As a mother of two young children, if I had to sum up my beauty routine in one word, it would be:. fast. Between wiping sticky hands, changing diapers, coaxing my eldest into wearing clean clothes, and practically fighting to get both of us to brush our teeth each morning, we enjoy rituals that can’t be performed in 60 seconds. There’s little time for that. below. I prefer quick makeup products, quick (but effective) skincare routines, and styling my hair is a very quick process. And it’s not just parents who feel this way. Between busy jobs, caring for others, and busy social lives, many people struggle to find time to take care of themselves.
But even though I’ve been a mom for four years now and still have more sleepless nights (the dark circles indicate that), I still manage to fit a few key moments into my day. , enjoy the beautiful things in every day. routine. (Thankfully, my job as a beauty editor would have been in jeopardy if I didn’t.) For me, these non-negotiable parts of the day are about the women in my life. Not only does it help me look better, it helps me myself. It provides a small moment of calm amidst endless chaos.
From now on, I’ll detail some of these daily rituals and time-saving products that I swear by to brighten and energize my look and mood. And what if you’re still in the midst of parenting and don’t feel like you have 30 seconds to take care of your skin, let alone take care of it? Trust me, you’re not alone. What lies ahead is my “perfect day” scenario where nothing goes wrong. There are many other scenarios in which I consider myself lucky if I could just swipe a pad soaked in micellar water over my face and call it quits.
6am: Morning supplements
I’ve never been a morning person, and I’ll never be one, but when I wake up at this awful time every day, my first priority is to drink a glass of water and take some supplements. It is to do. Admittedly, I’m not always the best at taking vitamins regularly. I always start with good intentions, but after a few days they disappear. But in 2024, I’m making a conscious effort to incorporate vitamins into my daily routine so they’re the first thing I take. We guarantee that the day’s work will be completed.
I’ve been taking a common multivitamin (I’m not good at swallowing pills, so I only take gummies like a kid) and liquid iron supplements to manage my anemia, but lately I’ve been trying to improve my immune system. We’ve added a vitamin D spray to boost your hair and new supplements to help your hair. Since postpartum hair loss, it has grown back. I’ve been trying different collagen supplements with my morning coffee to support skin elasticity.
Vitabiotics Well Woman Multivitamin Gummies
Bare Biology Beam & Balance Vitamin D3 + Vitamin K2
Beauty Pie Renewal Density Healthy Hair Capsule
Dose & Co Daily Collagen Creamer Caramel
7am: Speed shower
Regardless of whether my husband is around to watch the kids or not, my 4-year-old seems to have some kind of built-in sensor and will inevitably need to go to the bathroom, so shower time is always like a speed challenge for me. The moment the water clicked.
For me, I only wash my hair in the evenings or on weekends, unless it’s an absolute emergency. However, there is one thing he won’t negotiate on in the shower. It’s a luxury body wash. Yes, shower gels can be picked up in the supermarket for £1 and are great for getting the job done, but scented (and probably expensive) luxurious shower gels don’t make you feel luxurious and pampered. I’ll give it to you. The same goes for body lotion after a shower.
Aesop a rose aka body cleanser
NUXE Prodigy Body Lotion
7:15am: Shining skin care
My morning skincare routine focuses on minimizing skin fatigue, so I tend to reach for moisturizing, brightening, and plumping products. I don’t wear a lot of makeup every day, so I put a lot of effort into skin care to have fresh, fresh skin.
I almost always use a salicylic acid face wash as the first step (sometimes I do this in the shower if I’m really in a hurry). Then, depending on whether you are experiencing breakouts, use the following steps: Niacinamide or vitamin C serum, gel cream moisturizer, vitamin C eye cream. I like to use products that feel light in texture to refresh and wake up my skin without aggravating blemishes.
CeraVe Blemish Control Face Cleanser
Skinceuticals Silymarin CF
Bioma Moisturizing Gel Cream SPF 30
Murad Vita-C Eyes Dark Circle Collector
8am: Easy makeup
In between skincare and makeup, I have to do some damage control to the pile of toys that inevitably forms in the living room at this point, pack lunches, and get the kids ready for the day. , there is always a break. So my stripped-down makeup bag is currently in the living room, using just the fingers of one hand to haphazardly apply makeup to my face, and the other hand to retrieve his Play-Doh from the rug.
