Bye, bye, pregnancy glow. I hardly knew you. There are so many things no one tells you about how your postpartum body will look and feel. Even after you’ve lost the pregnancy weight, your midsection will probably look like a blob of dough. Your hair will likely fall out by the handfuls in the shower, even though you’ve been promised by your doctor and hair stylist this is only temporary (it is). But worst of all, no one told you about the resurgence of teenage acne. No one warned you about having skin that is somehow both dry and oily at the same time. And what about all the other skin issues that rear their ugly heads post-pregnancy? If all this has got you feeling more like a zombie extra on The Walking Dead and less like your usual gorgeous self, we’ve got you covered. You may not think you have a moment to spare for yourself, but this five-minute postpartum skincare routine is so easy you can squeeze it in between a feeding session and tummy time without missing one minute with your sweet (but exhausting) munchkin.
Back to Basics
Fayne Frey, MD and creator of the educational skincare site FryFace, explains why it’s so important we pay attention to our skin: “The skin is an organ. It protects the body from outside elements like bacteria, fungus, allergens, and the damaging effects of ultraviolet light.” Even if you aren’t wearing makeup as you’re holed up in your house with a newborn, you still need to give your face some love. So how should you care for your skin? Frey advises getting back to basics with a simple three-step routine. Act like you’re in a Neutrogena commercial.
Lights, camera, glowing skin!
Stay hydrated.
Trade the baby bottle for a water bottle (and gel hydration).
Protect your skin.
SPF isn’t just for baby.
Bonus Step: Throw in a little extra.
While your five-minute skincare routine is complete once you’ve cleansed, moisturized, and applied sunblock, if you have a few extra minutes (it’ll happen one day, we promise!), consider applying a hydrating face mask once a week. I like to apply mine after baby goes down for a morning nap, while I’m still in my robe and slippers. I pop on a mask for 20 minutes, heat up my cold coffee, and turn on my favorite podcast. It’s as close to a spa day as I’ll get anytime soon, but you know what? Knowing I’m intentionally creating time for myself is just as refreshing.
