Chereen Gibson is the beauty editor of O Magazine, and every time I see her, I’m in awe of her beautiful bob that she maintains every day with a gHd. Chereen managed to fit this guest post right after getting engaged (typing this while wearing a beautiful ring). For more of Chereen’s beauty tips on the go, follow her on Twitter, or on her blog For The Beauty of It
“I may not be a mom (yet!), so I can’t relate to tales of late-night feeds, early wake-up calls or having to juggle a career AND baby. However, I DO have stretch marks (thank you, pubescent growth spurt), dark circles under my eyes (as a result of deadlines that keep me up into the wee hours), minimal time for myself and, as a beauty editor, access to some of the best beauty products out there. So I like to think that my bevy of time-saving beauty buys would come in handy for most women – whether you’re new to motherhood, have three children of varying ages (busy toddler included) or, like me, are still focused on building your career.
First and foremost, never underestimate the importance of a good concealer. And by good, I mean a creamy formula that melts easily into your skin, won’t settle in any creases and matches your skin tone exactly. Bobbi Brown is renowned for her amazing range of foundations and concealers, and since I discovered Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer Kit two years ago, I haven’t been able to go one day without it. Simply use a concealer brush to apply the cream concealer to dark circles under your eyes (I find that lightly dabbing product onto problem areas using your ring finger works well too, but I prefer the precision of a brush), then apply the accompanying yellow-toned powder to set your concealer. If you feel you need some extra help, apply YSL Touche Éclat to your under-eye area after you’ve applied concealer, but before setting with powder. This iconic product adds instant radiance to your under-eye area and disguises dark circles in a flash.
I often struggle with bleary, red eyes that are part and parcel of late nights and early mornings. Smashbox Eye Beam Double-Ended Brightener comes to the rescue EVERY time. This double-ended beauty has a highlighter, which can be applied to the brow bone and at the inner corner of your eye to make eyes appear more wide-awake, as well as a cream-coloured pencil that can be applied to the inner rim of your eyes to make them appear whiter. On busy mornings when I don’t have time to do a full-face of make-up, I find that a quick swipe of this double-ended pencil, a thin layer of tinted moisturiser (try new limited edition Estee Lauder Daywear BB Crème SPF35 – a moisturiser, foundation and concealer in one, with the added bonus of a high SPF), and two coats of mascara are all I need to look fresh-faced and as though I got a full night’s rest.
On that note, I honestly believe that no make-up collection is complete without the addition of a pair of eyelash curlers. They may resemble a torture device, but a few pumps of the curler along your lashes will really open them up. Follow with a few coats of mascara (I’m currently loving new Maybelline The Colossal Volum’Express Cat Eyes Mascara) for an instantly wide-awake look.
One trick I’ve found incredibly useful when I’m not looking my radiant best is a rather simple one, too: a quick swirl of blusher. A pale, lacklustre complexion just screams exhaustion and can make you look sickly too, so if you do just one thing, make it blusher. Physicians Formula Happy Booster Glow and Mood Boosting Make-Up combines warm, bronze tones with a pop of rosy-pink to brighten your complexion (and as the name would suggest, quite possibly your mood).
If you’re still trying to drop those last few kilograms of baby-weight (or, like me, just can’t stop gorging on food, glorious food!), I’ve found that adding a few chocolate-y treats to your bath time routine is a sure-fire way to indulge your guilty pleasure, without packing on the kilos. I am obsessed with Body Thrills, a wonderful home-grown range of hand-made beauty and bath time goodies. My current favourite is Body Thrills Chocolate Pudding Bubble Bath, which is made with Belgian Chocolate, cocoa butter, peppermint, shea butter (great for an instant surge of moisture), cinnamon and soy milk. Take my word for it: this amazing bath additive smells good enough to eat.
I always follow a warm bath or shower with a rich, firming moisturiser, like tried-and-tested Nivea Firming Body Lotion Q10 Plus. When you’re pressed for time (as all moms are!), it may be the last thing on your mind, but trust me: paying attention to the skin on your body will pay off in the long run. Nourished and well-moisturised skin looks instantly plumper, and this best-selling lotion goes a long way in improving your skin’s texture and boosting its elasticity.
And last, but not least, at the very top of my beauty must-have list for moms (and everyone who struggles with stretch marks) is Mama Mio Goodbye Stretch Marks. You won’t be able to erase all signs of stretch marks completely, regardless of how much you try, but this product is excellent at preventing the formation of new stretch marks and also helps to lighten existing stretch marks with regular use. Mama Mio claims that this product will reduce the appearance of all stretch marks by 70%. I’m not so sure about that, but after using this product for just over three weeks, I can honestly say that I have noticed an improvement in the appearance of the stretch marks on my upper thighs. Best of all – and most importantly – this product is safe to use during pregnancy. What’s not to love?
