When you’re a mom, squeezing in “me time” between carpool pickups, sports practices and meal prep can feel more challenging than potty training your firstborn. But just because you have little ones to take care of doesn’t mean that self-care has to take a back seat—or, in this case, a car seat. To find out how you can fit a little beauty into your busy life, we tapped three mompreneurs to share their daily routines. Their collective secret? A little mascara goes a long, long way.
Courtenay Perks
“I make time for myself so I have the energy to put into my family. You can’t give what you don’t have. So I make it a priority to do things for me,” says Courtenay Perks, the blogger behind Whole Vegan Pantry. “When I feel more in love with myself, that love and energy can then go into my children and husband.”
Her skincare secret
“I use a cleanser and scrub with disposable gauze morning and night. Then I use a toner made from 1/2 cup of witch hazel and 10 drops of tea tree oil, hydrating moisturizer and eye cream. At least once a week, I have an Epsom salts bath, dry body brush and then moisturize my body with hempseed oil. I wash and leave my hair to dry on its own, as I find it stays healthier that way.”
Her two-minutes-or-less makeup hack
“Now I’m working more, I find I’m also wearing less makeup, which I’m loving—my skin feels amazing and fresh. If I wear makeup [at], it’s only ever really quick and simple. I wear a light foundation, concealer around the eyes, a little pencil on the brows, gloss on my lips, a little blush, mascara and a simple liquid eyeliner. This literally takes two minutes max.”
Her swear-by ingredients
“Once or twice a week I do a charcoal face mask. I make it myself. It’s 1/2 tsp charcoal powder, 1/2 tsp bentonite clay powder, 1/4 tsp baking soda, 1/4 tsp coconut oil and 1 tsp water. I leave it on for 10 minutes and then scrub it off. When I go to the infrared sauna, I put coconut oil through my hair and rinse it out after. My hair is really shiny and glossy after.”
Her beauty tip for busy moms
“Take care of yourself from the inside out. Drink more water; eat more plants; move every day. And it’s okay to take care of yourself first.”
Jennifer Rose Rossano
“It’s important for me to find time for self-care because it’s important to take care of yourself,” says Jennifer Rose Rossano, the writer behind plant-based parenting blog NeuroticMommy and mom of two. “It’s not perfect—I’m not sitting in front of a vanity being fanned while my hubs feeds me grapes (haha)—but I get the job done, and it’s mostly at night when the kids are asleep. It also doesn’t take me hours. I have my routine down pat.”
Her skincare secret
“In the evenings I like to wash my face, exfoliate, spray on some toner or do a face or hair mask—whatever I’m in the mood for that night. And sometimes I like to keep it real simple and just lather my face up with castor oil and call it a night.”
Her two-minutes-or-less makeup hack
“A quick tip I do every day (so I don’t look like a complete hot mess when I’m dropping my son off at school) is tinted moisturizer and some mascara. The tinted moisturizer evens out my skin while adding some brightness, and the mascara just makes my eyes pop.”
Her swear-by ingredients
“I absolutely love lavender for my skin. It has anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties that are really soothing to the skin. It also just generally enhances your mood—makes you feel calm and relaxed. It’s pleasant all around. For my hair I love lavender too, but also peppermint as it stimulates the scalp. I like using coconut or jojoba oil for added moisture.”
Her beauty tip for busy moms
“A little goes a long way, ladies!”
Sunny Subramanian
“As an entrepreneur and single mom of two little boys, making time for self-care is essential for my sanity and well-being,” says Sunny Subramanian, the beauty expert behind Vegan Beauty Review. “Basically, how I see it is that I can’t be the best version of myself for others unless I set aside time for taking care of myself. I try to schedule ‘me time’ every single day, whether it’s 15 minutes or an hour.”
Her skincare secret
“For the evening, I remove my makeup with makeup wipes or jojoba oil on a cotton round, and then I wash my face with a creamy cleanser mixed with argan or grapeseed oil. I then tone and moisturize with shea butter or beauty oils. I love having all that yummy goodness soak into my skin while I catch my zzzz’s.”
Her two-minutes-or-less makeup hack
“When I’m in a rush or just want to keep things simple, I literally just use a bit of under-eye concealer, mascara and tinted lip gloss. It’s amazing how those three products can make me feel instantly put together.”
Her swear-by ingredients
“I’m pretty much a sucker for anything with argan oil, jojoba oil, grapeseed oil, hempseed oil, aloe, vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, activated charcoal and essential oils. I love ingredients that are all-natural and pack a punch, whether it’s for moisturizing, anti-aging, detoxing or all of the above.”
Her beauty tip for busy moms
“Two words: dry shampoo. It’s seriously life changing. Baby powder works wonders [as] quick, emergency finishing powder or dry shampoo.”
Mom-friendly skincare ingredients
Looking for fixes that are mom tested? Check out some of our faves, care of Schweiger Dermatology’s Michele Farber, MD. (And remember: It’s a good idea to test new products or ingredients on a small patch of skin before you slather them all over your face!)
Rosehip oil is packed with antioxidants that help reduce free radical damage that breaks down collagen. Use it once or twice a day as a serum—it’s perfect for busy schedules.
Green tea is an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant that calms acne, so it packs a punch. Brew yourself three bags for a nighttime treat—one for sipping and two more to cool down and use under your eyes. Look for green tea-infused skincare products too.
Chamomile tea is very calming for sensitive skin, and it’s a great anti-inflammatory. Look for it in your products, or grab a hot or iced iteration to sip on the go.
Hyaluronic acid is the ultimate skincare superstar. It replenishes the moisture barrier of the skin and is important to look for in any good cleanser, moisturizer, serum or eye cream. If you need one ingredient that can do it all, this stuff is it.
