A mum-friendly skincare routine. If you're anything like me, you often dream about relaxing facials and hot stone massages. However, the thought of organising babysitting, nap times and milk pumping puts those dreams straight back in their place - the "too hard" basket. Sometimes having kids, especially little, stuck-to-your-hip-kinda-kids means that life is hectic for a while, especially that first year (or two, or twenty¦). It also means us mums tend to put everyone else first, and ourselves last. We feed ourselves after everyone has been served, seem to be the last ones to squeeze a shower into the day, and usually bathroom time includes a spectator or two. It's fair to say - we have no 'me time'! The truth is - we have to (for sanity's sake) schedule in 'me time'. It includes nurturing our skin, our body's largest organ. So despite the craziness of motherhood, I spill my top three tips for a simple but effective mum-friendly skincare routine.
What Feels Like A Long Time Ago
Pre-babies, my at-home skincare ritual was pretty extravagant. I think I wore around six layers of product - every morning and night. Had regular facials and peels - it was great, but the truth is I just don't have time for that anymore. I love my kids, but the fact is. These days, I feel like showering and taking care of myself is a daily conquest. It's no wonder why so many mothers are exhausted, depressed a downright feel like they're just not themselves anymore. Simple self-care routines are pushed to the side in order to cater to the children's needs. It's all too familiar. I don't have all the answers, but I do know that you CAN maintain your skin tip-top shape with a consistent routine, effective multitasking (natural) products without the extra concern of toxins/chemicals (the last thing we want as mums!) Here's my 3 tips for a mum-friendly skincare routine from my own personal trials and tribulations as a time-poor (generally exhausted) mum of two boys under 3 years:
Step 1. Always Cleanse Your Skin
Particularly at night, if you've worn makeup during the day or if your urban living has seen your skin exposed to pollution throughout the day. No matter how tired you are, you must always cleanse. Not correctly cleansing your skin allows opportunistic bacteria to breed - giving acne essentially a green light! Accumulating dead skin cells, oils and dirt in the skin lead to congestion which eventually erupts as an inflamed lesion (a pimple) or blackhead/whitehead. At the moment, my kids need me to put them to sleep so although I don't have 'time' to cleanse before putting them down, I always make sure once the kids are asleep - I get up and give myself that time to nurture my skin (which sounds easy but¦.in practice I really just want to close my eyes)! I do however know that in the long run, my skin will thank me! Choose a natural cleanser that's right for your skin. For dry, sensitive skin - try the
Olive Soothing Cream Cleanser and for normal to oily and acne-prone skin, try the
Purify Facial Gel Cleanser.
Step 2. Slay With Skin Serums
Equip yourself with an effective multitasking skin serum that nourishes and protects. A skin serum that deeply penetrates the skin and provides that targeted nourishment is essential! Your mum-friendly skincare routine would not be complete without one of these smart skin serums:
Olive Skin Serum
A multitasking hydration serum that contains active
olive Squalene. It mimics the essential oils found within the skin, so it's great for dehydrated, dry, sensitive skin. As a bonus - it's naturally anti-ageing, doubles up as a moisturiser AND is a
natural makeup primer. You can pop it on and literally leave the house knowing your skin is taken care of.
Acai Berry Active Antioxidant Serum
So that's a mouthful, but luckily it's easier using than pronounced. Just whack it on when you feel your skin needs a bit of Antioxidant protection or extra rejuvenation. Naturally high in
Vitamins A, C & E - pop it on sun-damaged skin or to provide a 'protective shield' from polluted, urban environments. Tip: you can switch/alternate between both serums!
Step 3. Alternate Treatment Products
Have some 'treatment' products on standby that you use once or twice a week as needed. So these are products that you don't necessarily need to use every day, but it's important to tend to your skin's changing needs. For example, if you have a pimple, or you've had too many coffees one week, and your skin is dehydrated! I like to have these three products on standby:
Radiant Rose Mask
For when I need extra, deep hydration. It's a mask - but also doubles up as a 'sleep mask' - so you pop it on and leave it at night! Can't get easier than that! (Bonus is when you wake up in the morning - your skin feels as soft as bub's!)
Exfoliating 2-in-1 Scrub And Mask
I like to pop this on my dry face once or twice a week before I pop into the shower. It deep cleanses and sloughs those excess dead skin cells away so not only does skin texture improve, but the brightness too. It also allows your serums to adequately penetrate into the skin.
Rescue Acne Cream
I like to keep this on standby if any unwelcome zits or blackheads appear! Pop it on and leave overnight like a little mask - and in the morning your skin is clearer and calmer! I hope this has helped you manage a simple yet effective skincare routine. It's not 'easy' being a mum - but let's not forget about ourselves in the process of bringing up tiny little humans the best way we know how.
Do you have a great skincare tip to share with other mums? Please comment below and let's help each other!
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