After the birth of my son, I knew I was finally feeling more like myself again when I started wearing makeup. This did not happen overnight. It took almost a full year of sporting sweatpants and hastily applied lip balm before I’d had enough of feeling like a schlump! Now, I use five key products on my face everyday to help me look and feel more alive. (I’ve included links to my favorite brands and colors in case to you want to put together a quick makeup regime for yourself!) The trick is they’re easy to apply, so you can be out of the bathroom in a flash–before your baby takes all of the clothes out of your dresser and dumps them on the floor! Take a cue from me and remember that just because you had a baby does not mean you have to resign yourself to frump.
A 2-in-1 eye cream and concealer. Eye bags happen–how can they not when you’re battling 5:45am wake-up calls? 2-in-1 eye products are essential for busy moms who want to apply makeup in a rush. Garnier makes a Skin Renew Anti Dark Circle Eye Roller ($12.99) that gives you cooling, unpuffing eye cream with a concealer to hide those dark circles. Another great option is the cult product Touche Eclat from Yves Saint Laurent ($40), an easy-to-apply illuminator that brightens the eye area without a lot of fuss.
Combined moisturizer tint and sunscreen. This is another time saver for moms on-the-go which keeps your skin looking great while protecting it from the sun. Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer ($42) is a popular option that is lightweight with a natural finish. For a more budget-friendly choice, try ($9). Personally, I’m a sucker for the latest fads and have been using Dr. Jart Premium Beauty Balm SPF 45 ($39). It’s a moisturizer, sunscreen and treatment serum all in one. I find I need to add a dusting of Bareminerals Mineral Powder Foundation ($26) over the Dr. Jart so as not to look weirdly pink, but it still ends up being super-fast for me by combining all those products into one.
Blush. Next on my face before running out the door is a pop of color on the cheeks for an instant face lift! Blush not only makes you look rosier and more alive, it also directs attention away from those tired eye bags you so diligently tried to cover up! One drugstore brand of blush I really like is Milani, especially their , a warm coral ($7.49). Another good choice is ($11.95). I would buy it based on the name alone–if it makes me look young and happy, I am hooked!
Mascara. This will bring some definition to those tired eyes. Maybelline makes some fantastic mascaras, including their original ($4.99), packaged in their famous pink tube, as well as their newer ($6.39), which has a spoon brush that will curl your lashes, giving your eyes a more open and awake look. A pricier but worth it newcomer is Benefit’s They’re Real! Mascara ($22). It gives you both volume and crazy long length for your lashes in one, making a big impact with just a quick application.
Lip color. The final step, when baby is safely strapped into his stroller and we are playground-bound, is adding a splash of color to my face via my lips. For everyday colors for fall, I love dark wines and berries. Two of my new faves are by Revlon, which makes excellent lipsticks at inexpensive prices. I love their , a deep, dark vampy red ($7.99) and , a wine-colored red ($7.99). If you are scared of too much color, try a lip tint or even tinted lip balm. Maybelline just launched their Baby Lips tinted lip balms ($3.49), combining color and moisture in one cute package. Revlon has also just come out with their Colorburst Lip Butters ($7.49; available at drugstores).
