Yesterday I got home from work, caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror as I was kicking my shoes off, and I realized that I looked BUSTED. The thing is, I looked great in the morning BEFORE work...makeup fresh, hair with body to it, clothes that looked somewhat flattering, with a touch of yummy perfume. But somehow during the day, my makeup gets dull or my face looks oily, my hair falls flat, my clothes dont't look nearly as good as they did when I first put them on, and I smell good, but kind of...stale.
To battle the bustedness, I have little "blotting" papers I use to make my face less oily. I re-apply deoderant as needed, followed by a spritz of body spray. I run a brush through my hair, but sometimes resort to throwing it up in a ponytail. Either way, I must be missing something--somehow I can't maintain the freshness!!
So tell me, ladies, how do you maintain your gorgeous selves throughout the day??
:) Thanks!
ETA: I generally go for the natural look...no lipstick or eyeliner, and my long brown hair is cut with a few layers so It falls with body nicely, and I never use a blow dryer. Maybe that is my problem?
Im opposite of Rachel! I say more make up and hairspray! Then again I am in Texas and everything is bigger! :)
When I was working, I always washed my face at lunch. Always. <grin> I also took a half hour before coming home as "me" time. I'd bring a backpack with street clothes and a book or laptop and stop off at my fav cafe that was 2 minutes from home. I'd walk in, change, throw my hair into a pony tail, scrub my face, reapply deodorant, and curl up with a good book in comfy clothes and shoes and have a snack for half an hour. That way when I came home it was "Mommy's home!" and I was ready to dive into homelife instead of "needing time" to shift gears.
You're simply not going to look quite as gorgeous after hours of work. Time and energy dictate that. Your mission is to keep looking acceptable until you can get home.
If I were in your position, I'd talk to my hairdresser about how to do my hair so it won't look the way I might feel by the end of the day. But then my hair is difficult and I always need professional advice about it.
One thing about lipstick is that it can be a face-freshener. Using and reapplying a natural shade could give your face the little bit of color that faces have usually lost by two o'clock. If you use eye shadow/ mascara, they could use a little refreshment in the afternoon as well. You don't want to take more than, say, three minutes to "re-do," but that three minutes or less is all it takes if you have a good system.
Also... this sounds corny, but tired people stop smiling, and that makes them look worn out and older. People who know how to keep on smiling look a lot fresher and nicer by default.
Oh, and H.B. is right about the water!
I know what you mean. The same thing happens to me. The only suggestion i have is to keep doing what you're doing. In the middle of the day, touch up make up and hair. Some make up stay on better than others, but it depends on your skin, what you use, etc. I havent found a way, other than retouching, to look fresh all day. Even when i was in my 20's, i'd have to do the same thing at work. Retouch retouch retouch. Its a pain but its the price of beauty, right?
Even on my "work" days now, (and when I worked FT) I'm not a big believer in the mid-day touch up. Many are, I know, and it may depend on the TYPE of work you do, but once I leave the house for work, that's pretty much what ya get for the day.
I do brush my teeth after lunch and MAYBE re-brush my hair.
Although I don't wear it, ever, I've heard that lipstick is an instant pick me up for the face.
personally, I think there is something else--an unidentifiable phenomenon--going on....Some days I can look FAB til 6 p.m. when I get home and some days I feel blah right from when I leave the house, know what I mean? And a bad hair day? Forget it--game over.
im looking for a quick fix too, nothing beats a work out and a nice shower!.
Im thinking of trying the new dry shampoo, maybe if i dont have time to take a shower to feel and look better a good face wash and dry shampoo will do the trick.
I have (finally) found a routine that keeps me looking pretty okay. I reapply deo, spritz some body spray, wash my face (or use a Pond's face cloth) and reapply loose mineral powder (I too am a pretty au natural kind of gal but the powder really helps my not so great complexion), apply some lip gloss, run some baby powder through my hair (takes out the oil and keeps the limp look away). brush my hair and apply a little hair spray. Sounds long and drawn out but it takes 2-3 minutes. I also will use a lint roller and some Downy wrinkle release on my clothes if they look a little rough. Fortunately, my job has a gym and a locker room so I have a locker to keep all of this stuff in! If you blow dry your hair it will give it a little more lift and dry it out a little so as to avoid the oily, limp look later on. Try just using it on your roots for a little lift in the morning!
Wear you hair up more. Not just a pony tail, but clip it up, twist it, whatever. And don't be afraid to wear bigger earrings when your hair is up!
Keep lip gloss close. Reapply after eating.
Take powder and bronzer with you and touch up each time you're in the bathroom.
Don't over do eye shadow or liner. Just lots of black mascara.
Keep you nails polished. Deep reds, purples, with a high gloss top coat. - When my nails are polished, I always feel prettier.
Drink water- it will help your skin look hydrated.
I don't bother with hair and make up, so you're well ahead of me!! :)
Try wearing LESS makeup, go for a more natural look (same for your hair)... it will take less maintenance, so you won't notice as much when you're 'falling apart' at the end of the day ;)
