The Beauty Mums Swear By
January 1 | 2 minute read
Words by Christie Sinclair
Originally published on | April 15
When you become a parent, you learn very quickly that there is no time for elaborate beauty routines. Balancing the needs of your offspring and yourself means a 10-step skincare regimen or contouring your face is, sadly, often the first thing to go.
So, we must get clever – not only with time management, but with our beauty products. It is possible to look polished while attempting to buckle an unwilling child into their car seat. Here, our MECCA Mums share the wonder products that get them through the chaos in style. (And they also make the best gifts for Mother’s Day – coming up on Sunday 12 May!)
Faux the pregnancy glow
“Have I slept all night? No. Have I eaten well? Do sandwich crusts count? But is my skin glowing? Thanks, it’s Dr. Barbara Sturm Glow Drops,” shares Romy, MECCA’s Content Director. “A couple of drops all over the face and it restores my (long worn off) pregnancy glow.” For looking put together (even when she doesn’t feel it), a swipe of VIOLETTE_FR Eye Paint in ‘Tout Doux’ across the lids gives Romy a ‘you, but without peanut butter smears on your shirt’ look in literally 10 seconds.
Mask the sleepless nights
Thanks to clever brands like LOOPS who consider our daily habits in the design of their products, there’s no need to forgo your skincare routine when kids call. Their masks promise to stay on your face – even while chasing down a toddler who’s just gotten hold of your favourite lipstick. MECCA’s General Manager of Marketing, Marissa, likes to use the Weekly Reset Rejuvenating Hydrogel Eye Mask for those “extra sleepless nights”. “It’s a staple for mums with toddlers to refresh, recharge and revive your eyes, without having to sit still! The cooling gel makes you feel like you’ve had a power nap, too,” she says.
Turn chores into rituals
When you’re a mum, every moment alone (especially the most mundane, like supermarket shopping) is an opportunity to indulge in a little luxury – and that is the beauty philosophy of MECCA’s Head of Visual Merchandising, Sam. “I use the Officine Universelle Buly Opiat Dentaire Orange Ginger Clove Toothpaste when I want to freshen up after eating, before I go out or while I’m putting on makeup,” she shares. “It’s not as harsh as regular toothpaste and makes cleaning your teeth feel so much less laborious.”
Find hard-working replacements
After having her son, Lucy – MECCA’s MECCAversity Category Strategy Manager – no longer had time for a multi-step body routine, so she subbed in Sans [ceuticals] Activator 7 Body + Hair + Face Oil. “It’s a product I can quickly slather onto damp, just-showered skin,” she shares. “It absorbs quickly, nourishes and feeds my skin, plus, has made a significant impact on helping to reduce the appearance of scars and stretch marks.” A pro mum tip: “Put the leftover oil from your hands through the mid-lengths and ends of your hair for an anti-frizz shine booster that split ends will love.”
Simplify when it feels like a stretch
Speaking of stretch marks, honorary MECCA Mum, Kourtney Kardashian-Baker, was dedicated to one very simple body care step during her most recent pregnancy with baby number four. “People are always asking me what I used to prevent stretch marks, and I think the key is keeping your body moisturised,” she said on her lifestyle site Poosh, naming the MECCA-stocked Pure Mama Belly Oil as a favourite to apply in the morning and “then later in the evening after a shower or bath.”
