How much time and effort in your daily beauty routine? Help me look better!

[mellecyn]

I am a bit lazy...but I know effort takes time and effort pays off.
In terms of impression : looking professional, getting social, pro, and dating opportunities.
On holidays I am lazy, on my everyday work I am lazy because I know that my colleagues dont bother and everyone is extremely casual.
So I focus on when I am out and about in the capital city in the weekends and as well as on dates...But on the rare occasion I may lose opportunities, because lets face it I struggle with looking and being feminine and its day and night how much better I look when I bother doing my hair and make up.
As well as choosing a proper outfit.
Help me feel and look feminine! Whats your secret to the motivation? And what do you do?

 

[Minimalist_Chic]

I would start with simple and small things. This is what has helped me as I can get incredibly lazy and also forget what I have. This also helps to save money.

Outfits
For outfits, I would make a list of some good outfits you have that make you feel good. Keep that list on your phone where you pair trousers, skirts with tops, shoes, etc so you have a variation but also you can recognize what is missing and what you do need.

Category for work outfits, weekend outfits, social outfits and events/occasion outfits. You can still have casual work outfits, but wear something where you still feel good in or comfortable if you were to go out after work or just feel pretty day to day.

Hair
For me hair is most important because you can’t easily change your hair day to day. I get my hair blow dried every few months when I have a nice event and use good shampoo. I only wash my hair twice a week and make sure to let it naturally dry. I always carry a small hairbrush to ensure it doesn’t fizz up during the day. I don’t do much to my hair day to day but I do make sure it’s nicely curled for some occasions.

Skincare and make up
Hoping some other ladies here can help as I’m still figuring this one out for myself.

Maintenance Routine
give yourself a maintenance routine, getting eyebrows done every month, nails every month, facial every 4 months, massage and so on. Doing a face mask every month at home, etc. Make your own routine that you think you can stick to. It doesn’t have to be every week, or month you decide your own schedule, but if you find it hard, don't make it too regular to begin with but what is realistic. Stick to it, and you can make it more frequent or less frequent as you feel.

 

[millivanilli]

My dealmaker was making a Kibbe test and dressing to my body type and striktly only buying what suits me - whch makes my wardrobe a littel dull, but ok.

Hair and Skincare... sorry, no help from me. I am lucky when after applying make up looking my age and not my age + 20 years + no sleep. I am miles away from even having a routine...

 

[lill_canele]

I don't think I'm very feminine but I like to be "put together".

Makeup
I don't put on a full face of makeup. I dislike foundation, probably because I lean on my face a lot with my hands and I hate getting foundation on clothes. (I will put on sunscreen daily.) I think the last time I put on foundation was for my wedding lol.
I do eye makeup almost everyday (eyeshadow, eyeliner, mascara), and on weekends I'll use a bit of blush.
But no bronzer. I don't draw my brows because they're microbladed. I'm really bad at putting on lipstick because honestly I can't be bothered. I don't wear false lashes (1. I'm lazy 2. I hate taking them off).
On my home-days, I don't put on makeup and I don't wash my hair. These are usually weekends when I'm not going out. It's to give my skin a break.

Clothes
In terms of "dressing up", I love fashion. I love dressing up. But at work I wear scrubs...so I do get excited to dress up and wear normal clothes when I go out. At home, I dress like a college student (gym athleisure, sweatpants, sweaters, etc.) because I have 2 dogs and they have lots of hair and nails lol.
I don't think I get super dressed up. But I think it's a matter of perspective. I live in California where people dress very casually so me loving to wear blazers, and suits, high heels etc. makes many people think I'm from New York or something haha.
But again, I'm not very feminine. I don't wear a lot of dresses or skirts. I just feel the most comfortable in trousers and blazers. I don't like "girly" things like pinks, lace, frills. I don't like lots of colors or patterns. (aka I'm pretty boring).
But what I do care about is fit and proportions. I think anything that fits my body shape and makes me look proportional and sharp gives me the "put together" look.

Hair
I do almost nothing. In the summer I let my hair airdry. It's hot and it feels like a natural air conditioner lol. Maybe I'll lightly straighten it if I'm going out to a nice dinner or something.
I'll blowdry in the winter only because it's cold, but I find it a somewhat annoying task.

Other
I do my own nails. Honestly, I used to not care about manis and pedis but that all changed once I got engaged. I wanted my hands to look as beautiful as my ring. So, then I just put more effort into them.


Like you said, all of these things take effort and time. But it's something that you have to want badly enough to fit into your schedule and make it a part of your lifestyle.
If you're okay with the cost, you can pay for the convenience of things like:
- lash extensions
- tattoo eyeliner
- microblading eyebrows (personally one of my best investments)
- tattoo lip tint
- hair perm (will damage hair if you do it often, but proper maintenance can go along way without having to redo perms often)
These are all minimally invasive procedures that needs proper consultation with a professional prior to getting things done.

