8 Skincare Tips for Busy Moms

8 Skincare Tips for Busy Moms

When you’re a mom, most of your time and energy goes to your kids, leaving you very little left over for self-care activities like a skincare routine. And with skincare routines becoming more complicated with every passing year, many moms understandably get overwhelmed at the idea of having to apply 20 anti-aging skincare products to their faces every day and decide to just give up on skincare entirely. But we’re here to tell you that skincare doesn’t have to be a burden or super time-consuming. Here are eight skincare tips to help busy moms fit a little bit of self-care into every day:

Get to know your skin again.

As you age, your hormone levels change, which can affect your skin type. Pregnancy and breastfeeding also affect your hormones and changes your skin. After a lifetime of oily skin, you might suddenly find yourself dealing with dry skin (or vice versa). You might also find yourself with adult-onset acne caused by all those hormonal fluctuations. Reacquaint yourself with your skin type and concerns so that you can tailor your skincare routine to your current needs instead of sticking with products that haven’t worked in five years.

Organize your bathroom.

Busy moms don’t have time to hunt down a serum in a crowded bathroom! Set aside a weekend to clean out your bathroom and throw away any old, expired products that you don’t use anymore. Take your remaining skincare products and sort them in a clear acrylic organizer that makes it possible to see every label without having to take them out. If possible, leave the organizer out on your bathroom counter so that everything is within arm’s reach. This will speed up your skincare routine and make it so much easier to find all your products.

Simplify your routine as much as possible.

Most moms don’t have the time or energy for a 10-step skincare routine every morning and night, and you honestly don’t need to use this many products to see a benefit. Instead, simplify your skincare routine as much as possible, choosing multi-tasking products that will deliver several benefits at once. For example, instead of using one serum for calming, one for brightening, and one for hydration, you can choose a single serum that offers all these benefits in one. You might also consider wearing a tinted sunscreen that acts as a lightweight foundation in addition to offering sun protection.

Never skip your sunscreen.

If you only do one thing in the morning, it should be to apply sunscreen to your face, ears, neck, chest, and any other exposed skin. Choose a sunscreen of at least SPF 30 for adequate protection. Not only will this shield your skin from short-term sunburn, but it will also protect it from cumulative UV damage that collects over time, increasing your risk of skin cancer and causing premature wrinkles and fine lines to form. If chemical sunscreens irritate your skin or eyes, try mineral sunscreens, which are gentle on sensitive skin.

Take off your makeup every night.

Many nights, you may be so tired from taking care of the kids that you want to fall directly into bed instead of taking the time to remove your makeup. If you can’t bear the thought of washing your face, keep some makeup removing wipes on your nightstand so that you can wipe your face off in bed. If you have a little extra energy, a double cleanse routine with a makeup removal balm followed by a facial cleanser will remove any lingering traces of cosmetic products and leave your skin feeling fresh and clean.

Change your towels at least once a week.

Your towels and washcloths are way more disgusting than you realize, harboring dirt, bacteria, and germs. These contaminants can transfer to your face, irritating your skin and causing breakouts. You should be changing your towels once a week at a minimum (and ideally every couple of days) to keep them fresh and clean. We also recommend getting yourself a special set of towels in a unique color that are used for your face only, and not wiping up your kids’ bodily fluids, to cut down on germ transference.

Let your kids join in.

If your kids are a bit older, then they might be interested in mom’s skincare and beauty routine and even want to join in. Having a little spa night at home is a great opportunity to get some bonding in while taking care of your skin and theirs! If you have any masks at home, those are a great option since they can be rinsed off if your kids don’t like them. Just be sure to choose products that are soothing, calming, and/or hydrating; kids’ skin is more sensitive and can’t tolerate powerful exfoliating or brightening ingredients.

Be as consistent as possible.

Consistency over time is what will make the biggest changes in your skin, especially when it comes to preventing premature aging and reducing your risk of skin cancer. Doing a mask once a month or using a skincare tool a couple times won’t make as much of a difference as applying your serums and sunscreen every single day. Do your best to get into a regular a.m. and p.m. skincare routine, but don’t sweat it if you have to skip a product or day here and there. The effects are cumulative, so it’s really about how your skincare routine’s benefits add up over time.

We hope these tips made skincare feel more doable for busy moms everywhere! What are your other skincare tips for moms and parents? Have you tried any of these tips already, or do you plan to? Let us know in the comments below!