Working mums have busy lives. This is a fact that any woman who has kids and works a nine-to-five job can attest to. Some women work longer hours, which gives them even less time to spend on themselves during the day.
A common problem that working mums share is the fact that the busiest time of the day – which is in the morning – is also the part of their day that they need to spend some time on themselves to get ready for a long day at work. Unfortunately, between getting the kids out of bed, preparing breakfast for everyone and dropping them off at school, women often find that they do not get enough time to perform a proper beauty routine on themselves.
A lot of women simply skip the “me time” task, pull a brush through their hair, and grab the closest piece of clothing they can find, and off they go.
For a work-at-home mum, this type of routine would be suited. A mum that has to go to an office for work, however, needs to look professional as they would most likely be dealing with clients and have to attend meetings.
Looking unprofessional can have a major negative impact on the woman’s self-esteem and may even cause them to become more self-conscious. If you are one of these women, then this post is for you. We’ve compiled a list of nine tips that busy mums can use to stay beautiful, even when they are on a tight schedule.
- A Nighttime Hair Routine
Women sometimes take hours to style their hair, but a busy mum does not even have enough time to wash and dry her hair in the morning. To make things easier in the morning, you may want to switch to a nighttime hair routine instead. Bustle recommends washing hair at night and softly drying at a low temperature before going to bed.
- Conceal And Protect In One Go
Putting on the foundation will not protect you from the sun and putting on a sun protecting face cream won’t conceal any spots or imperfections. Putting on both of these can get messy and take double the time. Instead, opt for a blemish balm, also known as BB Cream, which also contains a built-in sunscreen (look for the word “SPF” on the tube). Beautylish explains that BB Cream is like a moisturiser, foundation, sunscreen, anti-aging cream and primer in one. The built-in foundation in these creams will also help you hide those facial wrinkles.
- It’s Okay To Rely On Dry Shampoo
You won’t always get the chance to wash your hair, but you don’t want everyone at school and work to know that you’ve gone a couple of days without washing. On days where you simply do not have the time, you can rely on dry shampoo to refresh your hair. Bellatory explains that washing your hair every day is not good for you anyways. They also explain that dry shampoo is convenient, they moisturise your hair, and it will get rid of that greasy look.
- Keep Yourself Hydrated
Hydration is a key factor in maintaining healthy-looking skin and hair, but a busy schedule often leaves little time for taking a hydration break. Keeping yourself hydrated throughout the entire day shouldn’t be such a hassle though. Simply keep a water bottle with you at all times and make sure you regularly sip some water. Fill up the bottle in the morning, when you’re on lunch breaks and then again when you get home.
- Use A Nighttime Cream
Your skin is relaxed at night and is not exposed to environmental factors. This means that it is the perfect time to treat your face with a specialised cream for your particular skin type. If you have acne, find a cream that will help to eliminate acne and heal acne scars. If you have wrinkles, try to find the best wrinkle cream to help reduce the appearance of your facial wrinkles.
- Snack On Healthy Foods
The vending machine at work might be convenient for picking up a snack on-the-go, especially when you’re pressed for time, but the food you buy from these machines are not only bad for your health, but also for your skin. Processed foods, fast foods, and refined grains are among the most common foods that can ruin your skin. Rather opt for nuts, fruit or even vegetables – pack these in your bag each night, so you have healthy snacks on hand every day at work.
- Make The Weekend Count
During weekends, there is no need to get up as early, and there is no need to drop the kids off at school. This also means that you have extra time on your hands. You should use the extra time to refresh your skin. A simple mask once every weekend will do wonders for your skin. Marie Claire recommends trying a Matcha, Honey or a Banana mask, which you can make from ingredients you most likely already have at home.
- Conceal Your Eyes
Women with children, especially when they are young, find that they do not always get their full seven to nine hours of beauty sleep every night. Sleep deprivation leads to tired eyes, which is unattractive and can make a woman feel self-conscious. Use a concealer during daytime to cover up dark circles under your eyes and apply one of the best eye creams to your eyes at night.
- Pack An Emergency Bag
Finally, you should always have an emergency bag at hand. Pack the bag with any essentials that you may require during the day. Concealer, lip gloss, mascara, BB Cream, dry shampoo and many other items should be placed in this bag. The bag will come in handy during those completely chaotic days.
Having kids to attend to in the morning and a full day ahead of you at work can be tedious. You should know, however, that you are not alone. Millions of women go through this type of daily routine and often finds that it is difficult to schedule some time to make themselves ready for the day. The tips and tricks we have shared here will help you prepare for the day and be ready for anything, no matter how little time you have on your hands.
Also READ: Xiaxue’s beauty tips for Singapore mums!
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