There's a youtuber I watch who does the most minimal makeup but I think it looks beautiful. On the daily she just wears a tinted moisturizer, lash extensions, and puts on lip color, and that's pretty much it. If I didn't find lash extensions so annoying, I would seriously consider it into my routine.

 

[pinkmilq]

My number one tip—reiterating what a couple others have said—is the concept of high maintenance to be low maintenance. I completely understand the lack of motivation and laziness in regards to keeping up with it all. I found that when I get regular lash lifts, gel manicures, hair removal sessions, etc. it makes things much easier in the long term. I think of it like a few hours in the salon = a month without any extra effort for (insert beauty ritual here). I’ve currently been taking a break from lash lifting, but applying mascara and removing it like before is reminding me how much I miss waking up in the morning with perfectly curled lashes. I’m also considering switching from sugaring/waxing to laser hair removal. I haven’t done it yet, but I’ve heard it’s much more low maintenance in the long term.

In terms of hair — I’m not sure your hair type. I’m not the most familiar with straight hair because I’m a curly girl. But my boyfriend has long straight hair and I use some of my products on him (and his hair loves it!). For any hair type I’d highly recommend doing hair masks every other week (or even once a week if you have dryer hair). It really helps with moisture and shine. Also a light hair oil! I have low porosity, very fine ringlets and Innersense’s I Create Shine oil doesn’t weigh my hair down a bit. That brand is also made for all hair types!

For skincare, my top tip is SPF. If you takeaway anything from this — SPF!! I prefer mineral sunscreen, since it’s more gentle on sensitive skin and sits on top of the skin, not allowing for any UV penetration. Chemical sunscreen is more likely to clog pores and is absorbed by skin, converting the UV rays into heat. However, chemical sunscreen stays on for longer when in the pool or if you’re being active, due to the fact that it’s absorbed into your skin. I’ve been wearing sunscreen religiously since I was in my early teens and I definitely feel it’s paid off. Even if I step outside once on a lazy day just to get the mail, I put on sunscreen. It sounds kind of crazy, but I swear by it.

And for outfits, I think the other ladies have some really awesome tips. The only thing I’d have to add is — buy matching sets! I love matching sets because of how simple it is to grab two pieces that were made to be worn together. It’s kind of like an instant outfit. And the fun part is that when you’re feeling creative or have more time, you can mix and match pieces from different sets. I think everyone should have at least a couple matching sets like that, just for simplicity’s sake.

And lastly, I think that it helps to remind yourself of how good you feel when you spend a little extra time to pamper yourself and look your best. But also, be easy on yourself. Give yourself grace. It’s totally okay to be lazy sometimes and put in low/no effort. Don’t be hard on yourself about it and just do whatever feels right to you.

I wish the very best of luck!! You can do it! And just remember that you’re beautiful inside and out. No matter what you choose

 

[Berengeria]

SAME! I'm SO lazy! For years I didn't do much other than thank my genes for my good skin. Now that I'm older I need more. More makeup so I don't look so pale and colorless, more skincare to moisturize my very dry skin, etc.

For sunscreen, it doesn't matter what kind as long as you use it. I prefer matte invisible ones. Some even act as a primer as well, so that's 2 products with one application. Or, you can combine moisturizer with sunscreen, which is again, 2 products in 1. I don't love the mineral sunscreens because they tend to be heavier and greasier. The "chemical" ones (such a silly designation since even water is a chemical), are often lighter, and like I mentioned previously, come in matte and clear versions.

Put on as little makeup as you can get away with but that makes you look and feel better. For me, I need concealer for the dark circles under my eyes or I look sickly and grumpy. I use a small sponge to quickly spread it around my eye without pulling the skin. Then I use an eyebrow pencil or an eyebrow powder with a brush (whichever I feel using that day) because my eyebrows are very pale and I look older without it. Both are easy and quick to use, but the pencil needs to be brushed out a bit so that there are no lines. I also need blush, a small amount of eyeliner, and mascara (again, I'm really pale and washed out looking without it). I wear a translucent lip color like a colored lip balm or something similar and bring it with me so I can reapply it throughout the day. I don't use foundation. Too much effort for not enough gain. If I go "out" for special occasions, I add eyeshadow and darker, heavier eyeliner. Your makeup routine should reflect what you need though of course.

You asked about motivation. My motivation to put on makeup during the day is knowing how much better I look with it, and how much better people treat me when I look better. Even just asking for help at the grocery store, I see a difference in how people react to me. With makeup and dressed nicely, I get friendlier help, more smiles, etc.

