how do you make yourself feel "pretty"?

Lizzy · Guru

how do you make yourself feel "pretty"?

CheleLyn · Senior Member

Those are exactly the things i do...i just feel a whole lot less self concious if I put on my face and do something to my hair.

I dont necessarily dress NICE, but I GET dressed, kwim.

Juni · Guru

I totally think you should get back into doing your hair, wearing makeup and dressing nice. Those types of things make me feel better about myself even if I don't end up going anywhere. I always make sure my toenails are painted. I take a lot of baths. Those don't necessarily make me feel "pretty" but they make me feel good.

I would totally get back into a routine of pampering yourself. Who cares if you don't go out of the house if it still makes you feel pretty, ya know?

supergrover · Guru

*sigh*
I need to work on this too.

Robin · Guru

I feel pretty when I put in my contacts, brush my hair, and put on a bit of makeup. I feel especially pretty when I wear a nice dress or skirt for church or a party but that is extremely rare.

There are many days that I don't bother putting on makeup, and often my contact lenses bug me so I wear my glasses. But then I get tired of looking/feeling like a slob so I go back to "getting ready" before I leave the house.

Also, if I'm ever feeling a little blah--sore throat, stuffy head, whatever--sometimes just making myself look good helps me to feel better overall.

ET clarify: It is extremely rare that I wear a nice dress or skirt, not that I go to church. I go to church all.the.time. Just ask my kids.

-- Edited by Robin on Wednesday 21st of October 2009 07:52:33 PM

daisy · Guru

i wear a little makeup every single day, and i've been trying to do more with my hair than just a sloppy bun (especially since morrocanoil - lmao).
i always try to wear something fun - i dont bother with skirts much in the winter, but i do love clothes (even though mine are mainly casual) and they make me feel pretty.
i also stand up straighter and that helps :)

Lizzy · Guru

daisy wrote:

i wear a little makeup every single day, and i've been trying to do more with my hair than just a sloppy bun (especially since morrocanoil - lmao).
i always try to wear something fun - i dont bother with skirts much in the winter, but i do love clothes (even though mine are mainly casual) and they make me feel pretty.
i also stand up straighter and that helps :)

and having a cute figure ;)

Lizzy · Guru

Juni wrote:

I totally think you should get back into doing your hair, wearing makeup and dressing nice. Those types of things make me feel better about myself even if I don't end up going anywhere. I always make sure my toenails are painted. I take a lot of baths. Those don't necessarily make me feel "pretty" but they make me feel good.

I would totally get back into a routine of pampering yourself. Who cares if you don't go out of the house if it still makes you feel pretty, ya know?

I know I should, but it all feels so useless. i really need to care more. I did buy a whole bunch of new clothes - but only because I feel so fat in my others :bag

happylib · Guru

I agree with what the others said, but something else that sometimes gives me a little lift are earrings. Especially this time of year, I like to find fun ones to wear. I kind of get a kick out of wearing something fun. They are easy to change and they always fit. biggrin

Erin · Guru

My training has fallen by the wayside with my foot injury, and I am super busy with work and eating like crap (I am in a small remote town today and tomorrow and all I could find was fast food! typical these days.) So, pretty feels very distant, but, I did just wander around the walmart and buy some new makeup -cheap stuff, but some new colors, a little more daring, etc. I even got a nail polish pen and just slapped on some nail polish. It makes me feel girly, which is closer to pretty at least.

Dddiii · Guru

happylib wrote:

I agree with what the others said, but something else that sometimes gives me a little lift are earrings. Especially this time of year, I like to find fun ones to wear. I kind of get a kick out of wearing something fun. They are easy to change and they always fit.

I like Libby's suggestion! I agree with the others as well... a little makeup goes a long way to making me feel presentable again. But like Libby said, earrings (or a bracelet or different necklace) always fit and I get a little perked up everytime I remember I'm wearing them (since I never wear earrings LOL).

CoffeeQueen · Guru

honestly, I am at a point right now where my weight is shitty and it makes me feel shitty.

I think feeling sexy and pretty is internal. I mean you can dress up, wear make-up, but if you feel shitty about your self it is not going to make you really feel great beyond the quick fix.

I do think that by going through the motion of wearing make-up, dressing up, etc helps. Take a shower every morning, get dressed and act as if you were meeting someone.

If you can afford it. Get clothes that flatter your body. I think the biggest issue most women have is that they do not have clothes that work for their body type. I have a friend who dresses plus size women and they feel wonderful once they have outfits that make them look good and not feel uncomfortable.

Also, maybe volunteer somewhere. I find when I help others it makes me feel good and then changes my mind frame. I learn to appreciate what I do have and the things that are good about myself. Maybe work at a children's home, domestic violence shelter, etc. It will give you ability to really see that you are pretty and have a good life.

