View Full Version : Ladies- how much effort do you put into looking good?
What does everyone do about makeup, hair, clothes - all that? I used to do some minimal makeup and blowdry my hair when I worked, and I wore some pretty dresses (mostly made by me!) but now it's just ponytail and under-eye circle coverup if anything, and shorts and a tshirt. Sometimes I feel bad about it, like I should at least make some effort. But that's the problem - it seems like so much EFFORT! Other times I just don't care. I used to enjoy feeling like I looked nice but it just seems pointless since the only people who will see me are my two-year old and the people at the grocery store, most of whom are in their jammies anyway. What do you do? Do you feel you would really prefer to do more or less, and why?
decemberlov
1-23-13, 10:26am
My makeup consists of eyeliner and chapstick. Hair in a ponytail usually and jeans and a tee or sweater. I rarely get dresses up but when I do I do notice that it feels good and gives me a little extra boost of confidence. I work for a printing company, loading copiers, mixing inks etc so dressy does not really fit into my everyday. I'm okay with me and wouldn't really change much in this category.
catherine
1-23-13, 10:28am
I guess my models are two aunts that I have. One was 92 when she died and although she rarely got visitors, she never went downstairs in the morning without putting on lipstick, pearls, earrings, and even pumps with 1" heels. Similarly I have an 80 year aunt who is still gorgeous (no surgery) and who has a great sense of style.
It may seem like, who cares--as you said--but contrast that with my memories of my stepfather's grandmother who sat in her robe all day with old beat-up slippers. I still have that memory imprinted in my mind, and it was about 45 years ago when I met her! It was just depressing to be around her.
When I travel, I notice that there is really no decorum when it comes to dressing in public. People get on planes in ill-fitting clothes, beat-up Tshirts, unflattering capris and sloppy sneakers. It certainly is everyone's right to do that, but it's a little hard on a person's aesthetic sensibilities to look at them! Somestimes I think we can do our part to make the world beautiful by just looking half decent. I'm not talking spending a lot of money or being opulent--I'm just talking about paying attention to how you look.
That being said, thank God you can't see me now in my yoga pants and hair that needs to get washed and no makeup and dirt-encrusted sneakers from having just walked the dog. So I dream to be like my aunts, but I'll have to fake it til I make it.
Virtually none. And I'd like to do less. Ideally, I'd be a nudist so I didn't have to worry about clothes either.
I don't do make-up at all. For work, clothes have to be office casual, so that's the fanciest I get. I usually just clip my hair up as I don't like it falling in my face when I'm working. But I don't use any hair products ever.
At home it's even more casual - shorts, sweats. However, I will dress nicer around the house sometimes when I feel like looking nicer for my husband or when I want to feel more productive - but that just means jeans instead of sweats and a nicer shirt.
I just don't care and can't bring myself to care. I feel very successful and happy in life and I figure if I made it to this age without all those things, why start now?
For work- mascara, concealer, blush, lip balm, wedding ring, diamond studs (small) and usually a cuff or simple necklace. Somedays I use scarves. Trousers with a top, bring jacket for "those" meetings or I wear sheath dresses with pumps ( gave away any heel over 2 inches) most of the time because it's dang hot here in Texas most of the time. I used to have short hair with a complicated cut that needed trimming everything 3 weeks..now its long layered, all my own natural color, I just wash, put in some mousse, brush and go.
At home, flip flops- both the rubber and I have a fancy pair of leather one's , cowgirl boots, slip on converse sneakers jeans/shorts, t-shirt/tanks, a few sundresses/jersey skirts for going out- all plain and simple. I have a limited color of black, navy, purple, hot pink and grey- so it all goes. Even with my work wear and I am trying to eliminate the black, as it's starting to look harsh of me. Still wear my wedding ring and the studs and sometimes even the cuffs. Yoga pants and tank/t for walking/working out with sneakers.
I do have a rule as nothing worn out, holey or sloppy goes out of the house. I do think I look cute, everything is clean and pressed. Mascara is a must at all times for this Texas girl. :)
I have arthiritis, so I have had to learn to dress differently but cute. I used to dress for others, now I dress for comfort, as my joints hurt, even if a sleeve hits it wrong.
I am 38 and have never put too much emphasis on looks so I am working on uncomplicating it even more. :)
I don't wear makeup or spend much time on my hair, which is medium to long and naturally curly (read: naturally frizzy). I wear clothes that I feel are appropriate for where I am going and generally try to look neat and put-together. I don't iron or dry clean, though, so my definition of that may vary from that of other people.
Medium long curly hair that is super easy to take care of if I wash it in the evening. I usually heat up a curling iron in the morning to change direction of two curls.
