No time, no sleep and lotsa swelling have a way of messing up a girl's beauty routine. Unfortunately, these things tend to accompany pregnancy and momhood, along with a host of other not-so-delightful side effects.
We spoke with Aveda's director of spa education, Shelley Bawiec, who specializes in skin care and is herself pregnant. She addressed some of the biggest beauty side effects and how to fight back against the less desirable changes motherhood can cause.
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Puffiness and Swelling: Especially late in pregnancy, bloating, swelling and puffiness are a common complaint. "The biggest thing to help this is the consciousness of the wellness routine and maintaining it. There's that extra fluid retention, so I'm making sure I'm continually exercising and doing lots of yoga and drinking lots and lots of water," Bawiec says.
Bawiec also uses facial massage to ease these symptoms.
For swollen feet, a cool foot soak followed by peppermint foot lotion can help reduce swelling.
Sensitive Skin: Because skin is sensitive to pigmentation during pregnancy, Bawiec advices wearing a moisturizer with SPF .
Dry Skin: That big, gorgeous belly is working hard to accommodate a growing baby … and may be impossibly itchy from all that stretching. "I'm integrating some more oils into my lotions to make sure my skin is nicely hydrated," Bawiec says.
Putting a humidifier in your bedroom will help fight the dry skin fight all night long.
Stretch Marks: Keeping your belly moisturized with lotions, creams and oils will help your skin feeling comfortable, but won't prevent stretch marks. "The predominant thing is genetics and how quickly you expand," Bawiec says.
Under-Eye Circles: Chilled teabags or cucumber slices may help, Bawiec says. She also recommends an eye cream, such as Aveda's Green Science Eye Cream, to combat puffiness and eye circles. "My favorite product is tinted moisturizer," she says, "It's so multifunctional. It has SPF and a light tint to it, and leaves a dewy radiance on the skin."
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Whether you're experiencing all these issues or are lucky enough to avoid any mommy-related beauty issues, make sure you're regularly setting aside a little time for yourself.
"You don't have a lot of time for yourself, so carve out some time for a set wellness routine where you are still working out , and where you can get in for a massage or facial," she says. "That will ultimately help you the most."
Want a Little Help with Feeling More Beautiful:
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