Frumpy anyone? Any quick fix suggestions??

Hi ladies!

I don't know about all of you; but lately I've been looking so frumpy!!  Maybe it's the winter, the back and forth; but  what I would do if I had time to make myself look more like a female then a tired, worn out lady!!! 

Any suggestions for quick tips to brighten up the eyes, face, hair?  It's been in the same ponytail for ..... a few days!!!  I'm acceptable for work.  But the makeup and the hair and the nails;   yikes!!!

If I get up any earlier in the morning; I may freak out!  5:30 is my limit!!

Although I have to say little Julia always looks so cute and pretty!

Take some time out this weekend to give yourself a 'Home Spa Day'.  Dump the little ankle-biter on your partner/friend/mother, source a lot of oils, rubs, scrapes, masks and other anointments, go home and kit out the bathroom for serious work! 

Eyes only look better after sleep.  If you can't get up later than 5.30 then go to be at 8.00... treat it like jet-lag.  Cold eye-masks are good for puffiness. For the face you can't beat a good cleanse, then an exfoliator followed by some steam and then a good rich moisturiser to plump everything up.  NB keep the moisturiser away from the eyes because it'll make them look baggy.   For the hair you need heated ceramic rollers ... they're excellent.  Have terrible nails... no advice.

Have fun.

I dampen a bunch of Q-Tips and keep them in the freezer. I spend a few minutes in the morning rolling them under my eyes. It un-puffs my dark circles. I will sometimes shower at night. If you do this, try putting your hair in some sponge rollers while slightly damp and then go to bed. Nice curls/waves in the morning!

Before bed, I remove my makeup and use St. Ives Apricot scrub. I even use it on my lips followed by Vaseline (for some reason, putting this on before bed has a completely different effect than using it during the day).

I switched my makeup to Everyday Minerals and my skin looks so much better! I went back to using old makeup for about a week and had a nasty breakout. After going back to EDM, my face is clearing up. You can even order FREE samples of their makeup (okay, you have to pay shipping...like $3) so you can find the right colors for your skin.

I know it's not much, but I'm not sure what else to tell you! I don't focus too much on myself and I probably should...I guess it's a mom thing. I've never been very girly and one of my New Year's resolutions is to be more feminine.

I agree with Jane, take some time to pamper yourself! I have 2 things that change the way that I see myself in a mirror. The 1st, is a really good Hair cut and some highlights, I tried this professionally for the 1st time last year, and I came out feeling sexy for the 1st time since I had my kids! It was such a good feeling, that I actually started taking the time to do light eye make up(liner and mascara) and doing my hair on a daily basis, something I had not done for many years! (Really need to do that soon, I've been back in a ponytail for a few months now ;o)  #2, and this one can be a bit tougher, and not so good for you in the long run,  but a tan makes me feel like a million bucks! Just got back from Cuba last w/e and even though I was up 2 lbs (darn milk drinks!) I still feel so much better than before I left. I don't know what it is...  And there are a lot of inexpensive creams out there now that just give you a hint of glow, without looking like a walking carrot!

Also, once your little cutie is a bit bigger, you can start sharing spa days with her! My 5 yr old and I have been doing pedicures, manicures and facials together since she was 2yrs old.  Obviously nothing too intense on her, she giggles when we spread mashed banana on her face, but she loves our monthly "girls morning in"

Whenever I feel frumpy I either get my eyebrows done or a haircut.  Both make me feel so much more put together and sexy!

Take the hair out of the ponytail!

I'm dealing with big-time frumpiness.  Lately I have been making an effort to let my hair down and actually make it look nice.  The other day someone asked me if I'd cut my hair, and I told her I had about 5 months ago when my baby was born!  It had been super long before...

Anyway what I told her was "Not many people see my hair.  I'm trying to work on that."

It's really made a difference in how people perceive me.  Also, I went and spent the money to get some nice plus-sized clothes that FIT me and don't look sloppy.  I'm on the track to lose my weight but I'm more motivated if I have something I look decent in.  I got some good jeans and a top at Maurice's for abouit $50 and I got about 3 compliments on how I looked the first time I wore them.

