Read article : Beauty Tips for Busy Mums
Remember that BC (before children) world where you spent hours getting ready for a night out, took regular spa breaks and beauty treatments, and had plenty of time every morning and evening for your beauty routine? Nowadays it's hectic morning, evening, day, life and not much time for anything remotely resembling you time, let alone beauty treatments, or even a routine. What's a wannabe yummy mummy to do?
Of course other things take priority now, and rightly so, but there are still ways to carve out a tiny bit of time for yourself and adopt some new products and techniques that will make you feel a little bit more like your old gorgeous self.The Skin Food DietBeauty starts from the inside out, so make sure you are eating a good, healthy diet. Plenty of fruit and vegetables. Try to eat a rainbow each day to ensure maximum intake of antioxidants which help to protect your skin and leave you looking and feeling great. Add sweet potatoes, spinach, kale, pumpkin and carrots to your daily diet for lots of antioxidants, and try to eat 8-10 portions of fruit and veg in total a day for health.
During summer water-rich foods such as watermelon and cucumber help with hydration, but aim for 6-8 250ml glasses of water in addition. If you don't like plain water, try adding a squeeze of lemon or lime or some lightly crushed raspberries to your glass. Good hydration is essential to plump your skin up and help to build new skin cells, keeping your skin rejuvenated and healthy.
Vitamins are your skin's saviours, especially vitamin C which protects skin from harmful free radicals. Up your intake of oranges, strawberries, kiwi fruit and broccoli to heal blemishes, clear your complexion and boost collagen production. With great skin, you can cut down on your make-up without worry.
Sleep! Tricky with babies maybe, but embrace that old advice and sleep when they do. Forget the housework and the boxset backlog, get some beauty sleep. It's called that for a reason!
And what about the outside? Here are our top tips to make the most of your limited busy mum beauty time, from well-coiffed top to painted toe.
The Body Beautiful
- Switch your bath or shower time to the evening when you will have more time, or at least hopefully your partner can take over for a bit, and there is less likelihood of 302 interruptions.
- Switch to moisturising bath and shower products in case you don't have time to apply cream every day, and try dual purpose products like shower gel that also exfoliates to save time.
- Add essential oils to your beauty kit to tackle problems, help you relax or perk up, and ensure a better night's sleep.
Hair
- Try to wash your hair less often as it is likely to get drier after having children and as you get older. Washing your hair too often strip sit of the natural oils and can make it drier. Washing 2-3 times a week is plenty.
- If your hair seems limp and lacklustre between washes, use dry shampoo to give it a quick lift.
- Use good quality moisturising products and treat yourself to an at home or salon deep treatment every couple of months. Olive oil or coconut oil works well as an overnight treatment too.
- Avoid using too much heat on your hair. Will the world really end if you eschew the hair dryer and straighteners a few times and go au naturel? Plait your hair before bed for effortless waves in the morning.
- Limit damage to your hair by using heat protection products and good quality hair brushes to minimise damage when your brush.
Nails
- For healthy nails eat zinc and vitamin E rich foods like wheatgerm, sunflower seeds, beans, eggs and oats.
- Keep your nails neatly trimmed and always keep an emery board to hand. Concentrate on health rather than length.
- Wear gloves when cleaning, washing up or gardening.
- Moisturise hands and nails often, and use good quality creams containing natural ingredients. Apply moisturiser before donning your washing up gloves for an intense hand treatment whilst you do the chores.
- Day to day keep nails natural or just apply a clear or pastel shade, which is easier to maintain. Always use a base coat and top coat if applying colour. The professionals invest in gel nail supplies, so why not get your nails done for a treat.
Face
- Wash or cleanse your face every night and apply a high quality night cream.
- Choose a cleanser which also exfoliates, or a fast deep moisturising face mask to get peak skin fast.
- A dry face brush is a useful and time-saving addition to your arsenal.
- Apply a facial oil overnight a couple of nights a week to give skin a deeper boost.
- Wake up fast by splashing your face with cold water in the morning, then apply a serum and good SPF day cream.
- Tinted moisturiser or BB cream goes a long way to evening out skin tone and reflects light.
- Use creamy blushers for an easy nod to current trends, plus they are easy to apply and can be used to contour as well as add colour.
- A slick of lip gloss or tinted lip balm is an easy way to add colour, and a great way to moisturise your lips too. (You could even use nipple cream!)
- Invest in fast products like eye shadow sticks, liquid blush and waterproof mascaras that will last all day.
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