So lets talk about self care!…how many of you started doing a self care routine after having your baby?
I know I TRIED having a self care routine right after having Luna when she was an infant and it was nearly impossible.
I remember trying to comb my hair and she was crying like crazy and I just got out of the shower and knew I couldn’t do my makeup or think clearly to get ready.
Well now that those days are over I feel like I have been able to redeem myself (ha!) once she turned about 16 months.
I remember someone telling me that it took them 2 years to feel like themselves again and I really thought that this could NOT be possible!
TWO YEARS? Like 24 months of feeling and physically being yourself again???!
You are telling me that I have to feel like a zombie for the next year??
As a first time mom I really didn’t know what motherhood was like and just seeing snippets of what it WOULD be like with YouTube videos and pretty advertisements.
At the time Luna was only 3 months old and it just sounded daunting knowing how long I would be in this cave hole and I knew there was a light at the end of the tunnel but couldn’t understand why it would take this long for me to be myself again.
Trust me it does get better… (although at the time it feels never ending)
Now everyone is different when it comes to self care and snap backs (don’t get me started on that)
In this post I wanted to share with you what my self care routine is like and I’m talking about skin care, clothes, vitamins and just overall being cute and feeling good is my type of self care even if it’s just 10 minutes!
1. A Good Multivitamin!
I was using another brand that I bought from Target which were fine but then I noticed it would be difficult for me to swallow my pills and get an upset stomach.
Then I found out Tia Mowry came out with her own women’s multivitamin called Anser Once Daily Women’s Multivitamin
I got excited about it because 1. She’s a sista! 2. I’ve noticed she’s very aware with her body and lives a healthy lifestyle. 3. Shes a mommy!
So I did my research on her company and reviewed her bottle which had amazing things in it so I made the purchase!
I’m so glad that I bought these pills because I do get more energy from it and it doesn’t give me gassy or upset stomach!
The customer service is SUPERB!
Every time I mentioned their product on Instagram they always respond and it doesn’t seem like they are salesy or promoting CONSTANT coupons on their email lists. They always provide great information in their emails and to me it seems like they care about their customers and Tia is always showing love to her fans!
I always take these multivitamins in the morning while I’m rushing to make breakfast for Luna and to me I feel great that I did something for myself.
2. Yogi Tea
Woosahhh…. now when I want to de-stress or start my day on a good note, I like to take the Stress Relief tea from Yogi Tea.
I think I started drinking this tea more seriously after I had Luna since I was in constant stress mode (seriously all the time for the first few months) and I wanted to include something that would make my body feel better so I opted for this.
Previously I would drink green tea but the taste started to wear off on me and it didn’t seem to help me feel better so I figured I should try the Yogi Tea brand since the box looked pretty and healthy.
I tried three other flavors and when I say the flavors shooketh me… I was sold! The flavors were amazing and it just felt like I was drinking a quality tea.
You can taste the herbs and botanicals which made me feel like I had tasted something that was healthy for me and just added good positive vibes.
3. My Mini Makeup Routine
I have a really SIMPLE SIMPLE SIMPLE makeup routine that I do everyday because I want to feel good and ready in the morning!
I swear just having a bit of makeup on makes you feel like you are ready and not EVER having to get ready in the middle of the day…. because chileee when I try to get ready with Luna while she’s begging for attention it’s so difficult! And it takes way too long to get ready at that point.. forget it!!
So my makeup routine consists of these items in the morning:
- Face wash
- Moisturizer
- SPF
- Eyebrows
- Concealer
- Mascara..unless I have lash extensions
Yup that’s it! I don’t have much eyebrows (thanks to my mom) but I feel like eyebrows and eyelashes are the main thang.
So I start my morning by washing my face with Cerave Hydrating Cream to Foam and then I apply the Kiehls ultra facial moisturizer and Clinique SPF 30 with Solar Smart.
I’m not a skin expert and I know I should be applying serums and probably more things to my face but I’m still learning!
So far my skin hasn’t been too bad but this has been fine for me in the meantime. Let me know in the comments for any more suggestions!
For my eyebrows I use concealer to outline my brows, an eyebrow pencil and eye shadow to darken my brows, this is a whole other routine I’ll have to show you!
Then I add the 16 hour camo concealer by e.l.f. Cosmetics under my eyes …which is my absolute fav! And also a good dupe for the comparable brand NARS radiant creamy concealer $$$
And voila! I’m done!
I feel like the concealer pulls my face all the way together since I barely sleep and I’ve started to get dark under eyes because of it. (sad face) But being able to conceal and make myself look better has definitely put some pep in my step.
4. My Hair Routine
Getting my hair done was nearly impossible when having Luna and so I had to develop a routine that made me feel better about my hair and myself. It was a struggle!