I wasn’t a big fan of stick formulations before I had kids, but thanks to their versatility, they’re now pretty much the only formulation I have in my daily makeup bag. A foundation that can also be used as a concealer? Yes, please. Cheek, lipstick, and eyeshadow all in one? absolutely. My general approach is to scribble everything down and hope for the best. The only thing I’m non-negotiable for a little more polish is a tinted brow gel and some type of lip product. I’m really into colored balms at the moment, but I also love Charlotte Tilbury’s Pillow Talk when I want to feel a little more calm. -together.
Hourglass Vanish Seamless Foundation Stick
Kosas Air Brow Tinted Volume Gel
Naturium Phytoglow Lip Balm
8:20am: Effortless hair
I’m a big fan of doing my own hair, and I’ve made no secret of the fact that it’s always a top priority in my beauty routine. I often go for the classic mom style of a topknot, but if I’m wearing my hair down, I give it a quick brush through with my fingers (no kidding) and I’m on my way. Luckily, my hair is pretty thick and textured, so if I add waves with curling tongs after the last hair wash, they usually stay in place. If your hair is starting to get a little flat, texturize it right away. A spray usually works well. However, I have bangs, which is the part of my hair that gets oily quickly, so dry shampoo is absolutely essential for me.
Living Proof Perfect Hair Day (PHD) Dry Shampoo
Davines Learn more This is a dry texturizer
14:30: Brightening mask
Granted, not many people can pull out a face mask at 2:30 p.m., so that’s where crowds start to thin out. However, I work from home. So, on days when both my children are at daycare, I try to take care of my skin as much as possible. I’m often tired at night and don’t feel like doing long skin care routines, but if you can grab an eye mask or face mask while you’re catching up on emails before daycare pick-up, trust me. I would be happy to do so.
MZ Skin Lightmax Mini Pro Iconic LED
Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Gel Mask
18:00: Hair treatment
For me, 6pm is a hell of a parenting hell. The kids have been home for hours and are tired, dinner time is over, the house is a quagmire of chaos and destruction, and before I can even think about getting them to bed and sinking into the bath. , I still have to get through bath time. Sit on your couch and enjoy mindlessly scrolling on your phone.
But if you’re a mom, bath time is the perfect opportunity to step up your beauty routine. If you can turn a blind eye to toys getting thrown out of the bathtub or water soaking the floor, it’s the perfect time to start getting serious about your evening skincare routine or apply a leave-in hair mask while you work. I think. Go to bed with the kids and wash afterwards. Any moisturizing hair mask is fine here, but I like to wet my hair under the sink to help it penetrate, and then apply something highly effective to increase elasticity, strengthen hair, and restore moisture. is. I comb my hair, tuck it in a microfiber hair towel to keep it in place, and feel quietly smug that I’m doing something for myself.
Philip Kingsley Elasticizer Intensive Treatment
Hair by Sam McKnight Deeper Love Intense Treatment Mask
8:30pm: Bath soak
To be honest, taking a bath is not an everyday thing for me, but rather a rarity. But my new year’s resolution for myself is to spend more time relaxing in the bath in 2024. (Yes, I’m dreaming big.) So, once the kids are calm and I can’t hear them murmuring anymore, I get out of their room, run a hot bath, pour something deliciously scented, and light a candle. Lighting it up and soaking it in for a few minutes without shame will be my new thing. (Note: I hate washing my hair in the bath, so if I apply a hair mask earlier in the night, I wash my hair in the shower first.)
Naturally, I’m drawn to warm, milky vanilla scents, but I have to say that I’m currently completely obsessed with Vieve’s bath leisure line. All made up of expensive-scented amber and soothing sandalwood, they basically make your bath time feel like a luxury hotel.
Replica of Maison Margiela whispers in the library candle