Are you well groomed?

Hello M I am with you on this one, I have never been one for looking in the mirror too much.

I believe its what's inside that matters not outside.

I mean to say, who cares if you are the best dressed person in the room if you are the most un kind person in the room.

Vain people can be a bit selfish Not all though.

The perfect lady that sits near you, she just probably just puts a bit more effort, buys and uses hair spray, which is why her hair is never out of place.

Dont try and compete with her, your probably a much nicer person because you obviously know what is important in life and "it sure aint what kind of clothes you wear"

Marion, that doesn't sound like the 'bare minimum' of makeup to me!

I think you may be being far too hard on yourself - you probably look perfectly groomed to everyone else.

MarionH Hairspray and regular touching up, I would guess. I can't speak from experience, I'm afraid, and even with hairspray my crowning glory still looks like a rat's nest.

Cathybee That's a bit of a leap isn't it – just because someone dresses well doesn't automatically make them unkind.

A different hairstyle might do it, Marion One that falls back into place when disturbed and looks "casual" not haystacky.

Bare minimum of makeup? That is more than I do for a special occasion!

I am sure your inside is perfect, but I also understand that you would like the outside to almost match. It is all very well assuring someone that looks don't matter, but that does rather imply that it is just as well that they don't.

Definitely not at the moment as I'm growing out my spikey hair for a bit of a change. The trouble is is that my hair is so fine and goes flat very easily but with my hairdressers help we shall see. I always wear some makeup but mascara only when I'm going out for a meal or something. I think I dress OK until I catch sight of myself in a shop window! I don't I'm meant to look pristine

My hair once done and glued lacquered in place, tends to stay put. My make up, really minimal , primer, solid powder a touch of rouge and lipstick, I forget about, if I've even bothered in the first place. Consequently I look 'orrible by the end of the day.

I have tried practically every type of eye makeup and all of them make my eyes run. I rarely bother with it any more.

Foundation, blusher and lipstick, and oh no, don't mention the hair.

I spend most days in jeans so I don't bother with a lot of make up. I use tinted moisturiser, eye liner and a touch of lipstick and so long as my hair is clean I don't worry too much about that either.

I have to use a lot of hand cream as I spend my life outdoors and my nails are definitely a bit 'Carol Klein'

I just don't know. I think it's a lot to do with shape. A scarf on some of my colleagues look chic. Not on me. Even if I tie it in the same way it just looks a mess. I'm not overly short but I have rather a heavy face. Small forehead a lump for a nose. Masses of hair that's has a bit of an unruly wave. Short neck, big boobs, small bum, short legs. So it doesn't matter what you put me in I'm never going to look 'well groomed' I dreaded my children's wedding photos. At the last one as I was looking at the photographs I mentioned to my son how wonderfully sophisticated his new mother-in -law looked and how YEHA I looked. His answer was " but mum that's you I'd have hated it if you'd looked any other way. So I just have to content myself with that...and avoid mirrors at all costs.

Marion are you someone who is always touching your face,rubbing your eyes, running your fingers through your hair?
If so, that could be why you look hedgedragged windswept!

A lovely smile is a great asset , seems to cover a multitude of sins !
But , hey what do I know !

I don't usually have a lipstick, powder, hairbrush or anything like that with me when I go out anyway.

Kiora that's lovley :-)

Oh mirrors, I hate mirrors and avert my eyes when possible.

There is nothing worse than an unexpected mirror, you know the thing, you're wandering round a shop, you see an old overweight woman walking towards you, she looks vaguely familiar, you smile, so does she and it's a sodding mirror!

Some women have the casual chic thing down to a fine art, Phyllida Law always looks lovely without being overly groomed. I'm bag lady chic.

I can scrub up pretty well for an outing but if I'm shopping with the toddler I definitely can't be bothered. Just finding clothes that are reasonably presentable is enough of an effort then!

I'd love to be casual chic, but I just end up looking untidy.

I have a friend who looks great with her coat collar up but, if I do it, I just look scruffy! Why?

Perhaps you need a bit of a rethink? During my last year at work I was so tired I did look a complete wreck at work [stopped bothering with make up even] and since I've retired when I do put on make up it's always the same stuff. But I had a good look at myself in a magnifying mirror two days ago and decided I need a bit of a change and also need to tone down what I'm wearing; slightly softer tones etc.My eyebrows [or lack of them] looked especially awful. I'm needing some new foundation soon so I'm going to go to Boots and get lots of advice on which one to get [it lasts me forever!]. And, even when I'm wearing my 'bag lady' look I always use Touche Eclat!

Most days I just let my hair dry naturally and if I'm going out I sometimes put lipstick on. Today my hairdresser showed me how to put rollers in my hair to give it body. On Saturday I shall be going to Claridges with my daughter (her treat) for afternoon tea and I shall be channeling my hitherto hidden diva: Designer dress, killer heels (not walking anywhere except onto and off the train) hairdo, manicured nails and full make up - plus a small bottle of wine and canapes for the train journey. For one day only I plan to look the epitome of good grooming.

Touche Eclat looks terrible on me! It's just so obvious, even just a tiny bit.

Is it perfumed? I usually use clarins or clinique foundation, plus some blusher (boots own stick). Eyebrows are going white but hair is still brown (!)
I have not yet found eye makeup that doesn't make my eyes react and have tried so many.

The last Clinique one I bought was quite drying; was going to replace my Elizabeth Arden one but was told that they'd changed the colours and there had been a few complaints. My eyebrows [what I've got left] are now white which is why I realised the eyebrow powder was looking a bit odd;may try to find an even lighter colour. Have you tried No7 eye make up? I even put Touche Eclat on my nose today [it's been a bit red lately;no I haven't been drinking..perhaps I should get my B/P checked?]

I use tinted brow gel on my eyebrows, which are very fair and going grey.
I buy it online from MAC.

I do my best but can anyone tell me if it is possible to find a foundation that doesn't settle into my wrinkles and open pores? I've given up using it as I feel so self-conscious about not having put it on properly.

A little eye make-up and lipstick is my limit. Still colour my hair and get my nails done, but prefer casual, comfy clothes. Not keen on getting tarted up.

I get rosacea sometimes, so have to be careful.
Re eye makeup, I think I've tried (over the years)
Boots, max factor, almay, maybelline, clarins, clinique, Estee lauder. Have given up since people keep asking 'are you OK, are you upset?'. 'No, my eye makeup is making my eyes run'. So I very rarely use any these days but would like to be able to use even just mascara.