I do make-up...even if I'm staying home because if I feel put together I get more accomplished on our business.
I rarely have a pj and no make-up day and if I do then someone is bound to 'drop by'.
None on a day to day basis. Long hair in a pony tail or braid, sunscreen, shorts, tee shirt or workout-type clothes, tennis shoes and that's about it. I am "retired" and have a pretty physically active life most days starting very early in the A.M. with a run and not going home until end of day (even now I am writing this at a library in the park I just ran in - slightly disheavled and sweaty!), so can't see the point of getting dolled up for that! If I am going out somewhere, then I do dress up a bit, wear some minimal make-up (lipstick, eyeliner, mascara, blush) and wear my hair (which is waist lenght) down,and a small amount of jewelry but that's it. The only grooming thing I use besides a razor to shave (fair haired blonde so that's only once a week if that) is a blow dryer and a flat iron. The flat iron I use just for my bangs as my hair is very straight otherwise. Shamppo and cream rinse combo, face lotion and body lotion, deodorant, bar soap. That's all my grooming products! As far as looking "nice" well I happen to think I do look just as nice when I'm a bit scruffy as I am when I'm all prettied up. I think this is true for many people and would like to see more people (women mostly) just relax about their looks and enjoy themselves and be happy with their look no matter how casual it is. I never wore make-up at work either (not the kind of jobs where I needed to or was expected to)and had uniforms for clothes and just wore my hair in a bun. Easy peasy!
Fun thread!
Jill. When I had little ones crawling and toddling around the house, I had a pair of pink sweats pants that I virtually lived in, along with tank/short-sleeved scoopneck/V-neck sweater tops! Comfort, was what it was all about. I still showered and pulled myself together each morning, but nothing involved.
I'm a dark brunette, light olive complexion, so au-naturel is my best friend! Plus, having European skin, means oil, so the less I muck my face up with bases, etc, the better my skin is for it, so I simply stay away from makeup (for the most part).
As for leaving the house, I always leave, finished, polished. Dress slacks, a nice top, dressy shoes, and so forth. I like to look my best when I'm out, and I always feel at my best, when I feel I'm looking my best.
As for around the house, now that the baby-stage is behind me, I sport a pear-shaped figure, so I have a hard time finding jeans to fit, so cotton elastic-waisted pants and carefree tops are my daily wear.
My hands are my weakness, specifically my nails. I have long finger nails that I keep impeccably manicured, although gardening does have a way of playing havoc on them (at times)...
Well, as I am still a working woman, I need to look fairly decent. Without makeup, I am pretty sad-looking (under eye circles). In a 7-minute routine each morning, I can make myself look pretty darn good, so that's what I do. Wash face, moisturizer which is slightly tinted, light eyeshadow, mascara, lip tint. That's it. My hair style is blow-dry and go. I do not color it.
I still do the routine on weekends, because if I look good I feel better about myself and it shows in my outlook on things/attitude. Besides, I want to look nice for my SO.
Blackdog Lin
1-23-13, 2:48pm
I'm very casual, but I do make a point to get "cleaned up" every morning. This means: face washed, moisturized, and right now am using BB cream for "makeup", along with a bit of powder and blush. Hair washed and re-styled (blowdried) every-other-day. I put shoes on every morning. As for clothing, I seldom go anywhere that my jeans and a clean flannel shirt or sweatshirt wouldn't be appropriate for. When we DO go somewhere (meeting family or the girlfriends for lunch, to the city for shopping) I usually do take a little more care with my dress - but that usually only means layering a cardigan, or making sure my sneakers match the rest of my outfit. Like Spartana, I usually look more-or-less the same spiffied up as I do with my everyday look.
Since retiring recently, I've tried to make a point of not "letting myself go" in the personal grooming department. I also had a Granny who wouldn't think of stepping out the back door without her full face on and hair done. She rubbed off on me.....a little.
Oh yeah. One other point: I never put my bra on unless I'm going out in public. Hate 'em. :)
I did make do for a few years after retiring as I was doing a lot of work outside. One day I stopped to drop off some material at another volunteer's house and his wife came to the door looking so elegant.
I swore that from that day on, I would never be less than simply and neatly elegant as she was. She has since become a really good friend and laughs at the change in dress that she triggered but I have triggered changes in her as well.
Simple hair cut done at Hair Masters every 4-5 weeks with the same stylist, styled daily with a tiny bit of gel, moisturizer and foundation/concealer and lip gloss. That is it.
It is mostly about having tidy clothes that coordinate and fit well. Some tops I have had for 15 years and they still look good.
Originally posted by KayLRZ.
if I look good I feel better about myself and it shows in my outlook on things/attitude. Besides, I want to look nice for my SO.Ditto!
