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I just go very 'natural'. (But I do shave!!) Anyway, I appreciate new clothes and given the choice/money/time...I would love to 'enhance' my looks. But my life requires low maintenance so here I am. I think I'm very secure. Or in denial.

I try to look decent, but I keep it simple. I make sure I am clean and don't look like I just tumbled out of bed to go to the grocery store. Yeah, sometimes you can't help it, like when you have a sick kid, but I do try.

I've learned to do a quick makeup routine and I keep my hair short so I can style it quickly. I get new clothing as needed, but I def. don't keep up like I used to.

eta: to answer the questions, no I don't feel insecure or self conscious. I came into my own in my late 20's and continue to feel really good about the woman I became. I was more insecure in my late teens/early 20's but I realize now it was just that I still had some growing up to do.

I do feel, though, that my looks are a large part of who I am. I have learned to accept my body as it is and now that I am a mom I appreciate the battle scars I carry as a result. I never thought of myself as "the one with brown hair" or whatever, I was never going to be a supermodel...let's put it that way!

I definitely put way less effort into myself post-baby. Who has the time? But I always make sure I look clean, neat, and presentable. However, I don't spend half an hour blowing out my hair etc anymore. I was never going to be a supermodel either so I am not overly concerned. Sure, I see room for improvement but DH tells me I look beautiful all the time so as long as he is happy ....

A lot. I work on Wall Street, so I have to be put together every day for work. I also used to work for a retailer as a DM who had a "look policy" and required us to maintain a certain appearance. I wear makeup every single day (all bare minerals, so not like smoky eyes or anything) and I rarely wear sweats or yoga pants, even on weekends. I will occasionally wear yoga pants or leggings at night after DH gets home from work and we are lounging around. I do my hair every day and never wear it in a ponytail. I go to the gym a lot. Even after Liv was born, I hated the feeling of not being put together. I also live in the NYC area, so I think that is pretty normal here.

I am not insecure at all. I am very confident, but I like feeling put together for myself. When I dress or look sloppy, I feel like my day is disorganized for some reason. And NO, my looks do not define who I am, but they are A PART of who I am. I have a degree in Molecular Genetics and Biomedical Physics, so I make damn sure that I am defined by my intelligence, the way I speak, and my knowledge of the needs of my client base - not my looks. And in a male dominated industry, that is hard, but I am adamant about it. Unfortunately I know too many women who try to skate by on the fact that they are women and it irritates me that I bust my ass trying to negate that stereotype. But to each their own =o) Not only that though, i like to look good for my husband, I have a friend who, after their first baby came, hasnt ever taken off sweatpants (like ever) and never showered or put on makeup or ever made an effort. I didnt want to let myself go to hell for my sake and for his.

I wear make up and do my hair every day for work but then on the weekends I'll skip showering for a day! It's such a contrast between the 2.
I hate going to the store in pjs or sweats so I'll rarely do that either.
I'm more confident now than I was in my early-20s but I don't think I'm amazing or anything. I've just learned not to stress about what other people might think of me.

I don't want to look like I just walked out of bed, but I don't care to get all glitzed and glammed up. I def put my face on most days for work, but usually I only do my hair and put outfits together if we're doing something on the wknd, special occasions, or vacation.

If its everyday I put makeup but nothing over the top. I don't have great clothes so I'm far from a fashionista.

If I happen to go out (even if it's to go for coffee with friends) I try to dress up a little seeing I'm always do blah. Boost my confidence a bit.

Perhaps it is a sad reflection on our culture, but the bottom line is that appearance DOES matter. I notice a huge difference in how I'm treated when I'm "done up" or when I'm just in sweats. That being said, I try to go somewhere in the middle... I definitely don't "dress up" as much as when I was single.

I care but I not how I use to (before children). I was kind of high maintenance. I use to do a daily routine of pilates in the morning, gym/tanning in the afternoon. I spent a good hour doing my hair but I enjoyed primping (I don't so much now--at least while pregnant). I'd get my hair highlighted every 4 weeks and a manicure every 2 weeks. Other than that I'm still pretty similar, I blow dry and style my hair, I wear nice make-up, I'm clean... but I definitely do not go shopping for myself as often as I did before having kiddos. Maybe once every 2-3 months.
I probably would feel more secure if I could get my body back to pre-child weight and appearance. But I can go without the tanning/nails/hair appointments and still feel secure.

I do care, if we are going out with friends or to dinner I always get ready with hair and makeup and a cute outfit. I do go out in yoga pants to the grocery store though! I still want to look cute even though I'm getting this big old belly!

I "kinda" care in a sense that I don't want to look messy and unorganized. But I'm not one who HAS to look my best every time I go out. I'm not self-conscious at all so that's probably why I don't really care. I definitely cared a lot more before I was married. But after marriage and kids, not so much.

I definitely care. I work in an office, and looking polished and put together not only creates/presents a confident image, but I also feel more confident and capable when I know I look the part, too. I don't like to slouch too much on the weekends, either . . . although I certainly have worn my share of sweats and/or ponytails and baseball hats (and love 'em!), it is rare that even if I am just lounging around in my jammies that I am completely bare-faced, i.e., it is at least a light foundation/ tinted moisturizer and mascara just in case I need to run out for a second. I always feel more *ready* for anything when I take 10 mintues in the morning and spruce up . . . just slick on some lip gloss and I'm out the door!

While I fully expect to have my world rocked by butterbean (the first week of September!), I think putting a little effort into my appearance every day (even if is just showering, running a bruSh through my hair, or plucking a stray eyebrow hair) will help keep me sane and feeling more like me. Although, just like everything else related to this pregnancy, I am keeping my options open and my plans fluid, yo!

I put little energy into putting myself together for the everyday, I just do enough to get by and not look like a hot mess. Mascara or nothing is usually how I roll and I may or may not straighten my hair quickly if its too bad. I do enjoy getting dressed up an looking nice for an occasion though. I do think how you look reflects you but does not define you.

This has been an interesting thread to read! So many things that I totally agree with!

I am a huge believer in researching ahead of time and buying products that work and only those products. I'd rather have a great primer and foundation over a drawer full of highlighters, concealers, powders and the like. I also never use more than drugstore shampoo, body wash and lotion, it all works fine for me. I do splurge a little more when it comes to taking care of my face.

I also totally agree with @LivsMama. I worked on Wall Street too and I always made an effort to be a woman, even in pants. It was for me, not anyone else, and I think it helped a lot that there were women role models at my office that cared about their appearances.

I care, but I’m not insecure about it. It makes me feel more ready for the day and have more energy when I feel that I look good. I have mostly basic/classic pieces in my wardrobe, which I think helps in looking put together quickly. I just pair the more basic stuff with different sweaters, cuter shoes, or some sort of statement piece. Getting items tailored helps too, and is pretty cheap usually.

I wear makeup everyday, which honestly takes maybe 5 minutes tops to put on (and that’s for foundation, blush, powder, mascara).

I NEVER wear PJ pants or sweats outside of the house, I don’t think they are appropriate for public and it’s no more difficult to put on real pants than lounge pants.

I don’t ever want to use my LO/motherhood as an excuse to completely let myself go on the regular, but I guess we’ll see. I can’t imagine not showering, or not being able to find 2 minutes, even if it’s in the grocery store parking lot, to put on mascara and a little powder. But so many women say they have “no time” on a daily basis for anything special, so maybe I’m in for a rude awakening post-baby. I dunno, it’s just not something I can imagine now.