I have distinct memories of getting ready to go out when I was 7-8 months pregnant. As I did so, I remember telling myself things like: “I will never stop taking care of myself!” or “I promise to never neglect self-care as a new mom”!
Fast forward 6 months, and my self-affirmations were out the window. With my hands full of diapers, wipes, and a colicky infant, I found myself lucky if I even managed to look in the mirror once a day.
As thrilled as I was to have embarked on the journey of new motherhood, I found myself yearning for a chance, even if only momentary, to forget about my responsibilities and focus on myself.
One day, I came across the following quote:
“Self-care is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation.” – Audre Lorde
It was immediately after reading this that I remembered why I had ever said the phrases I mentioned in the beginning… when I took the time to take care of myself, I felt confident, empowered, and capable to take on the world!
As a new mom, it wasn’t realistic to make a goal of showering, styling my hair, and doing my make-up every day. I decided to instead focus on simpler things, starting with my skincare routine.
In this article, I will share with you my top 5 proven skincare tips that helped me to feel like the best version of myself as a new mom. Let’s get into it!
1. Simplify your routine
Dr. Julia Tzu is a world-renowned NYC-based dermatologist who is also the founder and director of Wall Street Dermatology.
Dr. Tzu has been quoted several times, explaining that “layering on multiple skin products is a huge no-no”, due to the harshness on the skin.
Finding the perfect routine takes trial and error, so be patient in finding the perfect product arrangement that complements your skin type and post-pregnancy lifestyle.
2. Moisturize
According to Dr. Janet Prystowsky, a board-certified dermatologist of 25 years from New York City, the best times to moisturize are right after you get out of the shower (while skin is still damp), and right before you go to bed.
As a busy mom, there are very few moments that I can find to squeeze in self-care. However, taking a few seconds to moisturize twice a day not only reminds me of my self-worth, but it gives me lasting results that boost my confidence for the rest of the day.
3. Skincare starts from within
When you think of skincare, you might think of lotions, creams, oils, and sprays. While these products serve their own purposes, skincare starts from within.
By consuming the ingredients that your body needs to help your skin to heal and thrive instead of only applying them to the surface of your skin, it allows for faster and more effective absorption.
Made by skincare experts from Japan, OMONO helps to provide important sources of nutrients and antioxidants ideal for skin health. Key ingredients include collagen, hyaluronic acid, biotin, and vitamin C.
As a new mom, the importance of taking care of your skin by nourishing your body from the inside out cannot be overstated.
4. Protect your skin from the sun
Whether you find yourself soaking up the sun daily, or spending time indoors behind closed curtains (especially after pregnancy), you should still wear sunscreen. Sunscreen is for EVERYONE regardless of skin tone, and it should be part of every person’s skincare routine.
Wearing sunscreen has the following benefits:
- Protection from the sun’s UV rays
- Sunburn prevention
- Skin cancer prevention
- Anti-aging properties
The depletion of the ozone, resulting from global warming, has increased the intensity of the sun’s UV rays, making sunburns more common. Protect yourself by adding sunscreen to your daily skincare routine.
5. Manage your stress
The human body is an amazing and complicated machine. While managing stress might not have any obvious connection to having clear skin, a 2018 article from the Dermatology Times explains the strong correlation between how the management of stress can improve acne symptoms.
The article states that “in adult women with acne, chronic stress increases the secretion of adrenal androgens and results in sebaceous hyperplasia”. This means that for women who already suffer from acne, stress can worsen symptoms and lengthen healing times.
Being a new mom can be a stressful experience. Manage your stress by leaning on a support person, practicing self-care, and setting realistic expectations.
Whether you are a new mom or a seasoned one, you deserve to spend time on your skincare. There is no reason to overcomplicate the process – so keep your skincare regime simple and to the point.
You’ve got this mama, happy skin-caring!
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