ApatheticNoMore
1-23-13, 3:24pm
I bathe ... and use deodorant ... brush my teeth and put on clean clothes ...
:laff: Really, sometimes that is all. I get lazy. I wish I did more. I did get a facial for the first time in my life last weekend. I looked quite nice afterward if I do say so myself. :D
awakenedsoul
1-23-13, 3:27pm
Each morning I wash my face, put on moisturizer, light base, powder, eye liner, mascara, lip balm, and lipstick. I wear either jeans or leggings with a sweater and shearling lined clogs, a scarf, and gloves. I run the dogs on my bike. Many of my sweaters are 15 years old, but they are beautiful and I take good care of them. Same with the leggings. I get good quality, (merino wool or cashmere on close out,) and it really lasts and looks nice. I do put on earrings and my favorite necklace each morning. When I go out I also wear my rings. I used to wear boots with a heel, and they were more polished than my clogs. If I'm running errands, I put on a coat of nail polish and some hand cream. My hair is long and I wear it in a low ponytail or down with a headband. I feel better when I'm groomed, too. I try to keep it subtle, but it does make a difference. I think people respond to your energy.
I keep my clothes mended and my socks darned. Most of what I have is in good shape. (Probably thanks to using a cothesline.) Now that I'm knitting clothes, I will soon be wearing hand knit scraves and sweaters. The women in my knitting group always look very feminine and pretty in their hand knit sweaters, cowls, and scarves. I'm tall but tiny, so I like to wear clothes that are fitted.
I just looked in the mirror, and I really need to henna my hair again. At some point I will let it go grey, and probably sweep it up in a French twist. I love to see women who are older and look elegant. It inspires me.
jennipurrr
1-23-13, 4:10pm
For my life past high school (there are some pics of me in HS with far too much makeup on) I was content with some tinted moisurizer, lip balm, pull the hair up and I was good to go!
However, this past summer I took a position in a working in a new office and the women here are much more put together. While my office is not forward facing, we interact a lot with our fundraisers who usually look impecable, so I guess that has rubbed off on the back office. Now I usually wear some sort of tinted lip stuff, earrings and a necklace if my outfit is kind of plain. I've always kept my hair long but I usually didn't do anything with it at work...kept that for going "out" but now a lot of times I will wear it down, so that means I have to straighten or use a curling iron. I've kind of gotten in a routine of wash hair, wear down one day, wear up the next day, wash repeat. I love my hair because it is "sort of wavy" so it responds to anything well, but its not naturally straight where I can wash and wear.
I like the look of my eyes with eye makeup, but due to keeping a bit of an allergy and wearing contacts I tend to rub them. I look ridiculous after a while if I am not vigilant, so I only wear mascara/eye makeup once a week or so.
Ugh, I never thought I would be wearing makeup on a regular basis! It is not so bad though.
Virtually none. And I'd like to do less. Ideally, I'd be a nudist so I didn't have to worry about clothes either.
I don't do make-up at all. For work, clothes have to be office casual, so that's the fanciest I get. I usually just clip my hair up as I don't like it falling in my face when I'm working. But I don't use any hair products ever.
At home it's even more casual - shorts, sweats. However, I will dress nicer around the house sometimes when I feel like looking nicer for my husband or when I want to feel more productive - but that just means jeans instead of sweats and a nicer shirt.
I just don't care and can't bring myself to care. I feel very successful and happy in life and I figure if I made it to this age without all those things, why start now?
DITTO!
I admire everybody who's established a routine they feel comfortable with day in and day out, be it the minimum or pretty pulled together. I waffle on what I should and shouldn't do but what it comes down to is that I really hate doing all that stuff - shopping, blow-drying, make-up-ing, etc. I suppose my ideal would be to be one of those naturally beautiful women who doesn't need to do anything to look fantastic. Sadly, this is not to be. I would like to look good for my DH but.... ugh, I really do hate that stuff.
One of the things that bugs me now that I am still working is feeling out of sync with current trends. I am just not comfortable in some of the current styles like skinny pants or leggings. So, do I mess with altering my clothes, buy new ones, or wait for trends to change? It wouldn't matter to me at all if I were retired.
I know this too....when I was in my 30's I didn't care, didn't wear much makeup at all. But NOW.....well.....different story.
I'm one of these people who can look simply terrible or utterly terrific, depending on what I do to myself. I enjoyed the power of self-transformation as a kid and in college when I did a lot of theater. It really is fun to play with people's perceptions of you. I never think of it as caving in to society's sexist norms (though they definitely do exist - that's for another thread, lol)!
