Are you well groomed?

I was getting rather worried reading this thread and feeling a bit of a slattern because I often don't bother with makeup at all.

I like clean hair and I shower every(ish) day. But I never wear foundation. I sometimes put a bit of powder on my nose and under my eyes. If I am going out I wear mascara and eye liner underneath and recently I bought a lovely navy blue eye shadow which looks very sultry but I only wear it in the evenings when I am going out.

I have recently started putting a bit of lipstick on if I want my face to look colourful.

I agree with thatbags that makeup is a decoration rather than an essential part of good grooming.

Incidentally, I don't care if I look well groomed or not. In fact I like to look slightly scruffy a lot of the time.

That's when I feel at my sexyist

We saw someone very gorgeous yesterday strutting around, I thought DH would be entranced. I said 'she's a bit full of herself isn't she', and DH said he was just thinking the same. Surprise!

I wear foundation because it 'evens out' my skin tone and I think it is also a protection against the elements in addition to moisturiser, plus blusher as I am pale, lippie to finish it off. Hair, well I have been fighting it for years, as it is wavy and unruly.
I rarely wear makeup at home, but would love to look to wear some eye makeup for an evening out.

Both DDs and DIL all look gorgeous with makeup but don't always wear it. I might add neither DD takes after me.

I had a colleague who looked perfect in every situation - a similar age to me - in her 50s when I worked with her. She was a size 10, with beautiful long thick shiny hair, just the right amount of make up, lovely clothes, nails etc. If we went on a works 'do' I would try really hard to look nice but when she turned up I felt as though I needn't have bothered. Very full of herself though. On one occasion we went for a Christmas meal with a few colleagues and she was posing and swishing her hair about. A young Italian waiter came over to our table and she was batting her eyelids at him. He leaned over, kissed ME on the cheek and said 'you are a very lovely woman and I hope you have a lovely Christmas'. You could almost see steam coming out of her ears. Sadly that was about 10 years ago. These days I leave most of myself in the bathroom when I go to bed.

If they want to go the whole hog, that is their choice and very smart they look. but those who don't or can't wear lipstick and eyemakeup, hate the way that foundation clogs their skin, and don't want to wear perfume shouldn't be labelled as "not trying" or "letting themselves go".

Oh, I can enjoy the look. On someone else. For me it's totally unachievable or wanted.

I have to defend women that ' go the whole hog' with the makeup and clothes.
My DDs best friend ( picture the girls on TOWIE on a night out) to give you an idea. She is one of the most generous and kind hearted people you could meet. She is never without this look. Even on the school run.

Bags - me too!
I shower daily, have clean hair and clean clothes. I rarely, if ever wear makeup; it makes me feel claustrophobic and I can't wait to get home and remove it. I can brush up well like the rest of 'em, but I am only comfy in jeans or casual clothes and can't wait to get back into them after a day of formal wear. So the answer is yes, I am well groomed.

I remember doing one of those questionaires in sixth form designed to show possible careers. One of the suggestions was was being a buyer for big department stores. However - Sister Mary Paulina instantly dismissed that one as she (rightly) said that I would never have succeeded in arriving for work each day 'well groomed and fashionably dressed'. Other ideas required a degree so off to university I went and I remember being one of the few who didn't possess any rollers let alone wear them in bed as other students did.

Granny , that sounds exciting , have a good one !

I am well groomed. I never wear any make-up. I am clean; I brush my hair; I launder my clothes. That is well groomed.

Make-up is decoration/enhancement in addition to good, healthful care of one's skin/natural appearance.

Sorry to insist, but the suggestion that somehow you are not properly dressed if you don't wear make-up annoys me.

Hmmmm, well I do try. I never leave the house without mascara and brow pencil. As I have fair lashes and have over plucked my eyebrows over the years and they are now virtually non existent. My hair is so thin and fly away that spraying it just makes it flat.
I do have clothes for slobbing indoors and I would change even to pop
to the local shops. Not that they're that bad it's just the way I am.

I tried a BB cream, my daughter uses one but I went back to Estée Lauder's Double Wear foundation. I use Touche, ( I wish you had a warning click when the tube is about to give up) and then a rose Lancôme blusher, just enough to look healthy. A subtle smoky eye shadow, have brown eyes and black hair. Estée Lauder's mascara, it lasts all day and doesn't shed. Normally I would finish off with a Lauder lip gloss but I bought a lip stain today, YSL, I read some good reviews about it staying put all day. Finish with a light spray of either No5 or Allure. Think a light touch of scent can make you feel good. Having several daily hot flushes at the moment and to keep everything in place I use Papier Poudre booklets.

After years of having to look "pristine" in various Company uniforms I loved the day I could hand back the last one to my then Area Manager when I retired from the homesales business,we used to have to be on show as much as the showhomes and it became a chore after 20+ years.
Now I am happy in my jeans and boots with a cropped jacket for every day wear but must have my hair tidy,I first started to grow it after I was ill over 20 yrs ago and have kept it long ever since so now it is tied back in a long ponytail or up in a big bun,minimum foundation and a sweep of blue eyeshadow and away we go.
Marion maybe if you clip your hair up and give a quick spray it will grow down soon and you may like the style and it will stay tidy during your working day.

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.

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

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?]

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.

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

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.

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!

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

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

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!