I would never go to work without makeup because I look so different with just the little amount of color I apply, that it makes a HUGE difference. With makeup = normal, alert, friendly, ready to work. No makeup = tired, run-down, possibly ill, grumpy looking. Again, the way people treat me is very different and particularly in a place that determines my salary, I am going to make the effort to look the part of "person you can trust with this job and that you probably want to promote." Also, I want to convey at work, "I'm too good to be underpaid so don't skimp on that bonus this year or I'll find other options." lol

As far as dating is concerned, when you first meet someone, wear a little makeup, but don't get all dolled up until you are a few dates in. I had a friend years ago who said that she never shows her dates how good she can look until they've already been on several dates with her because then when she really puts on "her full face" of makeup, they're like "WOW!" But if the first time he sees her, she's already looking her absolute best, he will be disappointed when he sees her looking "plain." She wasn't wrong.

Again, wear a little makeup, just your personal minimum that keeps you looking fresh and like you care about how you present yourself, but keep it very natural looking.

For clothes, it is the same thing as the makeup. Wear clothes that flatter your figure and convey the message that you care about how you present yourself. The exact style doesn't matter as long as it is something that you feel matches your personality.

Your motivation is knowing that when you look better, you feel better, etc. I would say that if you "missed out on opportunities" based on how you were dressed (hair, makeup, outfits) like you mentioned above, it was likely not because you looked less feminine, but because you looked like you didn't care about how you looked. You could wear jeans and a t-shirt and make it look bad-ass, not feminine at all, and still attract positive attention if your hair and makeup are good and you have the right attitude. Or if your style is more L.L.Bean (again, not a particularly feminine style), that's still fine. You can look really good, again, with hair and a little makeup. A coordinated, intentional look is all you need. Not femininity per se.

 

[mocktail]

I don’t have many tips; I am “bad” at this stuff too.

The easiest way to make a noticeable difference in my appearance is to put on mascara every morning. I don’t even curl my eyelashes so it just takes a few seconds. I like the Glossier mascara right now, but I do need eye makeup remover to take it off at night (I’ve been using Clinique).

Eyebrow color is the second most impactful for me. I’ve been using Charlotte Tilbury gel? Something kind of like mascara but for eyebrows. Gently wipe the spool brush for the first few days or it might have too much product and make your eyebrows too dark/solid.

I hate foundation and can’t apply eyeshadow or eyeliner so I always skip those.

Definitely moisturize morning and night. Sunscreen everyday! Even inside; the blue light from all of the screens we are around can affect our skin.

Sunglasses anytime it’s bright out. Prevents wrinkles from squinting, and it’s more UV protection for your skin.

 

[mocktail]

Also, I am too lazy to make appointments and go to nail salons. I’ve been using a glass nail file and Manucurist “active” polishes. The “actives” are only 1 step (no base coat or top coat) and they are so sheer than you don’t have to be very precise with them. I like to do a coat of “smooth” and then a coat of “glow” (in Raspberry color) over that. Super easy, lasts more than a week.

 

[papertiger]

Being 'lazy' doesn't always mean the same thing to everyone. I like to be able to look presentable quickly with minimal fuss. For me that's not lazy, that's sensible.

No one loses opportunities, they are not there like fruit on a tree. We make opportunities (or we don't).

Outfits
Treat yourself as your BFF and stop punishing yourself by measuring yourself against others.

Find colours that look/feel great on you. Keep other stuff, but begin wearing colours every day that make you look and feel great.

Find silhouettes/looks that make you feel confident. It's amazing what a statement necklace or scarf can do to a basic outfit without the need for a 'Emily in Paris' type celebration of fashion excess. Simple dressing doesn't mean lazy, 'crazy' clothes don't need to take more time putting on. It's just a case of knowing what you'll wear.

Sometimes that means giving yourself a 'theme' or another focus. Cutting down on limitless choices, starting from scratch every day is a good place to start, and that journey can start on paper (or Pinterest).

Be careful not to watch/listen to too many YT vids etc. Only some of them are educated on style, the rest are clueless. My personal favourite is Gabriella Arruda (I am completely unaffiliated) as she's equally theoretical and practical, makes sense, loves style, organised, strategic, creative and thoughtful https://gabriellearruda.com/ She also has worksheets for free https://gabrielle-arruda.ck.page/90f0c66f77

Hair
Most people cut their hair to speed up their routine, I prefer to keep my hair one length and long so I can change it regularly with an up-do, ponytail, chignon, straight or curly long mane, plait or whatever.

I don't go to the hairdressers because 1. Hair appointments take forever 2. Hairdressers don't listen. I just trim my own hair regularly which takes around 5 mins every month.

I have a lot of (reddish) hair. If it were sorter it would be very curly. I use leave-in conditioner. If I go for curls/strightner I use protection hair-oil too. If scrunch drying I may use hair gel (Eco with olive oil).

