Pregnancy
May 5, 2013 in Beauty
I doubt I am the only person who has noticed, but there seems to be some special water about which when drunk, gets you pregnant.
I know at least 5 people who are pregnant. The fact that 3 are celebrities is completely beside the point. The fact that I am aware of 5 ovens baking a baby is really impressive. I usually only know one. And it is so many; E! news basically dedicates an entire segment to who is preggers.
And the fact that Kate Middleton’s 6 month pregnancy belly is the equivalent to my veggie burger, chips, Pepsi Max and dessert belly is just not very helpful.
But it got me thinking. Pregnancy is a great time. Except for all the things your body has to go through. I mean, when I bake something in the oven for 30 minutes, I am finished! Much less 9 months!
And it isn’t even just the energy factor. It is also the stretching of skin, the drying of the skin, the sore boobs, back, ankles, everything. Oh and the teenage breakouts are just the cherry on the top.
While pregnancy may be a wonderful, life changing experience, make sure to do the below to feel beautiful on the outside too.
First and most, most, most important: look after yourself. The tendency with becoming a mum is to put everyone else first. Make sure to relax during your pregnancy. Like I said, you are making a little human, so sleeping-in, siestas and relaxing baths (not too hot) are the order of the day.
Next step, moisturise like the world will end if you don’t. You may find you get dry, itchy skin. You are also expecting your skin to stretch and stretch and stretch. The best way to avoid stretch marks is to moisturise morning and night with a creamy body butter or cream. Massaging the cream into your skin also helps with circulation.
You may start to notice dark pigmentation on your skin from all those hormones flying around. Make sure to use a night cream or specific treatment to minimise hyperpigmentation.
The other thing that comes with the raging hormones (besides crying at commercials) is break outs and black heads. Make sure to swap your cleanser for one that has clarifying properties to wash away any oil and a toner for your skin. Facials are good too (and help the relaxation, self-pampering).
And finally a beauty tip for the birth (which I learnt from my sister). You know after the birth, everyone will want to take happy snaps of you and bub and put it on Facebook a whole 5 minutes after squeezing the little sucker out. And while all babies are adorable, sheer exhaustion spread across your face is probably something you would prefer to not be tagged in. Made up eyes can make this all better, but the last thing you will want to do is apply mascara (you may actually poke your eye out at that stage). Instead, get your eyelashes tinted, or even extended at the beauty therapist a few days before you are due (and it will last for 4 weeks for any fashionably late babies). Your skin will be glowing, your eyes will pop and the Facebook comments will read “Congratulations! And you look so amazing after giving birth, wish I looked like that!”
- Skin Clinic Rescue Balm Kosmea 50ml ($29.95) – this stuff is rich in all the good stuff to help with dry skin and can even be used on cracked nipples and sensitive baby skin.
- Hydro-Active Mineral Salts 284g Dermalogica ($38.50) – make sure you take some time to relax when you are pregnant, as it may be rare and few post the birth. This is great to soak in, or even use as a body polish.
- Organic Rosehip Belly Oil Ayana Organics 50ml ($29.95) – Rosehip oil is great for scar reducing, so make sure to rub this over your belly daily with special attention to those stretch marks.
- Big Belly Butter Ayana Organics 250ml ($36.65) – this is great of dry and itchy skin. It is rich and creamy and can be used every day from the moment you find out you are pregnant. Just a little warning: no matter how good this smells, do not attempt to eat it. Just trust me on this.
- Mumma & Bubba Organics mumma balm stretch mark cream Urban Rituelle 250g ($31.50) – this stuff has everything jam packed in. We are talking rosehip oil for the stretchmarks, avocado oil for soothing, evening primrose oil for healthy skin and the list goes on. Used daily during pregnancy and post birth, your skin will be as bouncy as before.
- Spotner Face 2ml ($29.95) – You may get hyperpigmentation during your pregnancy (dark spots on your hands or face). This is great stuff to minimise these within 2 weeks of use.
- orange & cehami gel cleanser Endota 90ml ($39.00) – For any breakouts you get during your hormone ranging pregnancy, this stuff is great. The native Australian cehami is a non-irritating plant ingredient for clearing oil and the orange is a natural toner for the skin. Use it morning and night for clear skin.
And now for the competition!
To go into the draw to win the Ayana Organics Duo (Organic Rosehip Belly Oil and Big Belly Butter), in the comments below, share your best and worst about being pregnant. Winner will be announced on Sunday the 26th of May!
Baby bumps are super chic!
xoxo
