TLDR;
Mercedes shares four key changes that helped her feel more put-together and confident as she entered her 40s. She emphasizes that it's not about dramatic transformations or chasing youth, but about making realistic changes that align with her lifestyle. The core shifts involve curating a reliable wardrobe, refining her makeup routine, investing in hair solutions due to alopecia, and prioritizing time and space for getting ready.
- Having go-to pieces that actually work for her rather than chasing trends.
- Perfecting face makeup routine instead of consuming so much makeup content.
- Investing in hair differently because of autoimmune alipcia.
- Giving herself permission and time to get ready.
Intro [0:00]
Mercedes, now 40, shares her journey of feeling physically "frumpy" despite emotional and professional success. She realized that presenting herself better significantly improved her overall feeling. She shifted from believing a "glow up" required excessive spending and trend-following to focusing on realistic changes that aligned with her lifestyle. The goal was to leave the house feeling more confident and looking better, not to achieve a dramatic transformation or look younger.
Go-To Pieces [2:08]
Mercedes stopped the "daily closet spiral" of trying on multiple outfits and still feeling like a mess. She realized the issue wasn't a lack of clothes but a lack of trust in her wardrobe. Instead of buying more, she focused on having a few reliable pieces that consistently looked good on her, such as well-fitting jeans, blazers, neutral tops, and comfortable shoes. This made getting dressed easier, leading to a calmer and more confident start to the day. She also stopped dressing for trends and started dressing for her real life, considering her 9-to-5 corporate job and daily errands.
Perfecting Makeup Routine [4:55]
Mercedes reduced her consumption of makeup content and focused on perfecting her base makeup routine. She invested in skincare that improved her skin's appearance and allowed her base to look better. She aimed to find a trusted foundation match for both warmer and cooler months and focused on concealer placement to look more rested. With a solid makeup base, everything else became optional, and she no longer needed a full face of makeup to look pulled together. She also limited herself to one or two favorite creators who could teach her how to perfect her skills and stopped consuming haul-related content.
Hair Solutions [7:39]
Due to autoimmune alopecia, Mercedes had to invest in her hair differently. This meant not only treating her hair medically and with hair care products but also investing in replacement options like wigs. She started purchasing higher-quality wigs that supported how she wanted to show up and made her feel more confident. She viewed these purchases as investments rather than indulgences, allowing her to move through her day feeling more pulled together without constantly worrying about her hair.
Time and Space to Get Ready [9:31]
Mercedes emphasized the importance of giving herself permission and time to get ready. This included laying out clothes the day before and prepping her handbag. She created a designated space in her home, an extended closet/beauty room, where she could get ready and enjoy the process. Having everything in one space made getting ready feel more intentional, exciting, and grounded. The combination of time and space had a significant impact on how she showed up looking more put together.
Conclusion [11:48]
The shifts Mercedes made resulted in her feeling more confident in her body, more comfortable in her skin, and less like she was chasing a younger version of herself. She is focused on showing up more intentionally and feeling more put together.