Nails:
I usually just use good quality single nail polish, preferably in a light colour. The stronger the statement, the more your nails act as an accessory and may limit your wardrobe choices (but that can be great too).

Skincare and make up
I used to use Dior Hydra Life wash-off cleanser for years, unfortunately Dior discontinued it, probably because it was to reasonably priced and really good I'm just using CeraVe Hydrating cleanser and trying samples of others too. Lancôme Advanced Génifique Hydrating Face Serum and whatever moisturizer by evening, face oil first thing. The massage of serums, oils and creams is as important as what's in the products.

I don't use any harsh chemical stuff (I know retinol etc are very popular). Every month I use soft face brushes (manually) within the cleaning process (just Body Shop).

Eat lots of greens and sea weed.

Spend serious money on good natural make-up brushes for powders. My favourite come from Japan (Fude) but they are available from US and European sites too. Synthetic brushes for liquids and creams don't need to be expensive, just make sure they're very soft, each bristle has rounded 'hairs' and don't shed.

Buy makeup you will really enjoy using daily. Very few things only for best. The more you will use something, the more money you can spend on it.

Use SPF. I use La Roche Posay because many of the others I've tried hurt my sensitive eyes (obviously I don't put it too close).

Take time and the perfect shade of foundation as well as a good quality, preferably with skincare ingredients. It should fit your overtone and undertone. If you can't only add to just where you need without detecting it's wrong. You can mix shades if necessary, especially if your skin changes depending on the season. The more sheer, the less you have to wear other mask-up.

I have less than 10 mins to do make-up when I'm on my way to work. You can do a made-up look with just a little foundation (or concealer) where need be + bright lipstick. It's quicker than doing lots of eye makeup and/or cheeks (I prefer one focus). If I wear mascara, it's waterproof.

Teeth
Look after the fundamentals. Risking sounding like my grandfather who told me how people used to take their own teeth out, forget about whiteness and cosmetics, don't eat sugar, soda drinks and pickles and acid foods continually, make sure they're not decaying.


Maintenance Routine
Grooming ourselves and making sure we look and feel nice is a sign of good mental health. I believe we can start a positive cycle anywhere in the circle. If you look after yourself, even a little bit more, you may also stop thinking about yourself in terms of 'lazy'.

Exercise and diet:
Most important. They will help everything else. And again. it's an attitude for maintenance and life, not a judgement comparing oneself the super-fit. Just going for a walk and cooking something from scratch just for yourself is going to promote the best kind of beauty.

I'm off you a walk in the fresh air...

 

[Amazona]

I was very casual and careless before. Then I decided I deserve more and better. I used to work in a corporate environment and the big bosses would appear at the office on random days&times so I always wanted to look like I actually put some thought into my appearance - shallow, yes, but it helps.

I work in a very casual setting now but I always make sure I have a nice outfit to put on - I make sure my shirt is never wrinkled, I carry a nice purse, my shoes match the outfit etc. I do my makeup, wear earrings and my hair is never totally out of control. This is totally enough for me and my work environment.

I think for outfits you should first look at your body shape. If you're curvy, you can pull off more boxy items like blazers with square padded shoulders etc. If you're an H or apple shape, go for more feminine cuts, puffy sleeves, belts etc to give shape.
If you have long legs, you can get away with longer silhouettes at the top whereas if your legs are shorter, go for high waist jeans, skirts and trousers and tuck your top in. Combine looser fit items with slimmer silhouettes. F.e. a pencil skirt or slim trousers will always be a killer combo with a loose shirt and a belt.

If you buy a blazer, get both a skirt and trousers to go with it. Play with shirt collars; there are so many kinds to choose from, from a basic button up to a Peter Pan to scarf collar to collarless. Get something with more sharpness and also something softer and more feminine. Black, white, cream, navy and beige are great basic colors and they're easy to doll up with a colorful piece, like a belt, statement necklace, bracelet, scarf, top etc. This way you will build a wardrobe that has something to go for every situation and mood.

Find your perfect colors. The easy way is to figure out if you look better in pastel shades, jewel tones, clean bright colors or broken colors (like coral, moss green etc). You can figure this out by looking at does a color bring out the shades or brightness on your face. If you really want to put in effort into it, have a color analysis done.

For looking clean and done up with the least amount of time&trouble, first find skincare and haircare that works for you. When your skin is clear and soft, you can get away with loads less time and trouble spent in the morning - you could just use a BB or CC cream, a dash of loose powder (Maybelline Fit Me, Laura Mercier or Hourglass are all amazing), a little blush and lip oil. Wen your hair isn't dry or greasy you need to put in less effort into styling it.
You cold look into dying your brows and lashes (and maybe even get a permanent lash curling) to make things faster and easier.

