Help! I need to look more feminine

charlies-aunt

Ooo-er caught sight of myself in a shop window the other day - and it was a bit of a shock to realise that without conciously knowing I've metemorphised into a tubby frump! :eek: :eek:

We've had a long spell of tough years and apart from lack of cash, there has been lack of time as I was caught in the double bind of caring for my elderly, ailing parents at the same time as trying to bring my own young children whilst holding down a job to help pay our way. . . .so all my pretty clothes have been gradually replaced over the years by serviceable and hardwearing togs - all shapeless and baggy as I've been very shamed by my expanding waistline. My beauty routine is non existent, haircut is boring... some days I think I look more butch than my oh.

Hee-e-e-l-l-p-p-p! I want to look feminine again - at 52 I'm too old for girly stuff but it would be so nice to feel good about myself again but at the moment, I'm feel so lost I don't know where to start......

Any suggestions will be appreciated

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Get your eyebrows and nails done (natural pink look), use a tiny bit of brown/black mascara and pinky/tawny lip gloss then have your hair cut after a consultation with the stylist.

After that, it's up to you if you want to change your clothes (but lay off the trackie bottoms and men's T-shirts!)

lostinrates

charlies-aunt wrote: »

Ooo-er caught sight of myself in a shop window the other day - and it was a bit of a shock to realise that without conciously knowing I've metemorphised into a tubby frump! :eek: :eek:

We've had a long spell of tough years and apart from lack of cash, there has been lack of time as I was caught in the double bind of caring for my elderly, ailing parents at the same time as trying to bring my own young children whilst holding down a job to help pay our way. . . .so all my pretty clothes have been gradually replaced over the years by serviceable and hardwearing togs - all shapeless and baggy as I've been very shamed by my expanding waistline. My beauty routine is non existent, haircut is boring... some days I think I look more butch than my oh.

Hee-e-e-l-l-p-p-p! I want to look feminine again - at 52 I'm too old for girly stuff but it would be so nice to feel good about myself again but at the moment, I'm feel so lost I don't know where to start......

Any suggestions will be appreciated

Feminine doesn't have to be girl but womanly, and you sound like quite a woman having been a mother, wife and caring daughter.

Have you got a skin routine? I think that possibly the most important thing to get right, because its the most permanent.

Once that is sorted for ease of time, why not dye your eyelashes? and come up with a very quick easy make up routine. e.g. with dyed eyelashes, a tough of touch eclate or similar, an a bit of lip and cheek tint taking less than two minutes, and you are ''feminine'' and dn't need to fret all day.

A good hair cut..a rally good haircut. Colour takes tie and money to maintain, a good hair cut that works for you is much better value IMHO.

Clothes? sounds like ease is important. I love jersey wrap dresses and flat shoes on harried days. supermarkets often carry them. I'd wear them (early thirties) and so would my mum, albeit possibly with different accessories (in her seventies). Keep things simple and practical, fighting clothes and things meant to make you feel/look better ill make you feel harried and depressed!

willa

charlies-aunt wrote: »

Ooo-er caught sight of myself in a shop window the other day - and it was a bit of a shock to realise that without conciously knowing I've metemorphised into a tubby frump! :eek: :eek:

We've had a long spell of tough years and apart from lack of cash, there has been lack of time as I was caught in the double bind of caring for my elderly, ailing parents at the same time as trying to bring my own young children whilst holding down a job to help pay our way. . . .so all my pretty clothes have been gradually replaced over the years by serviceable and hardwearing togs - all shapeless and baggy as I've been very shamed by my expanding waistline. My beauty routine is non existent, haircut is boring... some days I think I look more butch than my oh.

Hee-e-e-l-l-p-p-p! I want to look feminine again - at 52 I'm too old for girly stuff but it would be so nice to feel good about myself again but at the moment, I'm feel so lost I don't know where to start......

Any suggestions will be appreciated

A good haircut can work wonders but going to the hairdressers is so expensive!

I do my own hair, well cut it and sometimes colour at home.

Could you experiment with a home colour or a streaking kit? You can get comb-in ones now and just a few streaks around your face can be really nice and brightening. You can also keep the little comb/brush and use to add streaks of other colours another time.

A bit of almond oil massaged into your face while you're in the bath, and then gently rubbed off with a cotton pad or piece of muslin, can give 'facial' results and is much cheaper than paying for one!

