For busy moms, beauty routines have to be simple, quick, and easy. We are often juggling so many things at once -- meals, schedules, doctors’ appointments, play dates, after-school activities, and so on -- that taking care of ourselves can all too often take a back seat.
But that doesn’t mean we have to forego getting gorgeous in the little time we do have. The good news is that we can fit in some easy beauty routines into our day to look our best, even when we only have a few minutes here and there. Here’s how:
- Get your eyebrows groomed. Going to a professional to get your eyebrows groomed gives you an instant face lift, says Nina Sutton, TV host for Pretty.Smart at WalMart.com and author of The Chic Mom's Guide to Feeling Fabulous. “Grooming your eyebrows creates a frame to your face,” says Sutton. “Your eyebrows are a focal point -- it’s one of the first things people look at.” Eyebrows can create perfect symmetry, which is considered beautiful.
- Use a combination scrub and mask. “It gives you an instant glow to your skin,” says Sutton. “You could do twenty jumping jacks or you can do this. It’s a trick makeup artists love.” Try GlamGlow Mud (compare prices; about $69) or Exfolikate Intensive Exfoliating Treatment by Kate Somerville (compare prices; about $85).
- Moisturize with oil. One of the most effective and easy ways to hydrate your face is to dab on some olive oil before stepping into the shower, says Sutton. The steam basically helps your skin absorb the moisturizer and leaves your skin feeling super-soft. (This is especially important for the winter months, when dry indoor heat can wreak havoc on your skin.) Other oils to try: Monoi oil (compare prices) or Biol-Oil (compare prices). “Using Monoi oil in winter makes you feel like you’re in a tropical location,” says Sutton. “It’s what I call a ‘vacation fragrance.’”
- Use a tinted moisturizer. “It evens out your complexion and makes your skin look glowy and polished,” says Val Monroe, beauty director of O, The Oprah magazine. Monroe recommends going with one that has an SPF of at least 15, such as Laura Mercier’s Tinted Moisturizers, which have an SPF of 20 (compare prices).
- Use a bronzer and a rosy blush. This is great for every skin tone, and especially great for moms because it helps them look less tired, says Sutton.
- Use a very moisturizing body wash. An inexpensive body wash, such as Dove, can be a great way to soften skin while you wash it, says Monroe. You can just pat yourself dry, and you’re ready to go.
- Mix up your own body scrub. Take some coconut oil (found in many health food or natural-products stores such as Whole Foods) and mix it with some sugar to create a great cheap and effective scrub for your body, suggests Sutton. She also suggests putting some oil on your body right after a shower, especially on the feet and elbows, which can be very dry, particularly in the winter. And when you’re scrubbing and moisturizing your body, don’t forget your hands.