I use 10 minutes on my makeup in the morning. Here's what I do:
- rinse face, put serum, under eye cream, moisturizer or sunblock (the sunblock I use is very moisturizing so I don't need to add a separate moisturizer)
- (brush my teeth and let the product sink in)
- Maybelline pink concealer + NYX Bare With Me concealer under my eyes, dab in with a sponge, add a tiny bit of loose powder
- MAC Studio Fix powder foundation with a big brush
- blush
- highlighter; I use this for my cheek bones, cupid's bow and on my eyelids, I dab some extra with my finger close to my lashes and inner corner of the eye
- some eyeshadow with a blending brush into my crease and blend it upwards, usually a medium brown or a matte mauvish pink
- brush my brows (mine are the same shade as my hair which works, you can have them tinted if you have light brows or they have gaps in them and you don't want to dabble with brow gel or pencil)
- curl eyelashes, brown mascara
- lip liner + lipstick, gloss or oil

My favorite tricks:
* Korean double blush. What ever blush you use, use on the cheekbones but with caution to not make it too heavy, then do a tiny bit of very light pink blush on the apples of your cheeks. It brightens and makes for a very light, cute look. (Do. Not. Overdo. You will look like a clown.)
* Concentrate on your lips for faster makeup application. Eyeshadow and liner take ages to do IMO and I have pretty lips so I usually do a very light and easy eye makeup and make my lips the center or attention. Find your perfect bright red, nude brown and pink lipsticks. I own over 50 lip products but I have my perfect red (Isadora Coral Couture/Maybelline Superstay Matte Dancer), favorite brown (L'Orèal Organza) and pink (Buxom White Russian/Urban Decay Naked/Isadora Bare Pink) which are my permanent staples.
* I have 3 blush colors I combine with certain lip colors for easy cordination; light brown (Wet n Wild Rosé Champagne and Nudist Society) for lip products with brown undertone, orangey pink (WnW Tickled Pink) to go with red lips and pink (Rimmel Kate blush palette) to accompany pink lip products.
* A hair comb clip is so easy and fast to use with longer hair to make a bun. Also hair spirals are fast and easy for making a bun style hairdo.
*I have naturally curly hair but after washing it I basically weigh it down with Moroccan Oil when it's still moist, then let it air dry in layers. After that I put it in a twist bun with a scrunchie for a few hours and it gets sleek and slightly wavy. This will last for days and it's easy and fast.
* Bangs. The rest of your hair can do its thing but when you have bangs that are in control, you will instantly look more put together. I straighten my bangs in the morning, usually do a bun or a pony tail and that's it.
* Acrylic nails and/or gel polish. Pretty nails for weeks and with no hassle.

 

[mellecyn]

I would start with simple and small things. This is what has helped me as I can get incredibly lazy and also forget what I have. This also helps to save money.

Outfits
For outfits, I would make a list of some good outfits you have that make you feel good. Keep that list on your phone where you pair trousers, skirts with tops, shoes, etc so you have a variation but also you can recognize what is missing and what you do need.

Category for work outfits, weekend outfits, social outfits and events/occasion outfits. You can still have casual work outfits, but wear something where you still feel good in or comfortable if you were to go out after work or just feel pretty day to day.

Hair
For me hair is most important because you can’t easily change your hair day to day. I get my hair blow dried every few months when I have a nice event and use good shampoo. I only wash my hair twice a week and make sure to let it naturally dry. I always carry a small hairbrush to ensure it doesn’t fizz up during the day. I don’t do much to my hair day to day but I do make sure it’s nicely curled for some occasions.

Skincare and make up
Hoping some other ladies here can help as I’m still figuring this one out for myself.

Maintenance Routine
give yourself a maintenance routine, getting eyebrows done every month, nails every month, facial every 4 months, massage and so on. Doing a face mask every month at home, etc. Make your own routine that you think you can stick to. It doesn’t have to be every week, or month you decide your own schedule, but if you find it hard, don't make it too regular to begin with but what is realistic. Stick to it, and you can make it more frequent or less frequent as you feel.

Thank you! Actually clothes wise I am weirdly ok with it as I ctaegorize clothes and outfits as you suggested. I use an app called A closet and take pictures to organize my outfits. I also prepare the day before what I wear.
For hair I just let them long...and hang. But I read somewhere I should have a rotation of just 3 hairstyles/ dos.
I had invested in getting my eyebrows ombré/semi permanent and it was such a great decision! it looks natural and always made up.

 

[mellecyn]

My number one tip—reiterating what a couple others have said—is the concept of high maintenance to be low maintenance. I completely understand the lack of motivation and laziness in regards to keeping up with it all. I found that when I get regular lash lifts, gel manicures, hair removal sessions, etc. it makes things much easier in the long term. I think of it like a few hours in the salon = a month without any extra effort for (insert beauty ritual here). I’ve currently been taking a break from lash lifting, but applying mascara and removing it like before is reminding me how much I miss waking up in the morning with perfectly curled lashes. I’m also considering switching from sugaring/waxing to laser hair removal. I haven’t done it yet, but I’ve heard it’s much more low maintenance in the long term.

