Beauty time for mommies

So, I am making a post for all of you beautiful mommies out there!  Though I have yet to have children, most of my friends do have them.  It got me to thinking about the lack of time most busy moms have...especially for things pertaining to skin and hair care, because let's face it, chasing kiddies around all day leaves a woman wiped out!  Here are a few of my favorite beauty tips for mommies, and they all involve baby related products that you most likely have around the house!

1.  Winter months are dry, and our skin suffers for it.  However, it really doesn't have to.  Instead of using the same (normal or normal-oily skin) wash you may use year 'round, try using a baby lotion, water, and an exfoliating cloth to wipe away dirt and make up.  I got this tip from my friend Nico Morley (read her blog, it is excellent!).  The lotion will moisturize your face, while the water and exfoliating cloth will wipe away any dirt, makeup, and dead skin cells.    Don't want to use lotion?  That's fine, use a moisturizing baby shampoo instead!  Most baby shampoos also work as body wash and are so gentle that they don't dry out the skin.  Next time you wash your baby/toddler/kid notice how your hands feel afterwards.  I'm willing to bet they aren't dried out or flaky   If you're going to make sure your kids skin isn't too dry, do they same for your own body (without even having to spend extra money).

2.  BABY WIPES!!  I actually use this one, and I have been preaching it for years now.  Baby wipes are great because they clean, and they don't dry you out.  I find that they actually remove makeup just as well, if not better, than any makeup remover I have ever used.  They never irritate my skin or eyes, and if I'm too lazy to delve into my nightly routine of washing and moisturizing afterward, I find that my skin isn't dry, dirty or breaking out the next day because of how effective, yet gentle the wipes are.  Now because I use these so often I do use the Huggies Soft Skin with shea butter wipes because they offer extra moisture.  Another perk to using baby wipes?  They are obviously a good bathroom wipe (rather than spending extra for the ones offered with the toilet paper), but even better they make a great spot cleaner!  Anytime that I need to quick wipe down my vanity, sink, toilet, tub, etc. for guests or whatever, I pull a couple of wipes out and I'm done in 5 minutes!  It's a handy fix-it for when you don't have cleaning time.

3.  I don't waste money on shaving cream.  My skin is sensitive, so it isn't enough protection, and it never prevents cuts or burn for me either.  My solution?  Baby oil!  Again, I have no kids and have used this one for years.  My legs are always silky smooth after I shave because of the oil, they don't get too dry or burned either.  You only need, maybe, a dime size drop per leg for this so it's a much better value than shaving cream.  I have taken to using Johnson & Johnson's shea butter baby oil gel, but really any kind works just as well.  I will warn you though, if you try this, switch to inexpensive razors because the oil makes them dull faster and gunks them up some.  However, it's still cheaper than constantly replacing expensive razors and creams that don't work as well as this tip, plus the oil actually works so well that I prefer cheaper razors now.



4.  Chapped lips?  Don't waste money on chap stick all the time, use an ointment.  I like Aquaphor.  I even have the baby ointment tube in my bathroom, but I do carry the lip tube (as well as Vaseline's cocoa butter lip jar) on me at all times.  Speaking of Vaseline, if you don't want to spend extra money on something like Aquaphor, then use the regular Vaseline or petroleum jelly that you probably do have sitting at home.  Even if you only use it before bed and after getting ready in the morning, it will do wonders for those lips!

Hope this was enjoyable and helpful!