There’s likely nothing in the world more life-changing than becoming a mother. From what we’re told, every aspect of your world turns upside down seemingly overnight. And while being a new mom is undoubtedly magical, there’s not a lot of time left to treat yourself or make yourself feel fun.
With that in mind, we turned to bonafide beauty expert Jenny Patinkin, who actually has children (unlike Coveteur’s editors) of her own and whose book, Lazy Perfection, was just released, to get some tips for new moms on feeling pulled together when you don’t even have time to take a shower.
When you’re running on two hours of sleep:
“Every new mom should keep some mentholated eye drops handy and pop them in their eyes. The mint shocks the capillaries into closing up really fast, so the whites of the eyes are left incredibly clear and bright.
“If you don't have time to apply eyeshadow, pop a little highlighter or lip balm onto the center of your eyelid. The sheen attracts light and creates a subtle flash of light every time you blink, so that your eyes look bright and awake.”
If you have less than one minute to do your makeup:
“Concealer is a new mom’s bff. Of course you can use it to cover dark circles and blemishes, but you can also use it instead of a full application of foundation. Concealer can neutralize redness (especially down the center of the face), smooth over enlarged pores, even-out and brighten your eyelids, and swiped up diagonally at the outer corners of your eyes, it gives the illusion of a wide-awake lift. Two of my favorites are Onomie Bright Concealing Elixir and Glossier Stretch Concealer. They are both pretty sheer and dewy and can be applied with fingers or a brush.”
Look for products that multitask:
“A natural balm product like Herbivore Botanicals Coco Rose isn’t just for rehydrating dry lips—it also can be used as a subtle gloss/highlight on your cheeks and eyelids, to smooth your brows into place (because what new mom has time to go and get them done?), to soften rough cuticles, and to tame flyaway hairs. Plus, this ‘clean’ formulation means that there’s no issue smooching the baby while you have it on.
“A multi-purpose cream blush like Juice Beauty Phyto Pigments brings a little life and color to the cheeks, and you can also use it on your eyelids and lips to get a polished and chic monochromatic look—all blended easily with your fingers. My favorite shade that works well on everyone is Seashell.”
When all else fails, fake it:
“Mascara is a miracle worker when it comes to hiding the signs of sleep deprivation. A lengthening formula like It Cosmetics Superhero Mascara stretches the lashes upwards so that not only do they look long and dark, but they also camouflage any signs of exhaustion or inflammation by essentially creating a curtain in front of your lids.
“A light sweep of bronzer on the cheeks, forehead, nose, and chin gives you the look of health and vitality, even when you feel super worn-out. The key to successful bronzer application is to use a very soft, fluffy brush that won’t pick up too much product from the pan and that will bend and flex to give you a light, natural-looking distribution of product. My favorite combination is my own Large Domed Powder Brush with Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer.”