The quick skin guide for the busy mum

Being a mum is the busiest job in the world. It’s not as if you can suddenly take extended time off to recuperate either. The best mums can hope for is a few hours of grandparent time to grab a coffee with a friend or a couple of hours of sleep. When you are a new mum, especially, it feels as if the limit of your beauty regime can be brushing your teeth.

Yet, of all the things you need to commit to caring for is your skin. You cannot compromise on skincare, primarily because once your skin gets bad, it is hard to bring it back from the brink of disaster. It is also a way to give yourself that moment of self-care and attention you need to stay sane while helping little people grow.

So, it is time to make time for the simplest of daily skincare regimen. Make five minutes morning and evening to take these simple steps, and you will generally feel better about the world.

In the morning

The morning routine will need to be super quick. It is time you are at your busiest, herding youngsters and partners and possible pets into the day ahead. Therefore, being over-ambitious at this time will lead you to give up.

So, start with a simple cleansing. Use the gentlest of cleansers to remove the impurities and sweat from sleep, avoiding soaps that can strip your skin of essential oils and moisture. Then, rub on some moisturiser, covering your face and neck.

You are almost, but not entirely, done.

You need to apply sunscreen no matter the weather. Sun damage will age you quicker than the stress of breastfeeding. If three skincare steps in the morning are a step too far, try using an SPF that includes a moisturiser. There are at least 60 seconds saved in that decision. The sun cream should be at least SPF 15 and cover both the UVA and UVB broad-spectrum protection.

In the evening

We are hoping that some of the evenings are yours to cherish. We all need a bit of mindful time – and there is no better time to be present and calm than when you are tending to your skin. While we could go crazy here, we will keep it simple – as you will be tired. So, you should repeat the morning routine but replace the sun cream with an anti-ageing serum with ingredients such as retinol/ pro-retinoid, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, or other antioxidants. Do this before you moisturise and if your skin is prone to oiliness, use a non-greasy hydrating cream.

Take care of yourself

Your skin is obviously a representation of your whole-body health. Often, we are just a product of the food we eat and the exercise we do. Consequently, if you do not have time to offer your skincare, you need to eat well and drink lots of water. If you can fill your diet with lots of leafy greens such as spinach and kale, as well as citrus fruits and fish, your skin will be grateful, as will your general sense of wellbeing. Your body responds best to food high in antioxidants and anti-inflammatories.

You should also book some time away from the family if you can. There is no better way to spend this time away than pampering yourself. While we could use a trite line like “you deserve it”, in reality, such time out for you will be best for your children too. To be your best self, you need to feel well.

And finally…

If all else fails, and the world is too busy, then you need that one emergency product you can turn to. For those days when there is literally no time, you need an all-in-one skin wipe.  These magical wipes will not only gently cleanse your skin but leave it hydrated too. You can even get wipes that offer SPF protection too. So, while you are waiting for the washing machine to finish or the kettle to boil, use a wipe to brighten, lift and restore your face; you will be surprised how much better you will feel.