In terms of hair — I’m not sure your hair type. I’m not the most familiar with straight hair because I’m a curly girl. But my boyfriend has long straight hair and I use some of my products on him (and his hair loves it!). For any hair type I’d highly recommend doing hair masks every other week (or even once a week if you have dryer hair). It really helps with moisture and shine. Also a light hair oil! I have low porosity, very fine ringlets and Innersense’s I Create Shine oil doesn’t weigh my hair down a bit. That brand is also made for all hair types!

For skincare, my top tip is SPF. If you takeaway anything from this — SPF!! I prefer mineral sunscreen, since it’s more gentle on sensitive skin and sits on top of the skin, not allowing for any UV penetration. Chemical sunscreen is more likely to clog pores and is absorbed by skin, converting the UV rays into heat. However, chemical sunscreen stays on for longer when in the pool or if you’re being active, due to the fact that it’s absorbed into your skin. I’ve been wearing sunscreen religiously since I was in my early teens and I definitely feel it’s paid off. Even if I step outside once on a lazy day just to get the mail, I put on sunscreen. It sounds kind of crazy, but I swear by it.

And for outfits, I think the other ladies have some really awesome tips. The only thing I’d have to add is — buy matching sets! I love matching sets because of how simple it is to grab two pieces that were made to be worn together. It’s kind of like an instant outfit. And the fun part is that when you’re feeling creative or have more time, you can mix and match pieces from different sets. I think everyone should have at least a couple matching sets like that, just for simplicity’s sake.

And lastly, I think that it helps to remind yourself of how good you feel when you spend a little extra time to pamper yourself and look your best. But also, be easy on yourself. Give yourself grace. It’s totally okay to be lazy sometimes and put in low/no effort. Don’t be hard on yourself about it and just do whatever feels right to you.

I wish the very best of luck!! You can do it! And just remember that you’re beautiful inside and out. No matter what you choose

Thank you for all the advice. I have noted down the name of the oil my hair is long and straight.
You also remind me that I am lucky to look OK even without make up. Like I dont need fake lashes, lash lifting or waxing or nails done...but I did invest in having my eyebrows ombré / semi permanent tattooed and it was a great decision it looks natural but just the way I would need to put make up on them every morning!
Matching sets...yes, I deal with it in having an app where I have created outfits ideas already but otherwise I tend to wear jumpsuits at work but trying to be a bit more feminine

 

[mellecyn]

I was very casual and careless before. Then I decided I deserve more and better. I used to work in a corporate environment and the big bosses would appear at the office on random days&times so I always wanted to look like I actually put some thought into my appearance - shallow, yes, but it helps.

I work in a very casual setting now but I always make sure I have a nice outfit to put on - I make sure my shirt is never wrinkled, I carry a nice purse, my shoes match the outfit etc. I do my makeup, wear earrings and my hair is never totally out of control. This is totally enough for me and my work environment.

I think for outfits you should first look at your body shape. If you're curvy, you can pull off more boxy items like blazers with square padded shoulders etc. If you're an H or apple shape, go for more feminine cuts, puffy sleeves, belts etc to give shape.
If you have long legs, you can get away with longer silhouettes at the top whereas if your legs are shorter, go for high waist jeans, skirts and trousers and tuck your top in. Combine looser fit items with slimmer silhouettes. F.e. a pencil skirt or slim trousers will always be a killer combo with a loose shirt and a belt.

If you buy a blazer, get both a skirt and trousers to go with it. Play with shirt collars; there are so many kinds to choose from, from a basic button up to a Peter Pan to scarf collar to collarless. Get something with more sharpness and also something softer and more feminine. Black, white, cream, navy and beige are great basic colors and they're easy to doll up with a colorful piece, like a belt, statement necklace, bracelet, scarf, top etc. This way you will build a wardrobe that has something to go for every situation and mood.

Find your perfect colors. The easy way is to figure out if you look better in pastel shades, jewel tones, clean bright colors or broken colors (like coral, moss green etc). You can figure this out by looking at does a color bring out the shades or brightness on your face. If you really want to put in effort into it, have a color analysis done.

For looking clean and done up with the least amount of time&trouble, first find skincare and haircare that works for you. When your skin is clear and soft, you can get away with loads less time and trouble spent in the morning - you could just use a BB or CC cream, a dash of loose powder (Maybelline Fit Me, Laura Mercier or Hourglass are all amazing), a little blush and lip oil. Wen your hair isn't dry or greasy you need to put in less effort into styling it.
You cold look into dying your brows and lashes (and maybe even get a permanent lash curling) to make things faster and easier.

