You won’t be getting much beauty sleep, or have time for your hair or makeup or anything else, but there are things you can do (quickly) to look and feel as much like your pretty self as possible. Learn how from Alison Sweeney, host of The Biggest Loser and author of The Mommy Diet: A Month-by-Month Plan for a Healthy Body and Mind Before, During, and After Pregnancy.
My makeup artist, Corina, is a mom herself, so it was great to be able to turn to her for advice. Here are a few things she suggests trying this month:
1. Stay hydrated! Drink tons of water. (I know, I’ve said it already, and you’ll hear it from me again.) Aim for the eight to ten glasses a day I already recommended in this chapter. Simply drinking water can help fight the effects of stress on your skin, and though it seems counterintuitive, drinking plenty of water helps combat water retention (which you will be experiencing right now, big time). Keep your skin hydrated from the outside, too. Don’t skimp on the moisturizer, and apply a hydrating mask (this takes just a few minutes) once or twice a week. I really like the hydrating products by Dermalogica and Epicuren.
2. Help your hands. You will likely be washing your hands more often than you ever have before, which can quickly dry out your skin and make your hands look about ten years older than they really are. You can avoid that easily by keeping good hand cream—one free of synthetic chemicals and fragrances or anything that might irritate your baby’s skin—right next to the hand soap and applying it often. If you keep hand sanitizer around, choose a brand that’s nontoxic (with no triclosan or benzalkonium chloride), such as CleanWell.
3. Exfoliate. Use a gentle exfoliant, preferably one that contains moisturizers, to brighten your skin and leave it soft.
4. Do your makeup in under a minute. Wearing makeup isn’t an all-or-nothing proposition. It’s unlikely (more like impossible!) that you’ll have time for your normal makeup routine, so try using a cream blush that works for eyes, cheeks, and lips. If you don’t already have this product, send a friend to buy it for you. Because it’s creamy, not powdery (Corina recommends avoiding powder-based makeup right now), your skin will look fresh, dewy, and younger. Apply a little to the lips, a little to the cheeks, and a little to the eyelids, then add a swipe of mascara and you’re good to go. If you have a little extra time, apply some under-eye concealer (it’s a splurge, but Corina loves the concealer from Clé de Peau; Sheer Cover is a less expensive option that I like) to minimize the dark circles that are probably showing up right about now.
5. Remember that the ponytail is your friend. Don’t have time to blow out your hair perfectly right now? Of course you don’t! There’s nothing wrong with pulling your hair back into a ponytail. It can look youthful and sporty or sleek and sophisticated or messy and sexy. Mix up the style—pull it back completely one day; pull a few pieces out to frame your face the next. Or twist the ponytail into a bun and stick the ends into your elastic (or a clip) for a do-it-yourself chignon. It’s a small thing, but Juicy Couture makes hair elastics in colors with little charms on them. I love them. A touch of pizzazz in your hair might make you feel more done up to go out with no extra effort. Put on a pair of hoop earrings and you’ll be amazed at how together you look. If you have short hair, run a little gel through it, part it on the side, and tuck it behind your ears for a sleek and easy look.
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