So - very pale, dirty blonde with invisible eyebrows and lashes, and a juvenile face with full cheeks, no modeling or structure. I look way young for my age, which I've always hated - until now! If I do some makeup and put gel bronzer on the sides of my forhead and under my (non-existent) cheekbones, and my hair is looking good, I can be insanely glamorous in, say, a photograph - so much so that I'm almost a different person.
My hubby is a photographer and loves to snap me because I'm - well - there. And he's good. So he takes these fun pics of me, and it's just transformed how I feel about myself. I was always camera shy (former theater major? go figure) until I met my hubby. Now it's actually fun to slap my pics up on FB and see the reaction. People love me in photos! So weird! I'm pretending to be glamorous, which I never do IRL, but for the moment of the picture I'm able to inhabit this other side of myself. I can transform myself at will when I feel like it. And other women can do it too.
The fun thing about getting older is that you don't need anyone's permission anymore. You don't need permission to go without makeup, and you also don't need permission to start experimenting with makeup if you feel like it.
Women over 40 can gain a lot by adding an element of artifice to their look. You can carry red hair or platinum blonde, you can rock chandelier earrings, you can wear deep red lipstick - and no one's going to say, hey, take that crap off, you're too young for that!
I have a job where there's nowhere else to go on my particular path, unless I wanted to switch to management. So I don't have to dress for success (lol!) or anything like that, and I'm stuck in a studio all day so it really doesn't matter what I look like. I wear jeans and tops with cardigans or a leather jacket. I like mary janes, and have both the kind you can walk in (sketchers-type) and dressier ones with a heel. One void in my wardrobe is the jacket area - I would love a form-fitting black jacket that wouldn't have to be ironed, maybe a lightweight wool, to pull on when important people descend on us without warning.
I do look at the younger girls where I work - I'm relating to what jennipur says about the environment making a difference. The other girls at work almost never wear pants, they're in cute skirts and boots all the time. There are moments when I'm thinking - should I try harder? And then I realize that I did the same at their age. When you're striving for greater status, you need the appurtenances more. I guess I can feel more relaxed about that. It's the first time I've ever been perceived as having status in my field, and I keep forgetting that I have it. Being able to wear jeans at work is actually a proof of arrival, if you want to look at it that way.
But I often have moments of insecurity. And taking care with my appearance can boost the old confidence, as others have said. That's why I'll never believe that it's trivial to care about self-presentation. And it really is so much fun.
Someone upthread mentioned BB cream - it does seem to blur imperfections, and it's a nice brightener for the cheekbones! (Those of us without them need all the contouring we can get, lol)
What is this BB Cream y'all are talking about?
Gardenarian
1-23-13, 7:26pm
What is this BB Cream y'all are talking about?
I was wondering that too!
I do less than my husband, I think. Wash hair once a week. Morning: a washcloth to the face, moisturizer/sunblock, comb hair and put in barrette or pony tail or braid(s). Evening, washcloth to face, apply Retin-A (which is supposed to prevent recurrence of skin cancer.)
I rinse, floss, brush all the time as I have bad teeth, but that's the only thing I'm high maintenance on.
I used to do ayurvedic massage w/oil in the morning but that seems to have dropped by the wayside - I should really do it; good for the whole system as well as your skin.
I'm happy with the way I look.
I don't put much effort into it. I do not wear makeup, with the exception of chapstick. I do not color my hair (I'm 43 and completely gray) and I keep it in a short, wash and go style so no blowdrying or fussing needed. I wear blue jeans and a casual top to my retail job (I am a support person so I do stock, get items to the floor, pricing, markdowns, signing etc..). I wear blue jeans and a T-shirt to my house cleaning job. On my off days it's blue jeans and T's in the warmer weather and Blue jeans and Turtlenecks with a hoodie during the colder weather. I do have a couple of "nicer" casual tops that I pair with blue jeans for dinners out with DH. I have one pair of black pants that I pair those tops with for more formal occassions.
Blackdog Lin
1-23-13, 8:47pm
BB Cream: think tinted moisturizer (though for me I found that my face was too tight using only it, and need to wear my cheap moisturizer under it), only it's supposed to smooth, even-up-tones, brighten, has sunscreen.....I think it's supposed to do everything but take out the trash for you. They started out with AA cream, BB cream is all the rage, and now they're coming out with CC cream.
But it's not terribly expensive, I paid $13.00 for the L'Oreal brand at Walmart, and it looks like it's gonna last me for a year. I've only been using it for 3 weeks so can't tell if it's making any difference in my skin tone, which is blotchy, which is why I wear at least a tinted product on my face every day and why I sprang for the BB cream. It's just a light coverup and tone-evener, with (supposedly) added benefits.....
Trying as a teenager to make my super straight hair do the big 80's styles completely traumatized me.