I use 10 minutes on my makeup in the morning. Here's what I do:
- rinse face, put serum, under eye cream, moisturizer or sunblock (the sunblock I use is very moisturizing so I don't need to add a separate moisturizer)
- (brush my teeth and let the product sink in)
- Maybelline pink concealer + NYX Bare With Me concealer under my eyes, dab in with a sponge, add a tiny bit of loose powder
- MAC Studio Fix powder foundation with a big brush
- blush
- highlighter; I use this for my cheek bones, cupid's bow and on my eyelids, I dab some extra with my finger close to my lashes and inner corner of the eye
- some eyeshadow with a blending brush into my crease and blend it upwards, usually a medium brown or a matte mauvish pink
- brush my brows (mine are the same shade as my hair which works, you can have them tinted if you have light brows or they have gaps in them and you don't want to dabble with brow gel or pencil)
- curl eyelashes, brown mascara
- lip liner + lipstick, gloss or oil

My favorite tricks:
* Korean double blush. What ever blush you use, use on the cheekbones but with caution to not make it too heavy, then do a tiny bit of very light pink blush on the apples of your cheeks. It brightens and makes for a very light, cute look. (Do. Not. Overdo. You will look like a clown.)
* Concentrate on your lips for faster makeup application. Eyeshadow and liner take ages to do IMO and I have pretty lips so I usually do a very light and easy eye makeup and make my lips the center or attention. Find your perfect bright red, nude brown and pink lipsticks. I own over 50 lip products but I have my perfect red (Isadora Coral Couture/Maybelline Superstay Matte Dancer), favorite brown (L'Orèal Organza) and pink (Buxom White Russian/Urban Decay Naked/Isadora Bare Pink) which are my permanent staples.
* I have 3 blush colors I combine with certain lip colors for easy cordination; light brown (Wet n Wild Rosé Champagne and Nudist Society) for lip products with brown undertone, orangey pink (WnW Tickled Pink) to go with red lips and pink (Rimmel Kate blush palette) to accompany pink lip products.
* A hair comb clip is so easy and fast to use with longer hair to make a bun. Also hair spirals are fast and easy for making a bun style hairdo.
*I have naturally curly hair but after washing it I basically weigh it down with Moroccan Oil when it's still moist, then let it air dry in layers. After that I put it in a twist bun with a scrunchie for a few hours and it gets sleek and slightly wavy. This will last for days and it's easy and fast.
* Bangs. The rest of your hair can do its thing but when you have bangs that are in control, you will instantly look more put together. I straighten my bangs in the morning, usually do a bun or a pony tail and that's it.
* Acrylic nails and/or gel polish. Pretty nails for weeks and with no hassle.

thanks for detailing your routine! I also went to take a make up course last year to learn new tricks that would be fast to do once I got the jist of it and also "newer"

 

[880]

Makeup : nothing. I d9 semi permanent make up : ombré brows and aquarelle lips. I use airplane lip balm. Brows are my
Big thing. I swear by lekitsune by Renee Lee. And, so do some other TPFers. She has clients in NY and LA.

Cleansing/face : post a surgical procedure, I started using this small wipe on my eyes and descovered it also seemed to clean off sunscreen and dirt. I think it’s called occucleanse. I also have a leave on sanitizing spray. Occasionally at night, a prescripti9n retinoid. Occasionally, a heavier moisturizer.

Sunscreen: beauty of Jose’s. Easy to apply, no white cast, easy to remove. No staining of clothing

fashion: I take an action pic of every outfit that I like. So I don’t forget the combo. When I buy something new, I already have outfits in mind. Since I wear mainly neutral colors, I can almost grab any top and bottom and make them work. I pick a bag after my outfit, and same goes. Most bags go with most outfits. Hermes gold color leather is a pop bright color in my world. I rotate my RTW and it lasts for decades. I d9nt want to buy anything that 8 cannot see myself wearing in 20 years. Upkeep on RTW and bags and shoes is not cheap. I have solid relationships with my dry cleaner, tailor, cobbler, third party professional leather care and, for some limited tasks, H spa.

Hair and nails: hair is cut, colored, highlighted, wash and blow dry by the same salon that buffs my mani pedi.
I have a standing weekly appt. They take care of everything and tell me when I need root touch up etc.

Dental, invisalyne. And routine maintenance.

Derm: laser work and Botox, by appt. Botox maybe every eight months. Like @mocktail, sunglasses, and I also wear hats

Diet: I follow a diet recommended by my endocrinologist, who helps run a weight loss clinic ar Weill Cornell. Intermittent fasting plus meds plus diet plus exercise (functional training five days a week) bc I was pre diabetic before covid.

 

[mellecyn]

Being 'lazy' doesn't always mean the same thing to everyone. I like to be able to look presentable quickly with minimal fuss. For me that's not lazy, that's sensible.