A nice bright scarf (it's Spring soon - I hope!) or costume necklace and a new lippy are cheap ways of brightening up too. There are loads of places now where you can get cheap things that don't look cheap!

Finally, a good old wardrobe clearout can be great, focussing on keeping the clothes you feel great in but flatter at the same time. Be ruthless! (I keep telling myself!).

charlies-aunt

Thank you for all the inspiration - all your suggestions are good ones.

I need to make a start and create a bit of me-time to get an achieveable routine going.

I have a sensitive, dry skin - what would be a good skin care regime?

willa

charlies-aunt wrote: »

Thank you for all the inspiration - all your suggestions are good ones.

I need to make a start and create a bit of me-time to get an achieveable routine going.

I have a sensitive, dry skin - what would be a good skin care regime?

A mild facial wash with as little chemicals in as poss charlies-aunt, that's what I'd recommend anyway.
Neal's Yard do a nice Rose gel facial wash.
Liz Earle are brilliant, just google for website, I didn't like their hotwash thing that everyone raves about though, found it heavy and clogging.
Cammomile oil - a few quid a bottle can be mixed in with a plain moisturiser to help calm any redness.
LUSH do lovely, mostly natural stuff for the face.
Good splash of cold water at the end of washing!
And moisturiser, again as natural as poss. I used to use acqueous cream for my own dry skin (dry and sensitive) but got eaten alive on MSE once for saying it was more natural than a lot of creams! I find it non-irritating and cheap and good for dry skin but I get the care+one which doesn't have the couple of horrid chemicals in it that some of the other brands do.
http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.comparestoreprices.co.uk/images/unbranded/c/unbranded-care-aqueous-cream-100ml.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.comparestoreprices.co.uk/medicines/unbranded-care-aqueous-cream-100ml.asp&usg=__EcljHJQwZguktNEqeQOQVhtGPXQ=&h=250&w=224&sz=19&hl=en&start=1&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=pxin6OFCYWSB1M:&tbnh=111&tbnw=99&prev=/images%3Fq%3Daqueous%2Bcream%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26hs%3Dg2d%26sa%3DN%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-GB:official%26tbs%3Disch:1
If you're web buying wise, there's loads of sites you can look at and buy stuff from.

Hope maybe some of that is helpful!

meece

Hi, I would say get all of your items out of the wardrobe and look at them, see if they can be worn in different combinations. This has worked for me before. Also, if you can't change much, perhaps buy a couple of scarves in colours that you like, to add a contrast. -I read somewhere that an ageing thing was lack of accessories - I know if I just put some jewellry on I feel better.

angelicmary85

charlies-aunt wrote: »

I have a sensitive, dry skin - what would be a good skin care regime?

I have terrible skin but the products I found that work for me are Sanctuary (I love the smell too, it has a soothing effect on me!) and Lush as they only use natural ingredients. It's expensive but worth every penny!

nikki2804

charlies-aunt wrote: »

Thank you for all the inspiration - all your suggestions are good ones.

I need to make a start and create a bit of me-time to get an achieveable routine going.

I have a sensitive, dry skin - what would be a good skin care regime?

Hi, I have dry, very sensitive skin and I find that the oil cleansing method is the best skincare regime that my skin has ever had. Inexpensive and very easy!

Mrs_pbradley936

nikki2804 wrote: »

Hi, I have dry, very sensitive skin and I find that the oil cleansing method is the best skincare regime that my skin has ever had. Inexpensive and very easy!

Yes I agree. I read about and thought "that can't be much good" but I tried it and am delighted. I use 10% castor oil and 90% olive oil because I had the olive oil already.

lostinrates

I'm another on Oil cleanse method. I still use a fair few products, like estee lauder night repair, and a moisturiser but Ocm is wonderful. I do a regular massage a couple of times a week with the oil, the other nights just use it more briefly to remove makeup mainly.

Making time is part of the whole feminine thing IMO. setting aside some time to indulge in nice smells, in pretty things, in enjoying being a woman. Even things like shaving your legs is part of enjoying having legs that have carried you on your way.

Oh, another one thats quick: scent. It takes seconds and both is instantly feminising and also a happy smell will cheer you up when you catch a whiff of it