Congratulations on your newest member of the family! Having a little one is often an occasion filled with love and excitement. You're thrilled to have your bouncing bundle of joy, but not so thrilled to have skin and hair that seem to be going through the terrible twos. What's a new mom to do?
The solutions are fairly simple, actually.
Putting your Best Face Forward
For new moms in oil overdrive, you must remove the oil, but do so gently. Harsh scrubbing and frequent washing can dry your skin out. To compensate, your skin will produce even more oil. Instead, try a simple salicylic acid cream cleanser. Follow up with a light moisturizer. Opt for one with a foaming or whipped texture if possible. Anything from a drug store should work just fine.
If your face feels as dry as a desert, try a basic, nonmedicated liquid cleanser at night, such as Cetaphil. Pat dry, then apply a rich moisturizer, such as Cetaphil's moisturier. If your skin is so dry that it cracks or tears, try a thicker cream, like Aquaphor.
Hair Help
For your hair, the same principle applies. Cleanse daily, but gently. Anything from a grocery store shelf is going to be out of the question. They all contain one more cheap fillers that suck the health right out of your hair:
- Sodium Laureth Sulfate
- Sodium Laurel Sulfate
- Ammonium Laureth Sulfate
- Ammonium Laurel Sulfate
Instead, opt for a gentler shampoo. Regis Design Line makes indulgent products that you can buy without dipping into your diaper budget. Stop by the SmartStyle Family Hair Salons inside most any Wal-Mart, and pick out your product.
For thirsty hair, try Regis's Olive Oil, Color Care or Vivid Satin products. Avoid heat styling if possible, and keep it gently tied back and away from curious little hands!
If your hair has gone into oil-slick mode, try their clarifying products. Some hairdressers suggest adding baking soda to your shampoo, but it's not always an ideal option. It's often messier than it's worth. Aside from that, it can be too harsh for delicate hair. It's not for every day, either, and if you add it to your shampoo, you'll have no choice but to include baking soda every time you wash your hair.
Also, when washing your hair, be sure to remember these tips:
- If the product doesn't lather, that's okay. A lather doesn't equal clean.
- Don't swirl the product around your head. You'll encourage tangles. Just spread it with your hands.
- When applying shampoo, concentrate mostly on the hair that is around your scalp. When you follow up conditioner, apply it the same way, except concentrate on the ends.
A Body Beautiful
Your skin can go crazy from the neck down, too. If your dry-skin trend continues down to your toes, look for body washes that contain none of the sulphates listed above. Try Aveeno or Oil of Olay brands. Follow up with a frangrance-free lotion as needed. Try Eucerin, or even Aquaphor if your skin cracks and bleeds.
For those with slick skin, try a basic sulfate-free body wash, such as one from Burt's Bees.
And above all else, have patience. It can take up to a year for your body's hormones to return to their prior levels. But with a little effort, you too can clear up your beauty blues. And you'll be so gorgeous that onlookers might just say . . . "Oh, baby!"
Comments