I don't own a hairdryer or any hair stuff but a hair pick and I keep it cut short. Wash and go.
The only face soap I use is my shampoo, a bit of baking soda for an exfoliant every couple of days or so.
A bit of moisturizer and a tinted chapstick go a long way for me.
I do love to have nicely polished nails and the LED setting gel nails are awesome! Only need to do them once a month with my at home kit! The polish stays on for the whole month through dishwashing, housecleaning and still look great when I sit down to crochet. That's as fancy as I get :)
I think this has changed over the years for me. When I was 12, I got mascara and tinted lip balm. At 14, I was allowed to wear a full face for evenings, and same as at age 12 in school. But, make up and how my hair was done (which is to say cut short) was really important to my mother, so one of my rebellions was not wearing make up and growing my hair out.
I've always been into "natural" looks and also natural health care. I take really good care of my skin and hair -- it's important to me. And, as a younger woman, I loved how I looked naturally -- but I would off/on go through mascara/lip balm phases. My mother would get really excited when I would (and recommend a hair cut) and then that would immediately put me off wearing make up. LOL
As I'm now 36, I'm taking the process even more seriously. I'm all about beauty sleep, good nutrition, and taking good care of my skin. And, possibly some cosmetic help.
I talked to a dermatologist about laser treatments for capillary breaks on my face (genetic in my family), and it's surprisingly affordable and effective ($80 per treatment, and only one treatment to do what I need done). He also suggested resurfacing of my chest (with the laser) -- as I have acne scars there -- and then we talked about tattoo removal as well (it's in a hidden space, but I'm thinking about letting it go).
He was pretty impressed with my skin overall -- very little sun damage, very few wrinkles or other problems, he noted that the acne and the capillary things were probably both genetic and I'd done well overall. I was pretty chuffed. :)
Now, I'm moving into some specific areas that interest me:
1. Growing my hair longer -- it's only ever been as long as between my shoulders and bra strap -- usually with broken ends there. This is because even though I don't use products, I do use rubber bands, and those aren't good for hair (causes the breaks). I also swim, so wasn't always great that way either.
I now have some new hair care routines. To lighten (my now muddying) blond, I'm using honey and coconut oil. It not only lightens hair, but it also cleans and conditions. I'm also not using the elastics, but sticks instead, to prevent breakages. This means I'm learning new hair styles to use with the sticks. :)
2. skin care and make up -- i've stopped using soap, in favor of coconut oil, and my skin is doing very well with this form of washing (face and body). I also do honey-washes about once a week, and it provides a very nice outcome (it doesn't lighten skin -- to honey washing vs honey lightening are two different processes). Beautiful, clean, soft skin!
In terms of make up, I'm gathering the ingredients to make my own mascara and tinted lip balm. My first mascara recipe was just coconut oil and cocoa powder, but that ended up too oily and messy. I found another recipe that uses beeswax, coconut oil, and cocoa powder. The lip balm are the same ingredients, but beet root powder instead of cocoa powder. :)
And, I plan on wearing it once I have it gathered and made. It's working great.
3. In terms of dress, I have a uniform. It's simple and I like it. Yoga clothes with skirt/cardigan over or with a dress over. Scarf and jacket. Flats (currently five-fingers). I'm looking to switch to real flats so long as they are about to handle my hard-wearing ways. I found a couple of pairs that look like they might last. maybe. I like my vibrams, but they aren't that eco-friendly. They are hard-wearing, but. . . anyway.
I like how the way I dress looks professional, but it's still accessible for teaching yoga. I do not take off my dress or skirt/sweater to teach -- I just teach in it. So, the fabrics are stretchy and nice. A couple of my items are looking worn, so I'm gently looking for good replacements (local, fair trade, and organic if possible). I have learned that having 6 outter clothes works well for keeping wear/tear down to a minimum, allowing the clothing to last for a good year with heavy wear (the job is actually very physical, even if one is not demonstrating during class).
So, overall, I'm really happy with my "look" -- and hte basic simplicity of it. And I'm excited to try new things to grow my hair longer and also make my own make up! :D
Ah, in terms of my nails, I keep them trimmed and filed. they are basically short, and I do buff them, too. Same with toe nails (since people see my feet all day).
I also wear a bit of jewelry. Two pieces in my nose, necklace, wedding ring (i'm thinking of wearing the engagement part as well). And a watch when it has batteries. :D I'm also looking into getting my ears re-pierced (one is closed), and possibly wearing simple diamond studs in them (my grandmother gave them to my mother to give to me, so that's cool).
A medium-sized bucket of assorted pigments and a trowel.
