It’s no secret that moms are constantly putting their own wellness aside to ensure that their families are strong. In fact, a 2019 joint survey done by HealthyWomen and Working Mother revealed that 78% of moms report that they put off taking care of their own health because they were too busy looking after loved ones.
“Self-care is a necessity, not an indulgence,” Emma Bennett, LCSW, told Good Housekeeping. “We need to nurture ourselves just like we nurture our children.”
Bennett suggests building time for self-care into your daily agenda. With new parents averaging just 32 minutes of alone time daily, it’s important that the time spent alone is refreshing and impactful. Yet, with many warnings against beauty product ingredients during pregnancy, many moms may shy away from using even the healthiest products once pregnancy is over.
Moms deserve to pamper themselves and the good news is that there are plenty of clean beauty and skincare products that are safe for moms whether they are breastfeeding or not.
Here’s a quick and healthy 5-minute skincare routine that can be used day and night to help moms ease back into self-care:
Morning and Night:
1. Cleanse Your Face
It’s important to begin and end your day with a clean face. Acure Seriously Soothing Cleansing Cream is a great face wash for all skin types and it’s free of harsh additives and chemicals—which is especially great if you’re still breastfeeding! Simply wet your face and massage a small amount of the cleanser into your skin before rinsing off with cool water.
2. Erase Tired Eyes
Mindbodygreen voted Sahajan Radiance Eye Cream as the best clean product for tired eyes. To apply, use your ring finger to pat the eye cream all the way around your eye, including on your lids. This rejuvenating blend fights free-radicals both day and night to defend against dark circles and fine lines.
3. MORNING ONLY: Apply Vitamin C Serum + SPF
Typically, Vitamin C serum and SPF would be two different steps in your skincare routine. However, Supergoop! Daily Dose Vitamin C + SPF 40 Serum makes it simple for moms to tackle these two important skincare steps with just one product. This first-ever two-in-one product is clear of harsh chemicals and helps to brighten the skin while preventing dark spots due to UV and blue light. Apply the serum generously to your face, ensuring at least 15 minutes before sun exposure.
NIGHT ONLY: Alpyn Beauty’s PlantGenius Melt Moisturizer was voted Byrdie’s best overall night cream of 2021. This weightless, firming facial moisturizer is made with hand-cultivated, plant-based ingredients and suitable for all skin types. To use, apply a small amount of cream onto your clean face to diminish the appearance of fine lines while brightening your skin.
4. Exfoliate Your Hands and Lips: There isn’t a better way to end your skincare routine than with aroma therapy—and smooth skin, of course! La Bloom Beauty’s Exfoliation Set includes Rose Hand Scrub and Cocoa-Vanilla Lip Scrub, which are both full of skin-loving essential oils that will leave your skin soft, supple, and moisturized. As you rub the scrub onto your lips and hands, take some deep breaths and enjoy the calming aromatherapy benefits of rose, shea butter, and coconut oil before rinsing the scrub off. When you’ve finished with exfoliation, paint your cuticles with La Bloom Beauty’s mess-free Nail Oil Pen and get ready to seize the day!
If you have a few extra minutes between errand runs and school pick-ups, try these clean beauty products to recharge throughout your busy day:
Rejuvenate Your Face: As an on-the-go momma, keeping your face refreshed is a must! Bloom Face Mist is made with Aloe, Rose, Sweet Orange, and Eucalyptus oils to give you a hydrating midday pick-me-up. Simply throw the chic glass bottle in your diaper bag or purse and spritz your face a few times evenly whenever you’re in need of a light and uplifting boost.
Refresh Your Hair: While on mom duty (which is always) showers can be few and far between. Allow La Bloom Beauty’s Hair Refresher to deodorize and nourish your hair between washes. Our lightweight, aerosol-free formula contains minimal natural ingredients and essential oils that brings hair back to life within seconds. Plus, it blends nicely with both brunette and blonde hair.
Release Toxins: Gua Sha (pronounced Gwa Sha) is an ancient Chinese-medicine based skincare practice that’s been gaining traction in the modern world. Gua Sha involves scraping a flat jade or rose quartz against oiled skin at a 45-degree-angle to release toxins and increase blood flow. Using 4-5 drops of facial oil, start at your jawline and work the tool towards your ear. Next, Gua Sha your cheek bones and down your neck. You can also scrape the tool along your shoulders and on any other body part that may feel sore or inflamed. The first few times you Gua Sha may cause slight redness or bruising, so be sure to use oil and be gentle with yourself! Practice makes perfect.
As a mom, you deserve peaceful, healthy pampering. Commit to this quick and healthy skin care routine, and in less than 10-minutes per day, you’ll regain at least a portion of the me-time you deserve.
Let us know your favorite mom-friendly skincare products in the comments below!