree&Evelyn 6 pack minis for Christmas- PERFECT for handbags and when you keep losing them. look at this

Vaseline not lip gloss. New 'pink' vaseline gives a spot of colour.

Ditto keeping legs/bits/toes etc in check.Jessica 'Bikini Bottoms' is a glorious pink!

Dry shampoo...bloody best buy EVER!

Neals yard Rose range: simply amazing. Thebeauty balm is really thick but works a treat on dry skin.Used it on long haul flight and not a flaky bit in sight.

I feel better for just reading this!

Now to exfoliate/body butter...thank goodness for the sales goodies!

Have been slack on exercise. Feel too tired.Think it would take even more time away from DH when DD is finally sorted. Am I a jessy?Just making excuses?

Keratin treatment for hair from ebay - 100ml is about £30 and lasts me 4 goes. Same stuff as you pay £200 for at the hairdressers.

Called a Brazilian blow dry or some such thing. Supposed to last about 3 months but mine lasted a bit less.

I probably don't do it as well as the hairdressers but it's pretty easy and does make the hair softer and smoother and, crucially, much easier to blow dry.

abitchilly - very interested in your keratin treatment - I have been thinking about getting a Brazilian blow dry for ages now.

Can you link to it? Thanks

Also, for anyone who has never had their eyebrows threaded - DO IT!

It gives the most perfect shape !

anybody know what eyebrow threading is in French? Bonsoir are you there?

'High beam' highlighter by Benefit. Was bought it as a birthday present 2 weeks after DD2 was born - and have been complimented on how well I look ever since! Am not a make up person but this takes seconds and makes the biggest difference.

Eve Lom cleanser is amazing, whether skin is spotty, dry, flaky, old-looking and miserable or all of the above.

It does cost crazy money, but in winter I find it's worth it as it makes such a difference that I hardly need anything else.

Am a bit wary of promoting the keratin stuff!

The person I got it from was this I think (link below) - have noticed not 100% positive feedback now but haven't read negatives.

She could be watering it down I guess!

Anyway here

You all inspired me yesterday.
Did a home spa evening last night and am now scrubbed, plucked, groomed and mositurised, with matching nail varnish on toe and finger nails.

I love those wax strips (Superdrug have them) for your eyebrows, make them look very professional and tidy.

I got inspired to and painted my nails yesturday. They're all chipped already of course!

I spotted this thread and thought I'd like to join in - definitely suffering from the January cold and gloom so all tips very interesting!

LeQueen - agree with you re muslin cloths, I find they mean I don't need to use exfoliator so much

Hermomminess - you're right re No 7 tinted moisturiser

I find that clarin's beauty flash balm works well, especially if lacking in sleep. MAC also used to do something called Strobe Cream which was good,don't know if they still do.

In this cold, I've found Balm Balm (£3 from Boots) works wonders at preventing lips chapping. Neal's yard Rosehip oil and Weleda Almond facial oil also help with dry skin. Weleda's calendula oil is brilliant for dry skin on the body.

Your postings have inspired me, DH is out with friends tonight so think I will dig out a face mask and nail varnish and indulge in some much needed pampering

my nails are chuffing chipped too

You need a good brand imo.

also a good leave in conditioner

very good

Can someone please post a link to the teeth whitening strips on ebay? I have looked on ebay before I couldn't find them and my chompers could do with a freshening up...

This thread just reminds me of when I was a teenager living at home and had all the time in the world. No job, no chores, no bills, no responsibility, getting all your washing and ironing done, dinner made, with all your spare time free to pamper and preen yourself whilst watching chick flicks with your mates. Those really were the days...............

paint toenails with clear varnish. no-one will see them but yourself but they will look lovely and low maintenance

drink arseloads of water. you will pee like a racehorse but it will clear your skin no end

walk as many places as you can instead of driving (if possible, before you all tell me you live in the back of beyond) will give you a nice healthy glow

exfoliate lips with toothbrush, apply lipbalm, then slick gloss over top (body shop equiv of juicy tubes i prefer) - will protect your lips from chappage and dryage

thechicof it - AND AND AND giggling after the pub shut about the evenings "exploits"

( in our case eating chips and gravy)

It used to take us hours to get ready - bath, face pack, nails, too much eye shadow and way too many hair products....What fun.

Getting ready for a rare evening out these days is a far more hurried affair, crammed in the 15 mins or so between DS1 going to sleep after final bedtime story and baby sitter arriving. Ah well.

getting ready thread

Excellent - I've hopped over to the other thread!
I am sooo with you Jolene - I hate the hurried affair of getting ready now. No fun without a glass of wine and the music blaring .

That L'Oreal Primer really has done wonders for me. I LOVE it. Makes my foundation look fresh all day.

For true glowiness I can recommend a brisk Wintery yomp to school/nursery while carrying a heffa-baby and pushing two lazy preschoolers in a buggy.

Actually that's probably better for the sweaty and cross look.

Oh, and cream blusher all the way!! For fellow cheapoids I can recommend Boots Natural Collection "Naked Glow".

Also, Lansinoh works really well as a lip gloos/moisturiser.

always have a good haircut that suits you.

i havent had mine cut for 8 weeks and i have the disheveled look...not the usual well groomed look.

also agree with the eyebrow plucking/ waxing i have mine tinted as i have dark hair.

a friend discribed me to her DH as high maintenence...when he met me he said i didnt look high maintenance just like she did before the kids...she now comes with me to the beautician!

i used to spend hours and £££s before i had Ds on beautifying, now do it to stay sain and as a treat, still cant leaver the house without at least some makeup on though!