We’re back talking about how to bestow a little dignity on the job of a stay at home mom. Last time we talked about wardrobe. Today let’s talk hair and makeup.
First things first… skincare. If you don’t take care of your skin, you can’t possibly expect it to look decent. So wash your face morning and night, and apply a cream or two.
For me, I combine this daily regimen with a little pampering. My husband takes care of the baby while I hop in the shower, where I keep my face wash and scrub. Then I capitalize on the steam to give myself a mini facial every night. Once out of the shower, I apply toner, an anti-aging serum, eye cream, and night cream. It may sound like a lot, but it takes three minutes at most.
Then each morning, I wash my face with a quick splash of water, then apply toner, anti-aging serum, eye cream, and day cream with SPF. The whole process takes less than five minutes. If my little critter is craving attention, I talk to her about each of the products as I put them on.
Next, figure out the basic makeup that you need to look decent. For me, a little foundation, blush, and mascara cover the basics and it takes me less than 60 seconds to apply all three. Then I keep out two tubes of lip gloss – one in the bedroom and one in the kitchen – for easy touch ups throughout the day.
I know some ladies who can get away with just concealer instead of foundation, but look completely washed out without eye liner. Figure out your personal two or three basics, and spend a couple of minutes applying each morning.
Finally, let’s talk hair. The first step is to find a hair dresser you trust who can, over time, help you create a style that is both easy to maintain and frames your face beautifully. With my hair dresser, we slowly created a layered look à la Kate Middleton and dramatically improved the quality of my shampoo and conditioner.
By using higher quality hair products, I was slowly able to reduce my every other day hair washing routine to once or twice a week. The combination of the natural oils in my hair with using less product and styling tools means that my hair is shinier and healthier than ever. As an added bonus, it takes me less time to get ready since I’ve cut out most of my blow drying time.
Most days, I brush out my hair and wear it down. But when I’m cooking or cleaning, I pull it back with a hair styling claw like this
About Jo-Lynne