Skincare Tips for Busy Moms
by Emily Linehan on May 02, 2022
It’s no secret that life can get hectic. Between work, school, family, friends, or whatever else fills your days, it can be hard to find a spare moment. Add motherhood to the mix and suddenly you may be finding even less time is available. Although it may feel like taking care of yourself is nearly impossible, setting aside some time for self care is so important! Here are some tips to make sure your skin is taken care of just as much as everyone else in your life, even on your busiest days.
Find Your Routine
First and foremost, finding a routine that is right for you is incredibly important. Understanding what will work best for your unique skin, and what fits into your lifestyle, will not only produce the results you’re looking for but it will also take the guesswork out of skincare. If you haven’t already nailed down your routine, the best place to start is my free online consultation. It takes about 15 minutes to complete and you’ll receive a fully customized skincare routine, complete with product recommendations, step-by-step instructions, and advice for your unique skin and lifestyle.
Remain Consistent
If you’re an existing client, you’ve likely heard me say that consistency is the key to skincare. Completing your skincare routine both morning and night (and post-workout!) is not only incredibly important for obtaining maximum results, but it also serves as a good excuse to take a step back from your busy life and focus on yourself for a moment. To ensure you’re able to complete your morning routine, I recommend making a habit of doing your skincare as soon as you wake-up (ideally before the kids wake up too!). It’s a nice way to start your day and it checks this important task off your list before you’re hit with any other distractions.
Staying consistent with your nighttime routine can be a bit more challenging, but it is one of the most important times to really take care of your skin. Just like how your muscles and brain repair and regenerate themselves while we sleep, so does your skin. If you find yourself struggling to get your nighttime skincare routine completed, try working it in at these times:
- Immediately after dinner. Try making a habit of completing your skincare routine immediately after cleaning up from dinner while the kids are playing or watching TV (as long as they are able to be left unsupervised). Ideally your nighttime routine shouldn’t be done more than an hour before you go to bed, but getting it done is more important than skipping it all together!
- During bathtime. If your kids are old enough to be left unattended during bath time, use this time to complete your skincare routine. Or course, do not do this if you have little ones that are not able to be left unsupervised around water!
- While the kids brush their teeth. A great way to make sure that both you and the kids get your important tasks checked off your list is by doing them together, so try completing your skincare routine while the kids are brushing their teeth! This is especially great if you have a bathroom with double sinks as you can do it simultaneously. If you find this to be a method that works for you, try to keep a set of skincare in the kids’ bathroom so that you’re ready to go each night.
- After the kids go to bed. The last idea is to complete your skincare routine right after you get the kids in bed, but before you settle down for the night to read, watch TV, etc. The key here is to make sure you do not get comfortable before completing your routine because otherwise you may fall asleep, or find yourself really lacking the motivation to get up and get your skincare done.
If you run out of time or motivation, promise yourself to at least wash your face to remove any makeup or SPF and follow with your moisturizer to prevent dehydration. Properly cleansing your face and applying moisturizer only takes about a minute and you might surprise yourself by completing the rest of your routine as well once you’ve gotten past that first hurdle. Plus, getting part of your skincare routine done is better than nothing at all!
Stay Hydrated & Nourished
I know you’ve heard it before, but drinking enough water is extremely important. Specifically, I recommend that you aim to consume half your body weight in ounces of water a day to properly hydrate your skin (and the rest of your body!). Additionally, I know that coffee may be the real fuel you need to get the kids off to school, but coffee (and alcohol), actually dehydrates the body more. If you include these in your day be sure to balance them out with some extra water consumption. Or, try swapping that cup of coffee with some Green Tea!
Along with water, Omega 3 fish oils can calm inflammation and hydrate your skin from the inside out, however be sure to check with your doctor before taking any supplements! Antioxidant rich foods can also help to fight the damaging free radicals threatening to break down our skin. Instead of reaching for the kids snacks when you’re running out the door, try some of my favorite skin-loving, grab-and-go foods such as blueberries and almonds!
Apply Sunscreen No Matter What
Wearing your SPF is a non-negotiable. Make sure you apply your sunscreen every morning, even if you think you’re going to be inside all day or you’re just heading out to drop the kids off at school. It may sound a little extreme, but most sun damage that happens to your skin is a result of cumulative, short, daily exposures to UV rays. By making sunscreen part of your daily routine you will ensure you don’t go unprotected by accident! You can learn more about Sunscreen and why it’s important in my recent blog SPF, PA+++, and Everything Else You Need to Know About Sunscreen.
Incorporate Anti-Aging Ingredients
If you’ve found the balance between motherhood and your skincare routine, give yourself a pat on the back! Remaining consistent with your skincare is no small feat, but if you’ve mastered your routine and are ready to take on more, incorporating some anti-aging ingredients can help elevate your results. Adding an eye treatment, like my Bright Eyed Illuminating Serum, helps reduce puffiness and diminish dark circles, all while adding barely any effort to your routine.
It’s never too early to start preventing the signs of aging, but if you have specific skin concerns, incorporating other products into your regimen may be a better fit. Retinols, peptides, and other ingredients can really help to fight the signs of aging, however not all anti-aging ingredients are safe during pregnancy or breastfeeding so be sure to check in first.
**Disclaimer: Always follow your doctor’s recommendations. Your health, and the health of your baby, is most important. You can also learn more about Pregnancy Safe Skincare here.
If you’re wondering what’s next, check out this blog, or complete a check-in so that we can figure out what’s best for you!
Don’t Forget Your Neck!
Since you’re already taking time out of your busy day to take care of your skin, make sure your neck and décolleté are included as well! It adds a negligible amount of time to your routine but is just as important as your face! Instead of using the “leftover” product you’ve applied to your face, make sure to use the same amount of product on your neck and décolleté area as you do on your face. This is especially important when it comes to sunscreen!
My favorite neck skincare routine involves cleansing and toning my neck, applying 2 pumps of Skin Quencher Gel, applying Serums (Brilliant-C Serum in the daytime and Firming Peptide Serum at night) and then applying my HydraLuxe Cream and my Tinted Mineral SPF 40 (if it’s daytime).
Note: If you’re using stronger products and serums such as those that contain retinols or alpha hydroxy acids, proceed with caution. The tissue on your neck is sensitive and might not tolerate them as readily as the skin on your face.
Don’t forget that even though you may have your hands full with all of the challenges that motherhood brings, you still deserve to take care of yourself. I hope these tips help you look and feel your best even on your most chaotic days because you deserve it!
xoxo, Emme
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