When you take proper care of your skin, you’ll look and feel better both inside and out. There are so many skin care products and treatments available, it might seem that taking care of your skin can be a full-time job. But there are also quick and simple things you can do to have healthy skin, and it’s easy for even the busiest mom to develop a daily skin care routine that will help keep your skin healthy and looking its youthful best.
Morning, Noon & Nighttime Skin Care
The most important step in skin care is to thoroughly cleanse your skin at least once a day, either first thing in the morning or before you go to bed at night. If you only have time for one thorough cleansing, make it at the end of the day. This way you’ll get rid of all the dirt and grime that’s accumulated during the day. (It’s there, even if you can’t see it!) Use a mild soap made specifically for the face – body soaps are too harsh – or a facial cleanser. You can also use a toner if you wish. After washing your face, apply moisturizer – a light one for daytime, a night cream before going to bed. At night, make sure to remove all traces of your makeup so your skin can breathe while you sleep. If you have time, try to exfoliate once a week. Adding a gentle scrub to your skin care regimen will help remove dead skin cells and keep your complexion smooth and glowing. Masks are also effective for this. For those busy days when it seems like there’s not even time to properly wash your face, keep a package of facial wipes handy. These take just a few moments to use, with terrific, refreshing results; they’re useful for a quick mid-day pick-me-up as well.
All-Day Skin Care Tips
If you’re still changing diapers at home, keep some of your moisturizer or other skin care products on the changing table. Then, once baby’s bottom is clean and fresh, take a moment to take care of your own skin as well. Apply a weekly face mask while you’re doing household chores, and both you and the house will benefit from your efforts. Also, in addition to keeping your skin clean and moisturized, be sure to include sunscreen in your daily skin care routine. You should use sunscreen year-round, even during the winter, to help prevent skin cancer and premature skin aging due to sun exposure. Apply the sunscreen whenever you go out, and remember to reapply if you’re been indoors for a while and are going back outside.
Easy At-Home Skin Care Ideas
There is an endless variety of skin care products and treatments to choose from, but there are also easy ways to take care of your skin that don’t require leaving the house or spending big bucks. Keep a teaspoon in the freezer to wake up tired, puffy eyes. Cucumber slices or wet tea bags will do the trick as well. If you have oily skin, squeeze some lemon juice into cold water and splash this on your skin for a natural astringent. For a moisturizing face mask, beat together an egg yolk and a teaspoon of olive oil. Don’t cook it, though – spread the mixture on your face, keep it on until it dries, then use warm water and a face cloth to gently wash off the mask, revealing glowing skin underneath. Yogurt can also be used as a skin care treatment to soften both the face and hands.