No one loses opportunities, they are not there like fruit on a tree. We make opportunities (or we don't).

Outfits
Treat yourself as your BFF and stop punishing yourself by measuring yourself against others.

Find colours that look/feel great on you. Keep other stuff, but begin wearing colours every day that make you look and feel great.

Find silhouettes/looks that make you feel confident. It's amazing what a statement necklace or scarf can do to a basic outfit without the need for a 'Emily in Paris' type celebration of fashion excess. Simple dressing doesn't mean lazy, 'crazy' clothes don't need to take more time putting on. It's just a case of knowing what you'll wear.

Sometimes that means giving yourself a 'theme' or another focus. Cutting down on limitless choices, starting from scratch every day is a good place to start, and that journey can start on paper (or Pinterest).

Be careful not to watch/listen to too many YT vids etc. Only some of them are educated on style, the rest are clueless. My personal favourite is Gabriella Arruda (I am completely unaffiliated) as she's equally theoretical and practical, makes sense, loves style, organised, strategic, creative and thoughtful https://gabriellearruda.com/ She also has worksheets for free https://gabrielle-arruda.ck.page/90f0c66f77

Hair
Most people cut their hair to speed up their routine, I prefer to keep my hair one length and long so I can change it regularly with an up-do, ponytail, chignon, straight or curly long mane, plait or whatever.

I don't go to the hairdressers because 1. Hair appointments take forever 2. Hairdressers don't listen. I just trim my own hair regularly which takes around 5 mins every month.

I have a lot of (reddish) hair. If it were sorter it would be very curly. I use leave-in conditioner. If I go for curls/strightner I use protection hair-oil too. If scrunch drying I may use hair gel (Eco with olive oil).

Nails:
I usually just use good quality single nail polish, preferably in a light colour. The stronger the statement, the more your nails act as an accessory and may limit your wardrobe choices (but that can be great too).

Skincare and make up
I used to use Dior Hydra Life wash-off cleanser for years, unfortunately Dior discontinued it, probably because it was to reasonably priced and really good I'm just using CeraVe Hydrating cleanser and trying samples of others too. Lancôme Advanced Génifique Hydrating Face Serum and whatever moisturizer by evening, face oil first thing. The massage of serums, oils and creams is as important as what's in the products.

I don't use any harsh chemical stuff (I know retinol etc are very popular). Every month I use soft face brushes (manually) within the cleaning process (just Body Shop).

Eat lots of greens and sea weed.

Spend serious money on good natural make-up brushes for powders. My favourite come from Japan (Fude) but they are available from US and European sites too. Synthetic brushes for liquids and creams don't need to be expensive, just make sure they're very soft, each bristle has rounded 'hairs' and don't shed.

Buy makeup you will really enjoy using daily. Very few things only for best. The more you will use something, the more money you can spend on it.

Use SPF. I use La Roche Posay because many of the others I've tried hurt my sensitive eyes (obviously I don't put it too close).

Take time and the perfect shade of foundation as well as a good quality, preferably with skincare ingredients. It should fit your overtone and undertone. If you can't only add to just where you need without detecting it's wrong. You can mix shades if necessary, especially if your skin changes depending on the season. The more sheer, the less you have to wear other mask-up.

I have less than 10 mins to do make-up when I'm on my way to work. You can do a made-up look with just a little foundation (or concealer) where need be + bright lipstick. It's quicker than doing lots of eye makeup and/or cheeks (I prefer one focus). If I wear mascara, it's waterproof.

Teeth
Look after the fundamentals. Risking sounding like my grandfather who told me how people used to take their own teeth out, forget about whiteness and cosmetics, don't eat sugar, soda drinks and pickles and acid foods continually, make sure they're not decaying.


Maintenance Routine
Grooming ourselves and making sure we look and feel nice is a sign of good mental health. I believe we can start a positive cycle anywhere in the circle. If you look after yourself, even a little bit more, you may also stop thinking about yourself in terms of 'lazy'.

Exercise and diet:
Most important. They will help everything else. And again. it's an attitude for maintenance and life, not a judgement comparing oneself the super-fit. Just going for a walk and cooking something from scratch just for yourself is going to promote the best kind of beauty.

I'm off you a walk in the fresh air...

Actually you´re right I realize Im not that bad when I read all the suggestions... My nails are always under control (I prefer short and natural or nail polish compared to gel/acrylic), my hair is long with not much fuss, a few layers in.
My outfits are planned for, although could me more feminine....people do comment that I´m super stylish and cool (but I think the level is very low in casualness and I´d like more "finance/put-together"
I do have my little routine of zumba twice a week and I walk
My teeth are naturally white and good.
Skincare and make up need the upgrade lol. But yes having my eyebrows semi tattooed really changed my life.