Written by Heather Edge
Published in January 2020 by ParenthoodIQ Magazine. Find this article at www.parenthoodiq.com and click By Age and scroll down to Parenting.
Happy New Year to a newer, better version of you! Since becoming a parent my beauty routine has been anything but consistent. However, a consistent skincare routine can help you see immediate gratification while also helping to delay the aging process. As an esthetician and educator for skincare and cosmetics brands, I can truly say I am passionate about skincare and try my best to cleanse and moisturize my skin at least once per day even though twice daily is recommended by skin care professionals. I definitely feel a little bit like Supermom when it’s a twice-daily kind of day! However, it’s 2020 and working on a better version of ourselves is definitely the focus this year! Taking better care of your skin probably didn’t make the list of the most important things needing improvement in your life, but it can certainly make you feel better to see a smoother, brighter complexion so you can face the day with a renewed sense of calm and confidence. Remember before having children when you seemed to have an endless supply of time to shave your legs, possibly put on a self-tan, and actually have more than five minutes to do your makeup? Ahhh..memories. The best part about being a parent is that it is an opportunity to become a better version of oneself. Hopefully, we learn how to manage our time and life tasks better. We become more patient with ourselves and our children because we learn things rarely go as planned. And we realize the beauty of what really matters and that it is time with our families. How does a good skincare routine twice-a-day fit into a day filled with managing a household of little people, homework, activities, dinner, and family time? It does. And you can do it!!! And hopefully you’ll also love the results. Here are some recommendations to help you know what to use and how to get your best complexion this year! Start off your morning with a double-cleanse. Wash your face twice with a cleanser made for your type of skin. Normal-to-dry skin is hydrated best with a cream cleanser while using a gel cleanser is best for normal-to-oily skin. Cleansing your face will awaken your skin and prep it for the next step. Apply a serum or essence to hydrate and treat your skin with recommended ingredients such as vitamins C & E, Hyaluronic acid and antioxidants. Using a serum will help to improve product absorption from your moisturizer and help with many anti-aging benefits. And who doesn’t like anti-aging?? Next, apply an eye serum and/or eye cream (I like to use both but using an eye cream alone is also beneficial) which will help to circulate the undereye area and dramatically minimize fine lines and loss of firmness over time. Be sure to gently pat eye products with your ring finger (your weakest finger to minimize pulling the eye area) around the orbital bone of the eye area. The last and most important step is to moisturize. If you can’t possibly fit in your entire skincare routine, a quick facial cleanser and moisturizer is absolutely better than nothing. And you’re still getting many benefits. Try to choose a moisturizer that is right for your skin type and will also have other benefits such as being anti-inflammatory, brightening, or firming. Normal-to-dry skin typically prefers a cream. Normal-to-oily skin typically prefers an oil-free or oil-absorbing lotion or facial oil that will hydrate and also help to keep the skin from over-producing oil. Skin prone to sensitivity, acne or other ailments should definitely schedule an appointment with an esthetician or dermatologist who can help to recommend the best products for you. All skin can change with dramatic weather temperatures which means skincare routines may need to be slightly altered. Typically, just changing your moisturizer does the trick. Most skincare experts also recommend wearing a sunscreen which can easily be applied over moisturizer. Monthly facials are also highly recommended if the budget allows for a little pampering. I also recommend using some type of exfoliant whenever you feel your skin might be losing its radiance or your makeup may look as if it’s sitting on the skin. Masques are also extremely beneficial and quite fun to pick out and recommended 1-2x per week...However, I often indulge and use a masque about 3-4 times per week. I find it keeps the skin looking plump and hydrated and has a glowing effect. Also, makeup definitely lays on the skin much nicer when its exfoliated and hydrated. There are so many new ways to pamper your skin...Hopefully, these tips will really help you to get your best skin yet! I was blessed to be raised by a mom who instilled from a young age the importance of taking care of my skin and it has made me appreciate her in so many ways. An opportunity to share your beauty secrets with your child as they grow is an opportunity to bond and help them feel more confident in their skin as well. And don’t give up if you simply cannot get to your skincare routine one day...the sweet and silly conversations, late-night cuddles and watching your child shine as they grow is the stuff that makes the top of the list. Heather Edge is a Licensed Esthetician and Makeup Artist in the Lowcountry representing NARS Cosmetics, Devacurl, and St. Tropez Tan. Connect on Instagram @shineyourlight_makeupartistry .
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