There’s no such thing as a mom with a lot of time on her hands. Between caring for babies, scheduling activities, preparing food, and being the emotional support of the household, it’s hard to find time for ourselves. Even when we need it most.
That’s why I try to make self-care a priority in my life, especially when it comes to skincare. All you need is a few minutes a day with these skincare hacks:
Skincare hack #1: Exfoliate while you’re in the shower
I know–finding time to take a shower is a feat in itself, but once you’re in, make the most of your time by using a body wash that exfoliates the skin or contains active ingredients. Look for ingredients like glycolic acid, salicylic acid, or even retinol. You can get the benefits of these active ingredients even after they rinse off your skin. Some of my favorites are from my brand NATURIUM, but Olay has some great options too.
Skincare hack #2: Boost your skin, hair, and nail health while you get some caffeine.
Caffeine is a part of my major food groups as a mom, so I know I’ll have at least two cups a day. That’s why I like to sneak in a boost for my skin, hair, and nail health with Vital Proteins Unflavored Collagen Peptides in just about any caffeine drink I make, whether it’s a matcha or a latte. The key is to prep your milk in a frother, so you can quickly add your collagen peptides.
Skincare Hack #3: Find a moisturizer that doubles as your sunscreen.
If there’s one skincare product I want you to be diligent about it’s your sunscreen, especially if you’re a mom. Pregnancy hormones can really do a number on our skin, especially when it comes to hyperpigmentation and melasma (the dark spots that appear on your skin). UV rays from the sun play a huge part in skin health and aging, so it’s best to protect your skin with daily sunscreen use. The hack is to find a sunscreen you love that doubles as a moisturizer. Then it simplifies your morning routine! Just splash some water on your face and apply your moisturizer/sunscreen duo, and you’re ready for the day.
Skincare Hack #4: Find a retinol that doubles as moisturizer.
Along the same lines as the last hack, you can find retinol products that double as your moisturizer too. I love a multitasking product that helps simplify my skincare routine, but continues to give me the benefits I need. If you can only include one active ingredient in your skincare, I highly recommend a retinol since it can help with most of our main skin issues whether it’s loss of elasticity, skin texture, and even skin tone.
Skincare Hack #5: Replace makeup wipes with a double cleanse
I know makeup wipes seem to make your life easier, but it’s the opposite. They tend to not clean your face well enough and they can irritate your skin, so instead the use of them could be making your skin worse. If you haven’t tried a double cleanse, the concept is just as it sounds. You’ll use two cleansers. The first is an oil-based cleanser to break down your makeup, sunscreen and grime. The second will be a more usual water-based cleanser that removes the rest of it. It sounds like a longer process, but once you get in the swing of it, the process moves much quicker than swiping your face with 3-4 makeup wipes, and your skin will thank you for it!
Susan Yara
Beauty expert, producer, on-camera host and founder of Mixed Makeup and NATURIUM skincare, Susan Yara began her career as an on-camera news reporter in NYC, then found herself in the digital world as a reporter and host at Forbes.com where she helped create the Forbes Video Network. Her media career continued at PEOPLE Magazine, TotalBeauty.com, and PopSugar where she was an on-camera beauty reporter and producer. Her passion for beauty and wellness continued when she launched NewBeauty Magazine's editorial video department and relaunched NewBeauty.com. Susan has produced and hosted videos featuring top beauty industry experts and products, while overseeing editorial content, social media and website strategy.
Susan Yara is the founder of Mixed Makeup YouTube channel with more than a million subscribers as well as NATURIUM, a skincare brand that offers elegant, high-tech formulas at an affordable price. You can find her on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.