3s_a_crowd · Guru

NM

-- Edited by 3s_a_crowd on Thursday 22nd of October 2009 09:53:59 AM

-- Edited by 3s_a_crowd on Thursday 22nd of October 2009 09:54:49 AM

-- Edited by 3s_a_crowd on Thursday 22nd of October 2009 10:02:05 AM

Jennie · Guru

I'm beautifully curvy, as Colin says, so my weight always drags me down inside and out-
To feel pretty on the outside- I dress up really nice, I do my hair up, my make-up and spend a couple minutes looking in the mirror trying to find at least five things that I am happy about with myself- eyes, hair, outfit, etc. Shallow, I know. But if I get in the habit of learning to appreciate and love myself as I am I'm more likely to believe it.

To make myself feel good all over- its more than that. Nothing makes me float on air than a good deed.

ETA- I hit up Target, Ross', Marshall's, or TJ Max (sometimes Sears or Lane Bryant if there's a rocking sale happening) and find one or two items under $20 that flatter me, brighten me, and rock it for me and I buy them. I go by myself b/c rest and time to yourself are key- I believe- in a healthy outlook. Even if DH has the kids and is two stores down, I'm still alone for that moment.

-- Edited by Jennie on Thursday 22nd of October 2009 09:58:44 AM

Juni · Guru

CoffeeQueen wrote:

honestly, I am at a point right now where my weight is shitty and it makes me feel shitty.

I think feeling sexy and pretty is internal. I mean you can dress up, wear make-up, but if you feel shitty about your self it is not going to make you really feel great beyond the quick fix.

I do think that by going through the motion of wearing make-up, dressing up, etc helps. Take a shower every morning, get dressed and act as if you were meeting someone.

If you can afford it. Get clothes that flatter your body. I think the biggest issue most women have is that they do not have clothes that work for their body type. I have a friend who dresses plus size women and they feel wonderful once they have outfits that make them look good and not feel uncomfortable.

Also, maybe volunteer somewhere. I find when I help others it makes me feel good and then changes my mind frame. I learn to appreciate what I do have and the things that are good about myself. Maybe work at a children's home, domestic violence shelter, etc. It will give you ability to really see that you are pretty and have a good life.

ITA with this. Especially (Liz) if you feel like putting on makeup just for the sake of it is pointless.

I feel the prettiest when I feel good internally, honestly. And all the outward stuff seems to come more naturally when that is the case as well.

It's so hard to say - feeling pretty and feeling good might be two different things, and I'm not sure what you're actually getting at but I feel like they go very closely with each other.

Juni · Guru

Another thing that Melissa mentioned that I think is so key is to really dress your body. I remember (and this was a looooooong time ago when I was in college and skinny and it didn't even matter but it still stuck with me) hearing on Oprah to really try to disregard the size you are wearing/buying. She had all these examples of women and showed them wearing the size they usually did and the size they actually were and EVERY single one of them looked better/thinner in the RIGHT size. She just kept emphasizing that even if you can squeeze into a size 8 and zip it up, you will probably still look thinner/feel better in a size 10, kwim. Sort of off topic but that really stuck with me.

Alicia · Senior Member

I don't need to feel pretty. There was a time when I used make-up(last time was 1999 for a wedding) and I know I look a lot better with it but didn't seem worth it just to stay home. I would like a better wardrobe. I think I would present myself better if I did.

CoffeeQueen · Guru

Alicia wrote:

I don't need to feel pretty. There was a time when I used make-up(last time was 1999 for a wedding) and I know I look a lot better with it but didn't seem worth it just to stay home. I would like a better wardrobe. I think I would present myself better if I did.

wow, 1999, really. You are amazing. I think it is great that you feel confident enough to venture out in the world with zero make-up. I do it on the weekends a lot, but I have never been able to go to work without it.

Juni · Guru

CoffeeQueen wrote:

Alicia wrote:

I don't need to feel pretty. There was a time when I used make-up(last time was 1999 for a wedding) and I know I look a lot better with it but didn't seem worth it just to stay home. I would like a better wardrobe. I think I would present myself better if I did.

wow, 1999, really. You are amazing. I think it is great that you feel confident enough to venture out in the world with zero make-up. I do it on the weekends a lot, but I have never been able to go to work without it.

Me neither! And it took me FOREVER to be able to go out at all without makeup. But I think that is from having bad skin for so long and feeling so self conscious about it.

Alicia · Senior Member

CoffeeQueen wrote:

Alicia wrote:

I don't need to feel pretty. There was a time when I used make-up(last time was 1999 for a wedding) and I know I look a lot better with it but didn't seem worth it just to stay home. I would like a better wardrobe. I think I would present myself better if I did.

wow, 1999, really. You are amazing. I think it is great that you feel confident enough to venture out in the world with zero make-up. I do it on the weekends a lot, but I have never been able to go to work without it.

It was my brothers wedding and I was in the pictures. I probably would if I worked and it didn't involve food. My grandmother would roll over in her grave. She would get up before her DH did just to put make up on. She told us all the time we should take care of ourself for our DH. My DH could care less if I wear it.