Well, as I am still a working woman, I need to look fairly decent. Without makeup, I am pretty sad-looking (under eye circles). In a 7-minute routine each morning, I can make myself look pretty darn good, so that's what I do. Wash face, moisturizer which is slightly tinted, light eyeshadow, mascara, lip tint. That's it. My hair style is blow-dry and go. I do not color it.
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I don't "do" my hair. But I do the moisturizer, a foundation/powder and a minimal eye make up. Same here, I feel much better about myself for it, because I do not like my skin nude. Too red and too splotchy.
I still do the routine on weekends, because if I look good I feel better about myself and it shows in my outlook on things/attitude. Besides, I want to look nice for my SO
I don't put much effort into it. I do not wear makeup, with the exception of chapstick. I do not color my hair (I'm 43 and completely gray) and I keep it in a short, wash and go style so no blowdrying or fussing needed.
This is mostly me. I wear a face for church/going out with friends, but it doesn't help that I have oily skin, and my "face" slides off (remember the melting face guy when the ark was opened in Raiders of the Lost Ark? I joke that's me! ;) ) It's so dry in the winter that if I use a hair dryer, my scalp gets VERY dry and itchy. So, I just air dry it and use a bit more of my conditioner (Nexxus Humetress) on my damp hair before I comb it into place.
It also requires just too much effort in the morning on a regular work day. My clothes are presentable and comfy (cords and twin sets from LL Bean or Lands End in the winter). Earrings are useless on me at work since I have to answer the phone a lot. They hurt, so I don't wear them in the office.
I may get kicked off the board for admitting this, but yes, I wear makeup and have a nice haircut and style my hair and wear classic clothing with jewelry for work and other events. Even when casual, there is always hair/makeup and some earrings. Doesn't take me long however, even when "fussing". I /like/ appearing polished and put together.
A big part of this is that my mother was incredibly cheap when I was growing up and I never had anything the least bit trendy, which was pretty traumatic in junior/high school. I hated feeling out of place, or being dressed inappropriately. Of course, now most of the clothes are from this fabulous consignment shop where I get a lot of Talbot and Ann Taylor, but who needs to know that? I do wear everything in my closet, but I do have a lot (to me). That means I can go 3-4 weeks without appearing to wear the same outfit (the pants are re-worn but classic enough no one would notice).
I've finally achieved that no-makeup look that I've always wanted. Since using the oil cleansing method on my oily sensitive Rosacea skin, my skin now looks better than ever. So no need for anything except sunscreen. A good eyeshadow primer, a neutral beige eyeshadow, eyeliner and mascara for my eyes (accentuated w/o looking made up). Burt's Bees lip shimmer as the only obvious pop of color and i'm good to go.
Now that my hair is long, I can either mousse and diffuse it dry for a wavy look, or crawl out of bed and put it up in a clip or ponytail. I wash with conditioner (had to give up the baking soda/vinegar thing as I got my hair highlighted and demi-perm colored) and my hair only gets washed three times a week.
Spa wear is all black (all YUCK!). At home it's sweats or T-shirt and shorts. If I'm going out I always look neat. If I decide to not wear eye makeup (great idea until I see myself in mirror) I make sure I wear my lip shimmer. Oh and sunscreen always.
A hint for anyone who hates wearing mascara---some salons offer eyelash and eyebrow tinting, which is great if yours are pale. Lash tinting is a bit tricky to find since it's not really allowed but I've had it done and it's quite safe.
Tradd, give the oil cleansing method a try. It won't make you oilier at all and it will balance your skin so well. I had an oily t-zone and dry cheeks and my skin is now perfect. As a moisturizer, I've been using grapeseed oil and I really like it---soft and smooth and not oily.
I considered tinting because it is low maintenance, but i'm not keen on the chemicals by my eyes.
Wildflower
1-24-13, 6:40am
I don't wear make-up or color my hair. I've always liked the "natural" look for me, but I am lucky in that I have dark eyebrows and eyelashes along with good skin color too. I don't look pale without make-up, so have never felt the need to wear it. I think every woman should do what's best for her...
I'm a big believer in getting enough sleep, eating right, and staying hydrated. I think that's more than half the battle of looking good. I put moisturizer on my face everyday and wear lip balm. My hair is a little ways past my shoulders, all one length. Regular trims, and using shampoo and conditioner for dry hair is keeping it looking nice these days. My dark blonde/light brown hair is now very well highlighted with lots of silver strands that really are blending nicely. Going grey/silver really isn't so bad...
I live a very casual lifestyle, having long been out of the workforce for a few years now and my wardrobe is very simple. My life revolves around my family, our furry critters, and gardening (in better weather), so jeans and warm tops/sweaters in the wintertime, capris, shorts, tees and sandals in warmer weather.
Trying as a teenager to make my super straight hair do the big 80's styles completely traumatized me.