If you are like me and you have curly hair…you already know how difficult it is to tame it! So I found a simple routine that I use everyday and even if I put it in a bun, I manage to make it look cute and simple!
I wash my hair with Shea Moisture Manuka Honey and Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Shampoo and Conditioner.
They come in separate bottles and when I tell you, I’ve never had my hair feel so hydrated in the shower!!
I’m so glad I picked these bottles up and ever since I’ve been using it a few times a week. My hair hasn’t gotten tired of it so this is definitely my go to.
I add these oils to my hair when damp:
- Coconut oil
- Jojoba oil
- Vitamin e
- Peppermint castor oil
It seems like a lot t of oils but it has definitely helped with the health of my curls and keeping it nourished.
To help my hair stay moisturized I ALWAYS use a leave in conditioner like this one by Emerge: My Mane BFF Leave In Conditioner Nourishing & Smoothing which I absolutely love since I’ve been using it for a few months now and it hasn’t disappointed!
Then I use all of these products by Curl Daze Hair care:
- Ultra Moisture Creme with Kukui Oil
- Creamy Curl Styler with Kukui Oil
- Glossy Shine gel with Kukui Oil
All of these products mentioned are my ultimate favorite! I’m an ambassador for them so if you would like to receive a discount, you can use my code MGPR15 for 15% off. www.curldaze.com ( I do receive a small commission if you choose to purchase from them at no cost to you.)
I let my hair air dry while I run around the house doing errands and bam! My hair is done!
I’ve also discovered headbands too! I found a few from TJmaxx and it can make your hairstyle even more cute!
Headbands make your whole outfit look cute without having to do too much to your hair. Sometimes I put my hair in a bun or ponytail, throw on a headband, put some earrings on and its without too much effort!
5. Outfits: Keeping It Simple And Fast!
After having a baby, your body goes through a lot of changes, you still have the baby weight and for most women it’s the most frustrating part!
I remember going through my closet after 1 week of having my daughter and as I tried on my pre-pregnancy clothes, I noticed I didn’t fit into anything!
My mindset was that after I had delivered the baby, I would lose the 54 pounds that I gained quickly since I lost about 20 pounds in a week from breastfeeding.
So if I had to do it again, I would buy these clothes instead to keep it simple:
Purchase lounge wear two piece sets or two piece sets in general!
This outfit I purchased from amazon, you can find it here.
This is so much easier than buying separate pants and shirts while you are are to figure out what to wear when caring for a baby at the same time!
I couldn’t believe I was wearing a size larger than I usually was and that was definitely weird to me.
I love wearing lounge wear sets that come in either the shirt and short combo or sweat shirt/sweat pants combo.
They match and you can grab them and get out of the house quickly.
A ton of stores sell items like this and I don’t think they will ever go out of style.
Especially with a newborn, you are going to want to wear something that is quick to dress into and also be cute in. You can pair these with some nice sneakers, a head band, some light makeup and that’s it!
I usually wear sets around the house or for running errands.
It’s the best affordable investment I made and once your baby is older, I’m sure you’ll be able to do more buy more separate clothing for the occasion!
6. Fitness
I’ve never been an obsessed working out type of girl but I do always manage to work out whenever I can, and with Luna it definitely made it more difficult to exercise but I learned you need to improvise!
After having Luna I would do walks around my neighborhood so that I could get fresh air and have some kind of movement going on.
Then I started really working out after she turned 1. I did eat healthy often so that made a difference in losing the weight but I had no muscle! So I had to do something about it.
I looked into exercising outside of my house like a gym membership but it was too difficult at the time for me to leave since my mother in law got sick and I couldn’t leave the house since I was needed home.
Plus, it was just an overall inconvenience for me to leave home anyways.
So I figured I could work out at home and so I looked into the T25 workouts by Shaun T.
I’ve done his Insanity program in the past and had amazing results. I loved the idea that it was only 25 minutes a day which was perfect since that’s all that I could do!
With a baby and in laws, I only had very little time and so I was determined to figure out this fitness thing because I missed working out and moving.
You can find the program here at beachbodydemand.com
I started the program for a month and lost 10 pounds which got me back to my pre pregnancy weight and I was thrilled.
I’m going to continue to do it again and I really love that its quick, it’s also intense and I know that I’m getting a full sweat on and getting myself back in shape.
That’s It!
So what is your self care routine like?
I know it doesn’t have to be a long list like mine, it can even be one thing that makes YOU feel good. I know that being a mom makes everything more difficult when you try to do anything for yourself. It’s like we get the little scraps at the end of the day lol but we manage! Even if it’s for 5 minutes, taking a walk, watching a movie, just anything that makes you feel good is sooo important.
“Self Care is giving the world the best of you instead of what’s left of you.”
Katie Reed
