Maternity leave beauty hacks!

[Britta1]

I wonder if anyone could share any tips/advice on keeping up with a beauty regime on maternity leave? I’m due to go on maternity leave in October and once baby arrives I know it’ll be much harder to find time for myself and to keep myself looking and feeling my best. If anyone has any tips to make this easier they’d be much appreciated!

I liked sheet masks, I would put one on before feeding the baby.

Invest in a decent moisturizer and serum now, if you don't have time to put on much then it needs to be good products.

I had an ELCS and spent the days before getting a facial, polish free mani-pedi, haircut and waxing as I knew it'd be a whole before I could do it again.

Oh and I got my eyebrows threaded. Even with no make up it makes a huge difference to my face.

I had a quick make up set- light foundation, easy to put on eyeliner and dandelion by benefit. Didn't use mascara all the time but it took me two minutes to put these on and I felt much better for it.

See if you can find a mobile hairdresser!
I missed maternity leave time before baby as he arrived early. Never got my hair done!

I then had a c-section and couldn't really leave him with anyone because he was tiny.
And if breastfeeding then a few hours of colouring your hair won't work!

I then found a mobile hairdresser. Best thing ever!

I'll be honest it's hard. Selfishly it's something I admit struggling with as I look at myself and don't see myself if that makes sense.

I managed to get my hair done (for a few hours) with baby, even fed him during. I felt this was a Mumming at its best!

This probably sounds daft but my baby sleeps when in his pram but isn't the best at napping at home, so I actually find it easier to get a blow dry than wash and style my own hair. Dry shampoo and a big clip are essentials for me. If you've got long hair a high pony with a piece of hair wrapped around the tie always looks a bit more done.

I hate having chipped nails, so I've been just filing and putting a clear varnish on which makes them look not too bad. So I'd advise that.

I second the sheet masks garnier do one for tired skin that feels lovely and can be popped on when feeding.

Get your brows done before you have baby as you won't want anyone faffing with you for a good few weeks after.

I bought some really nice loungewear before having baby mostly from Next this made me feel a bit nicer as you are round the house a lot at first, and don't really want to get properly dressed for visitors. And if breastfeeding need really easy access to start as you're getting used to it. I'd really advise this, it really made me feel not too drab and awful.

Lip balm, and eye drops. Tired/dry eye ones for the start and brightening eye drops optrex do blue ones that get rid of redness. A good moisturising lip balm.

Also just to add I knew when I was being induced so was threaded,waxed, had a blow dry and mani-pedi shellac on toes and clear for fingers the day before.
Obviously this is difficult if not have a planned section, or being induced though, but if you are I'd recommend a pamper day the day before.

I never had so much time for beauty regime as when I was on maternity leave- I always had my nails painted- usually when baby was asleep. The first few days were hard when I was establishing feeding, but after that I had lots of time to fill.

Now I’m working full time with a toddler who clings to my leg and won’t go to bed easily, life is much more busy and I need to find ways to cut corners beauty wise! Very unlike me, but I’ve been going makeup free more often these days.

What I found is that i was short of money so spent a lot of time sourcing bargains on the internet and in Poundland.

Stock up on dry shampoo!! I often stretch out hair washing for an extra day and just have a spritz of dry shampoo and it looks fine!

I don't think I had an easy child by any stretch, but I don't remember finding it as hard as some make out!

I always managed to do my make up if I was leaving the house - admittedly this only takes me about 10 mins, but involves foundation, blush, eyebrows, eyeshadow, eyeliner and mascara. If tired, I recommend white/light eyeshadow on the inner corners of your eyes and white eyeliner along the bottom waterline.

Hair-wise, I just used to wait 'til DH got home and shower/wash my hair then. But then we've both always showered in the evenings and had a quick wash first thing to allow for extra sleep before work! I had my hair cut a couple of wks before my due date. I'm currently 33+3 with DC2 and planning on doing the same. With DS I only ever had a dry cut so was only gone an hour at most. This time I have ombre colour and am usually gone for c3hrs so it might be more challenging this time! Contemplating dying it all over so maintenance is less of an issue..

I'm mostly worried about how tired I'm going to look this time round as I've already spotted new bags and DD hasn't even arrived yet!

My newborn slept a lot so I had the time to do whatever I needed then. That all went out the window when sleep regression hit! I put together a little make up kit - including eye drops for tired eyes and if he wouldn't sleep, I'd take him for a drive until he fell asleep in the car seat and I would then park up and put my moisuriser and make up on in the car before going somewhere.

Kit just had concealer, eye lash curlers and mascara, blusher and eyebrow pencil... as well as an eye cream, eye drops (murine do the best ones - you can get them in boots in the blue box. They get rid of redness in your eyes!) And my elemis radiance cream.

In terms of shower / washing etc, I just popped my baby in the baby Bjorn chair and put her in the bathroom with me. If she started crying I might need to settle her.

I had a cluster feeder and managed just fine. I think after a while you need to think of things to keep you occupied- I planned a trip out each day, even if just to Sainsbury’s or a local cafe. It definitely kept me sane and I think helped my DD become well socialised. Unless it was pouring with rain, after 4 weeks I would be out of the house for a few hours each day. To do this, I got my DD used to napping in her pram.

My advice to start with is to take each day as it comes and as long as you & baby are fed and clean, you’re doing well! You probably won’t caee how you look to begin with. I had a nice dressing gown that I felt presentable in.

If you end up breastfeeding I’d say to have a side table by your breastfeeding spots with supplies- once you sit down you can find yourself stuck for quite a while. Things like water, book, phone, snacks, nail varnish/ beauty creams etc (after a while I did varnish while breastfeeding! I’m sure I couldn’t do that now!).

After the first weeks, my beauty regime became really important in self care and preservation of good mental health. So it’s definitely a good thing to plan into your day.

Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy and baby

Watching with interest.

Just started Mat leave, still waiting for baby. I’ve had a haircut and pedicure and stocked up on dry shampoo and easy make up bits.

I’ve also bought some nice clothes in size 10/12 (normally an 8) so I’ve got some nice bits to wear until I lose weight. I actually got most of it from charity shops / eBay so really cheap.

I bought some nice loungewear (TK Maxx was great for this) like nice Calvin Klein PJ bottoms and nice vests so I don’t feel too awful around the house. I’ve had bad sickness in pregnancy and spent most days wearing a hideous Primark onesie that I can’t wait to get rid of!

I'd highly recommend the new aveeno spray on moisturizer, really quick and easy to do post shower and DS finds me spraying it hilarious!