From finding the secret beauty fixes lurking in your nappy bag to quick make-up cheats for tired eyes, here are some beauty and make-up tips for time-pressed new mums
Looking your best when you are knee-deep in nappies, and exhausted by your new arrival, is a challenge so we asked Gemma Waugh, a leading make-up artist who has worked with the likes of Demi Moore and Kelly Brook, and Jemma Kidd, who has her own make-up line and runs the Jemma Kidd School of Make-up, for their advice.
Use what's in your nappy bag!
You don't have the time or inclination right now to fork out on expensive new products, but your new baby's nappy bag houses plenty of goodies that can double up as beauty products to help cheat exhaustion.
'Dab it on your eyelids, across cheek bones and brow bones; the shine will catch the light and liven up your features,' says Gemma Waugh.
'You can also use a small amount of Vaseline on your eyelashes instead of mascara. Simply rub some on your fore-finger and then 'blink' along it, from root to tip, to add shape and shine.'
The baby cried all night, you've not slept, you haven't had time to wash your hair, and your mother-in-law is due over any moment. What do you do?
'Sprinkle a light amount of talc at the roots of your hair,' says Waugh. 'Make sure you rub it well in and it will cut through the grease and turn lank hair into fuller, grease-free tresses.'
Make formula for mum too
While the inside of a spa or hairdresser might seem like distant memories right now, take matters into your own hands. While you are preparing your baby's formula or putting on the umpteenth round of laundry, take a second to prepare these quick homemade treatments-on-the-go for lips and hair.
'For dry, cracked lips you can make your own lip scrub by mixing a teaspoon of honey with a teaspoon of granular brown sugar,' suggests Jemma Kidd. 'Simply leave this formula on your lips while you feed your baby theirs, then remove with a damp cloth.
'Heat up some olive oil in a pan for a minute or so, so it is just above room-temperature warm,' says Gemma Waugh. 'Slather it on your hair, wrap it in cling film and then leave it for an hour before washing it off with your normal shampoo and conditioner and your hair will cheat a haircut and have its shine back.'
Unexpected visitors - help!
Someone wants to 'pop round' and visit you and the baby but you haven't washed your face, you are still in your pyjamas, it's the middle of the afternoon and your tired eyes are puffy and have dark rims around them.
While you don't have the time, or the energy, to put on a full face of make-up, Jemma Kidd offers these quick-fix make-up tips on how to fake it:
- To make eyes appear bigger and more awake use a pastel-coloured eye shadow with a slight shimmer to the eyelid and a lengthening mascara.
- For dark circles use a yellow-toned concealer, as the yellow helps to counteract the grey/purple shadows.
- Use a nude-coloured liner along the inner rim of the eye to counteract any redness.
- Applying highlighter onto the brow and cheek bones is the perfect pick-me-up for tired looking skin.
- When pushed for time use concealer only where needed; to mask redness around the nose and chin, cover any blemishes and cover up dark circles under the eyes, for example.
- Curling the lashes is a quick and easy way to open the eyes and make you look more awake, plus you don't have to worry about spending ages rubbing off mascara at the end of the day, robbing you of precious sleeping time!
Finally, a great tip to instantly brighten your features is to give your face a quick spritz with a skin toner or water-based spritzer like Evian Spray. This will give you a quick burst of freshness and brighten up your skin.