Beauty Tips for Stay-at-Home Moms

Being a mom is one of the greatest and most rewarding joys of my life…but I have to admit, I get a little sad whenever I run across a pre-mommy photo.

Who is that carefree girl with all the time in the world to look perfect?

Now I’m lucky to get out the door with a spit-up-free top and pants that match!

Life changes, and even when you know all the beauty how-to's, secrets, and tips, you don’t always have the time, energy, or money to put towards it!

Well, I have some advice for all my fellow moms.

To make sure you know you're not reading advice from some random person, read a bit more about me and my baby boy Malachi.

Click here or on my picture.

Also, you can read THOUSANDS of positive reviews from my customers by clicking my testimonials page!

Soft Face and Organic Solutions

An all-organic option that really works (especially if you're breastfeeding) is to check out one of the Eminence Skin Starter sets.

They're only $49, and you can give yourself an all-natural facial at home in a jiffy.

They make these kits for each skin type!

Click here to see more info about them.

A Quick Organic At-Home Facial

If you find yourself in need of a facial and in a time or money crunch (when are we not?!) you can use honey as an at-home facial!

Apply a thin layer all over the face (don’t get it in your eyes), and leave for 15-20 minutes before rinsing.

I do this during nap time!

It'll feel sticky but I promise the result is invigorating and refreshing!

Kill those Dark Bags!

Sleep? …What’s sleep?

Every mom with a toddler knows that losing sleep is one of the hardest parts of the mom-job.

If your eyes are red, heavy, and puffy, head to the fridge!

For a no-cost option, place a slice of cucumber over each eye and let them work their magic for 5-10 minutes.

You can use cooled tea bags as well.

This one is an oldy but a goody!

I also love following this up with my favorite all-natural eye cream, the Epicuren Eye Cream.

Exfoliate

So many people don't realize how fabulous exfoliating is.

Not only do you get beautiful skin in the long-term, but your skin looks fabulous and radiant immediately after you exfoliate.

Be sure to get a quality exfoliant and follow the directions!

If you don't use it as often, you won't get the optimum results.

And, using it too much won't boost your beautiful skin - it could potentially damage it.

Some of my favorite exfoliants include Epicuren's Pumpkin Apple Spice Peel, Rhonda Allison's Cherry Jubilee Enzyme, Image Skincare's Ageless Total Resurfacing Masque, and Dermalogica's Daily Microfoliant.

Lip Care - Exfoliate and Plump

We often forget about our lips, but we shouldn't!

Exfoliate by gently rubbing lips with a damp flannel (it’s the bonus you get for doing all your man’s laundry…just don’t get caught!) or towel to remove any dead, flaking skin.

Then apply Vaseline and feel the difference. Easy!

Foot Care - Lather It On, Baby!

Grey, ashy heels can be unsightly.

You'll love this tip because the hard work happens while you sleep!

Gently wash feet and remove dead skin with a pumice stone or foot file.

Lather a foot cream or lotion all over the feet and add a little extra product to the heels.

Wear a clean pair of socks to bed and wake up to softened skin!

I use Pure Fiji Body Butter every night.

Set Aside Your Routine

OK, I own a skincare business, so I know all about having a large skincare collection.

But how many of you actually use your entire skincare cabinet on the regular?

I know I certainly don't!

So here's my challenge for you: give your collection a serious sweep-through and select only the products you will use daily to keep in your bathroom.

Some of my essentials are a good cleanser, exfoliant/peel, moisturizer/serum, eye cream, and (of course) SPF.

I also love my Foreo, and will never take that out of my skincare routine.

Your essentials may not be exactly the same as mine depending on your skincare needs (acne, rosacea, combo skin, anti-aging, etc.), so pick the products and keep it simple!

Shop For Your Skin Type

If you don't like the skincare products you've purchased, it usually means one of two things: (a) you've purchased a lower-quality product, or (b) you've purchased a product that simply isn't right for your skin type.

First, let me elaborate on (a): I know in this economy we all want to save dollars and cents whenever possible, but when it comes to skincare, you generally get what you pay for.

That's not to say you can't find a fabulous product for a reasonable price - I sell many products that are cost-effective and fabulous!

But know what you're getting yourself into before you buy.

I can't tell you how many people come to me and find a reasonably-priced gem after having spent more money than they hoped on various products that simply didn't work.

And (b), knowing your skin type is seriously so important!

This will help you find products more targeted to your skincare needs, and thus you will spend less time and money on products that weren't designed to suit your needs.

BB Creams Are Your Friend

I recently wrote a blog post on BB creams, which you can read here.

Why do I love BB creams so much?

Well, BB creams are pretty much a one-stop-shop for coverage, moisture, sunscreen, and can even bring better benefits with the right product.

They're some of my favorites help to soothe irritation, fight aging, prevent free radical damage, and much more!

Eat Healthy

Come on, need I say more?

Eating healthy isn't only great for your skin, it's also fabulous for your waistline.

Also, buying fruits and veggies to cook up yourself is a great way to save money instead of dining out.

You can also get your whole family on board!

Drink Your 8 Glasses

When your body is dehydrated, your skin is dehydrated.

And trust me, over time, that really starts to show!

Drink your 8 glasses of water a day, or more!

Replace sodas with water, and if you love to drink juice, drink it fresh-pressed!

No more of that ultra-preserved cranberry juice cocktail or sugar-loaded grape juice.

Your skin will show the benefits and your body will feel better!

And you busy moms know how important it is to feel good on the go.

Remove Your Makeup Every Night

Sleeping in your makeup may seem harmless, and it's super easy to say "just this once," but it can be easy to get caught in that way of thinking!

If you can't bring yourself to the sink, at least indulge in a makeup removing wipe.

I'm telling you, though, sleeping in your makeup ages your skin, and can easily cause breakouts.

I like to make my nighttime cleansing routine a relaxing event for myself.

It's something that I genuinely look forward to!

5 Minute FREE Natural Home Manicure

Let’s have a moment of silence for the passing of spa manicures…

…As sad as it is we no longer have time (or babysitters) to allow for this treasured outing, you can still have pretty-looking nails!

A quick file and coat of clear polish (clear will show less chipping after you wash dishes and won’t smudge if you are called away in a hurry) takes only 5 minutes, and the result is worth it!

If you have a little extra time, rub almond or olive oil into the nails before you file for an extra boost of moisture.

Just because we can’t spend all day primping and prodding doesn’t mean we have to throw in the towel. Take a few minutes each week to do at least one of these things for yourself! Because let’s face it - no one else will. ;)

Due to so many requests, I 've developed a special page on my shopping cart site skincarebyalana.com with a special page set aside or pregnancy and nursing.

Click here to see it!

Hope this post helps; leave a comment if you have any questions!