Ditto! The irony is that now that I'm older and don't care anymore, my hair has decided to become almost wavy.
pony mom, what is the grapeseed oil routine? What do you do with it? Any other products? Soap?
Good thread! It's interesting to see all of our different view points.
I am the first to admit that my clothing and the way I dress has become pretty sloppy, but it does reflect my lifestyle. Since I work in the deli at Wholefoods, it really does not matter at all what I wear to work because I am required to wear a chef's coat, a hat (mine is a Fidel Castro-type cap) and non-skid shoes. So I just have two pairs of work jeans that get alternated and have a collection of short and long-sleeve T-shirts I got at the thrift store to wear under the uniform. I do make sure to wear earrings everyday and my long crazy-curly hair is always in a ponytail underneath the cap.
After years and years of battling acne and a propensity to stupidly pick at my skin, I finally went to the doctor (using my new insurance!) and got a 10 day prescription for a skin antibiotic to clear up the ongoing inflammation. It has worked really well so my skin is the best it has been for a long, long time. I am trying to be so careful and gentle with it now. I do feel like I need to wear a little tinted moisturizer just to even out the tone, but anything heavier looks like crap because of the scarring I have. I use a tiny bit of eyebrow liner (just to fill in and make my brow look a little stronger) and some brown/black mascara, very minimally to thicken my lashes. I can't STAND that clotted eyelash look - it looks ridiculous and clownish to me! The whole point of my make-up routine is to enhance my natural face but not scream MAKE-UP, especially as I am getting older.
Back to the clothing issue - I just don't get dressed up any more at all (not that I ever did anyway). I tend to sometimes go out right after work because its late and sometimes I feel really out of place when I head out to hear live music because all the other women look so nice and here I am in my scrungy work clothes and crappy hair-do from being in a hat all day. I always carry a clip in my purse so I can wear it up at least. The other thing is I've lost about 18 lbs since last year and am still working on replacing my wardrobe for stuff that actually fits. Very expensive, but I don't need much at all due to my extremely casual lifestyle. I did buy one pair of really nice-fitting (ie: expensive jeans) that I wear on my days off or for going out/gigging at night. So right now I live in three pairs of pants, that's it! I am going to have to replace all my warm weather clothing as everything is two sizes too large and I am not sure what I am going to get, other than some shorts and nicer T-shirts.
It's weird though, I find if I don't focus on what I wear and how I look, I am a lot more comfortable in my own skin. But I look at myself and I have many of my friends, male and female, that have told me I have a fantastic figure, model-like and why don't I make use of what I have and dress better and with more style? I know I do look good when I try it, but it doesn't feel like me to dress up fancy. I feel like I am wearing someone else's costume or something. I like to say that I clean up well when needed! I just can't warrant having a closet full of stuff that I may only wear once or twice. At least I have pared down my wardrobe to only things I actually wear on a day-to-day basis, which means I hardly have any clothes at all compared to the average person in our country.
I do like those days when I feel completely comfortable and at ease and I know I look good; I think it reflects on my attitude and I get a lot more smiles and conversation when I am feeling confident than when I hide into myself. Something to think about as I figure out what kind of spring/summer clothing I'll need to get. For once I would like to buy a few really great things that will reflect my "style" and last, instead of just picking up crap T-shirts from Target all the time (which definitely have their place in my wardrobe) :)
I admire everybody who's established a routine they feel comfortable with day in and day out, be it the minimum or pretty pulled together. I waffle on what I should and shouldn't do but what it comes down to is that I really hate doing all that stuff - shopping, blow-drying, make-up-ing, etc. I suppose my ideal would be to be one of those naturally beautiful women who doesn't need to do anything to look fantastic. Sadly, this is not to be. I would like to look good for my DH but.... ugh, I really do hate that stuff.As Nike says: Just do it!! I think it takes some time for people who have worn make-up or dressed up to get use to going without or dressing down (dressing down means casual not slobby). So try doing away with little things at first until you get use to that, then try doing away with the next thing. As far as looking good for DH or SO, I find that men often like the contrast between seeing their mate more casual, then becoming the dolled up beauty when they go out. Sometimes "WOW's" them much more then if they see you always looking perfect. But that may be just the men I have known in my life but I think it's true.
One of the things that bugs me now that I am still working is feeling out of sync with current trends. I am just not comfortable in some of the current styles like skinny pants or leggings. So, do I mess with altering my clothes, buy new ones, or wait for trends to change? It wouldn't matter to me at all if I were retired. I think it's always best to dress in a way that YOU are comfortable with. As long as you meet your companies dress standards, I think you should just be true to yourself. I think that inspires confidence, which makes you feel better and more secure irregardless of what you are wearing. I still have stuff from the '90's that I love. Of course they are back in style now (leggings with big sweaters/sweatshirts) but I wore then even when they weren't in fashion.
