If you wake up looking pale and puffy instead of fabulous and fresh, it might be time to revaluate your eating plan. As much as you’re sick of hearing that ‘you are what you eat’ (because you’re a human being, not a jam sandwich), it’s true that healthy eating leads to a healthier appearance. Your body really does reflect what you eat and if you’re eating healthily your eyes will be brighter, your hair shinier, and your complexion will glow. Drink lots of water, get plenty of exercise, and eat a well balanced diet with plenty of fresh fruit and veg to compliment your complexion and boost your body’s beauty.
Dry shampoo has got to be the best invention for busy mums since pushchairs and potties. Instead of going through the rigmarole of washing, drying, and styling your hair, dry shampoo allows you to go from untamed to good-to-go in less than 10 seconds. Simply spray a small amount through the roots of your hair, rub it in, and voila – your hair is feeling fresh and looking fab.
This is a super quick trick that will transform your skin from dry and dull to bright and beautiful in two minutes. Simply keep a good exfoliator – or some olive oil mixed with sugar, for a homemade option – in the bathroom to scrub your skin with during your bath or shower. This will remove all the dead skin cells that sit on top of your skin making it look dull. Lather a layer of moisturiser on afterwards and show off your enviable smooth skin.
Subtle, sun-kissed skin can make you look and feel healthier and sexier, and it evens out skin tone too. Use a gradual tanner to build a light, even tan that you’re happy with and top up every couple of days depending on how dark you’d like it to be. Make sure you wear tanning mitts to avoid tell-tale orange hands as the tan develops.
Beauty products that have more than one purpose allow us to cut corners without sacrificing how we look, which is great news for busy mums. For example, some nail varnishes on the market strengthen your nails as well as providing great colour, whilst blemish balm (or BB cream) moisturises, evens skin tone, and usually contains sun protection too. If you want to compliment your complexion without spending lots of time on it, just wash your face and apply blemish balm for moisturising coverage that won’t clog your pores. Once you’ve mastered a beautiful, natural complexion, add a slick of lip-gloss or tinted balm, and a dash of mascara if you fancy some eyelash va-va-voom. Well hello there yummy mummy!
A good haircut can dramatically reduce the amount of time it takes to get ready in the morning and to maintain your look throughout the day. Be honest with your stylist about how much time you have to style your hair and they should be able to give some advice on which is the best cut for you. Shoulder length hair tends to be the most low-maintenance style as you can sweep it into a ponytail on a bad hair day.
In between giving the little ones their breakfast, doing the grocery shop, changing nappies, and serving tea, mums have little time to pamper themselves. Before you know it, those once groomed eyebrows and lovely locks have turned into a mono-brow and a bunch of unsightly split ends. To prevent this from happening, make sure you book your treatments at the beauty salon in advance – this way you’re less likely to keep putting it off. Of course there will be the odd time you’ll need to cancel, but if you can keep it up as much as possible, you’ll feel like a much happier, more beautiful mummy.