Couple tips....

First, dab a bit of white (or any light color) eye shadow in the corners of each eyelid (where your eye meets your nose).  It does wonders to brighten up your eyes.  You can just use your fingertip.

Second, use a sunless tanner.  I look tired and washed out without it, so I spray or rub some on before bed every other night.  I only use it on the parts of my body that are exposed during the day (face, neck, arms).  There are some really good products out there now, so don't worry about turning orange.  They are very subtle these days.  If your not into sunless tanner, brush a bronzer on the apples of your cheeks, top of forehead, bridge of nose, and tip of chin before you leave in the morning.

Third, use a quick coat of natural light pink (matte) nail polish about once a week.  It only takes a minute, doesn't show chips, and keeps you looking fresh and put together. 

I'm not sure what your make-up routine looks like, but mascara, blush/bronzer, and lip gloss can make a huge difference IMO.  I like to stick to fresh pastelish colors to keep me looking awake and energetic.  Best of luck, I'm sure you look beautiful as you are.

an eyelash curler and good mascara go a long way to wake up those eyes!

takes just a sec too.

splash a little color on your cheeks w a subtle blush mb.

you dont have to spend hours goin all out to look and feel girly and pretty.

most of all, love yourself!  remind yourself how pretty you are.

and that you deserve to put a little effort into how you look.

when you feel like you look good, you look good.

So true jesselou!!

So i'm going through my stash-

got the eye lash curler, white shadows, subtle blushes, mascara, gloss.  Need to get polish!

GI-Jane:  I'm so cleansing tonight w/ my exfoliator.  Have the hot rollers, I just need to get a serious hair cut so the curls stay in.  Doing that on Friday.  MIL to watch little Julia for an hour while I do that.

Bier-  Love the apricot scrub, and I'm going to try to q-tip thing!!!!

Makenasmom-  That sounds so much fun!  Julia made her own facial today with her gerber bananas LOL

Foxylady-  Brows are always done. It's the least I can do.  And I would feel very self conscious if i'm meeting with someone and I feel they're staring at my brows LOL.

Bdasko-  I too went up a size graciously.  I agree that no one sees the tag and if you feel better in them; WEAR them LOL.

Cass-  I used to do the white shadow trick all the time.  I'm going to start.  I do, if I have time, my makeup in the car at the train station in the morning; and I hate that.  I like to sit at my vanity or in my bathroom and take my time.  I hate being rushed!

This weekend I'm going to get a sunless tanner!!!!  I'm so pale!!

Thank you everyone for the tips.  Keep them coming!  I'm learning a lot!

I bought inexpensive glittery red earings today.  I figured if my hair's in an upsweep (instead of the ponytail) I should have pretty things hanging from my ears.  Just have to remember to take them off when I pick Julia off!!  LOL.

Little things ladies-  little things!!!!!!!!!!!!

One thing that affects how I feel more than look that I really enjoy, is to slather some lotion on my feet before bed each night, and put a pair of socks over top.  It feels funny, but in the morning my feet feel all lovely and soft and soothed.

I've learned more makeup tips here than I have in ages, and can't really think of anything better than what's already been said!

OOh, go get some simple highlights in the hair, and a soft shade of eye shadow for the spring. Just because it isn't offically spring yet doesn't mean we can't look forward to it!

I always make sure my eyebrows are either tweezed/waxed, they are what frame your face!  I also give my hair a hot oil treatment, take some olive oil, massage it into your hair, put on a shower cap and go to bed.  In the morning rinse it out and shampoo as normal.

I also found out that if you take hot showers, take a few minutes before you get out to have a cold one.  It wakes you up and keeps your hair not-so-frizzy.

Also, I don't know if you have skin probs, but I love Aveeno Cleansing Bar.  I'm in a constant battle with my face.

Mascara, lipgloss, and liquid eyeliner are usually all I wear on my face anymore as far as makeup goes. 

all the tips above are great, took the words out of my mouth.