A medium-sized bucket of assorted pigments and a trowel. Ha Ha!! Like your avatar picture :-)!
Fawn, here's a few links to OCM: http://walksbeauty.hubpages.com/hub/Facial-Oil-Cleansing-Method-OCM
http://simplemom.net/oil-cleansing-method/
The easy way to start is with olive oil and castor oil I use the grapeseed oil as a moisturizer after cleansing. I also have a Clarisonic brush (worth the $) and a gentle gel cleanser from Boscia if I wear heavier sunscreen that day. I OCM/wash at night; morning, I just rinse with warm water.
In the beginning it was a hassle to do it, but now I look forward to it as a special treat to myself. My blotchiness from Rosacea is gone. No need to wear the green-tinted mineral powder anymore.
Thanks, pony mom. I'm going to give that a try.
That is me. On a lookin' gud goin' ta meetin' day.
One interesting thing I've noticed in this thread is that no one mentions cologne or perfume. (unless I missed it).
Is that just for very special occasions these days? I remember when I first started working in offices in the 1970s and 1980s that it seemed most women wore some kind of scent.
awakenedsoul
1-24-13, 6:22pm
One interesting thing I've noticed in this thread is that no one mentions cologne or perfume. (unless I missed it).
Is that just for very special occasions these days? I remember when I first started working in offices in the 1970s and 1980s that it seemed most women wore some kind of scent.
Good point. I just started wearing essential oils again. I'd forgotten and gotten out of the habit. Last Sunday I noticed a woman in my knitting group smelled really good when she walked by...it's a nice quality.
I used to teach yoga and they asked us not to wear scents. I think that's when I stopped.
I like Bath and Bodyworks Cool Citrus Basil. :)
I'm not that fond of perfumes in general -- really of any kind. Everything is unscented in my world. I might use rosewater on a special occassion, or orange blossom water.
I'm not that fond of perfumes in general -- really of any kind. Everything is unscented in my world. I might use rosewater on a special occassion, or orange blossom water.
No perfume for work, rarely wear it elsewhere and when I do wear it, it tends to be essential oils I've blended myself because I don't like most scents.
Blackdog Lin
1-24-13, 10:07pm
Wow, I hadn't thought about that. I used to always spritz some light scent before leaving the house in the morning.....now that I don't leave the house every morning.....nah. I just don't think about it. I guess soap and water is gonna be my signature scent for the foreseeable future.
No scents for me, either.
Wildflower
1-24-13, 11:53pm
I don't wear any type of scent. Haven't for years, due to mine and DH's allergies. Even a very light scent seems to trigger them.
In engineering few people wear scents. Its so rare you really notice when someone does. There's only been a couple of people in 25 years that were obvious about it. It seems to be much more common in other cultures: for example, Indian men in particular seem to wear a lot of fragrance, and most of them wear it (until they become more American-ied).
I don't wear perfume either but occasionally spritz some Febreeze fabric spray on my clothes if I've been playing with my dog.
I wonder who these people are that are buying the perfumes and colognes? They're still big sellers because I read somewhere that celebrities love to endorse them because they make so much money off of them.
For example, IIRC, Britney Spears makes more money from her colognes and perfumes than anything else.
But for myself, I like some scented body lotions maybe 2-3x/week but that's about it - not a part of the regular routine, more of an afterthought.
L'Air du Temps has been my signature scent for most of my life. Someone at work asked me if I was wearing perfume; I answered yes, and she said that it smelled like me. She said I'm a sweet light type of person. I like it because it's a flowery/soapy smell.
I've sampled others and keep going back to this one (White Linen comes close second). It's an old fashioned scent but maybe that's why it suits me.
I wore enough makeup and hairspray in the 80's to last me a lifetime! I did dress up for corporate, but more of a hippy style. Nowadays, it is no makeup, hair in a bun, and yoga pants with a shirt or a polo when I work. I love the simplicity of this style. Plus I am also traumatized after the preparations for the wedding....ack! It took over 4 hours to get ready for one frigging day!
Life_is_Simple
1-26-13, 1:20pm
I bathe ... and use deodorant ... brush my teeth and put on clean clothes ...
I'm glad I saw your post, so I can also say that "yes, I do have a system." It is the ANM System :+1:
Tussiemussies
1-28-13, 9:14pm
Like to look nice, it doesn't always happen here at home, but when I go anywhere I make sure I look my best...
Yea, bathe, scrub, brush teeth, brush hair, clean clothes. No deodorant needed. No make-up. No scent. No hassles!
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