Junior's Best Beauty Buys for Mums-to-be and New Mums
Whether you’re growing a tiny human or have just welcomed a brand-new person into the world, it’s worth remembering that you deserve a little care too. Pregnancy and early parenthood are extraordinary, but they can also be exhausting -so carving out moments to nurture yourself isn’t indulgent, it’s essential.
From cooling eye treatments that instantly revive tired eyes, to beautifully formulated balms that calm and comfort sore, overworked skin, the right beauty products can offer a quiet reset when you need it most. Thoughtfully chosen and luxuriously made, these are our favourite feel-good finds to restore, soothe and uplift – helping you feel more like yourself as you move through pregnancy, post-birth and beyond.
Plant Apothecary BE WELL Body Wash, from £20 for 250ml
Wellbeing in a bottle! We absolutely love this eco-friendly body wash made from a blend of organic oils that will truly boost your mood when you step into that shower. Invigorating Eucalyptus and Bergamot are the perfect tonic for anyone who isn’t getting enough sleep or just needs a bit of a boost to get them going in the morning. Eucalyptus and Bergamot are considered safe during pregnancy, so this is a great option for sleep deprived mums to be.
Equal parts indulgent and hardworking, MUTHA is brainchild of a pregnant mother who wanted products she could actually trust. This Body Butter is your go-to for seriously soft, glow-worthy skin – your body will happily drink this up. Subtly scented with fresh citrus notes, whipped shea butter for deep moisture, cocoa butter for antioxidant protection, and mango butter to help smooth and renew.
Clarins Tonic Treatment Oil – Firming/Toning, from £45 for 100ml
An iconic pregnancy product (since 1965 in fact) and with good reason. This super rich oil is infused with 100% pure Rosemary, Geranium and Mint extracts and not only firms, tones and improves elasticity but is incredibly uplifting and mood boosting. Most definitely a ‘tonic in a bottle’ – and we haven’t even mentioned the smell! Created to prevent and smooth stretch marks with Hazelnut Oil this is a Junior favourite.
Prickly Pear Cactus Hydrating Facial Eye Gel, £12.60 for 10ml
Tired eyes go part and parcel with parenting and a great eye cream is an absolute bedside table essential. This hydrating eye gel from Weleda has a metal rollerball applicator for a lovely cooling experience and the cactus infused cream feels like a drink for the eyes. We absolutely love the facial mist from the same range too.
My Little Coco Baby Mama Hydrating Bump Sheet Mask, £6.25 for 50ml
Yes, bumps deserve pamper time too! This hydrating bump sheet mask from Rochelle Humes’ mother and baby range My Little Coco is just like a sheet mask for your face but is generous enough to drape over a third trimester bump. Great for moisturising, cooling and minimising stretch marks.
Bloom & Blossom Legs Eleven Cooling Leg Serum, £32 for 100ml
Pregnant legs do a lot of heavy lifting—and sadly, most of us don’t have a live-in reflexologist. Enter this cooling, peppermint-infused serum. With seaweed extract and aloe vera, the lightweight formula sinks in fast to soothe puffiness and refresh tired legs and ankles. Perfect for hot summer bumps and restless legs in need of instant relief.
Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge for Lips & Cheeks Multitasking cream colour compact, £32
This is such a great product for anyone who needs to add a little life to their face but is especially great for time poor new mums who have to attend to their baby’s portable rader, let alone remember their keys phone and wallet before they leave the house. A fab little compact to keep in your changing bag for on-the-go cheek and lip applications.
Khiel’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate, £50 for 30ml
This overnight miracle worker will help you look a little less hollow cheeked now matter how relentless your feeding schedule or if a growing bump and restless legs are playing havoc with your sleep routine! Slather on at any point before you grab 10, 20 or 30 winks (40 might be pushing it) and feel reassuringly plumped up and perky. Suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin.
My Expert Midwife Soak for Bits and Body, £19.50 for 750g
Few things feel better than a long, soothing soak—especially in the days after birth when tired muscles and tender areas need extra care. Developed by a midwife, this post-birth bath soak is designed to gently cleanse, soothe and support recovery, helping to calm aching muscles and reduce bruising. With Epsom salts, tea tree, calendula, arnica and relaxing bergamot, it’s deeply restorative and suitable after both vaginal birth and C-section (once dressings are removed).
Naydaya Vagina Victory Oil, £28 for 30ml
We love the entire Naydaya range, but the Vagina Victory Oil truly deserves the spotlight. Created to support one of the most hardworking parts of birth and beyond, this collagen-boosting organic oil is ideal for perineal massage before and after labour. It helps restore elasticity, ease hormonal dryness and soothe discomfort—an essential for pregnancy, postpartum and every stage in between.
Lansinoh Nipple Cream, £11.95 for 40ml
Sore nipples begone. Oh please, be gone! There’s no magic solution for sore, cracked nipples that some women get during the early stages of breast-feeding but this thick unguent cream really helps to sooth and mend the damage. Layer it on in between feeds and you’ll find your nipples feel a lot better and it gives them a fighting chance to recover in between breast feeding sessions. Composed of an ultra-purified grade of lanolin, the cream is ethically sourced and 100% natural without any preservatives or additives and is safe for breastfeeding without removing the cream.
Hair Rituel by Sisley Revitilizing and Fortifying Serum for the scalp, £174 for 60ml
When you’re hair is rapidly dropping out due to erratic post-partum hormones and your pony tail is feeling more rat’s tail than Friesian thoroughbred, it can be very upsetting. Some women don’t experience any hair loss at all and that extra baby fringe that appears is the only sign of a hair curve-ball but for some women, fear of washing their hair or even brushing it, in case they encourage more hair loss is a very real thing. We’re big fans of all Sisley products, which are definitely on the expensive side but this serum has hugely positive reviews and the science behind it is very impressive. Highly concentrated in plant-based extracts, proteins, vitamins and minerals, the serum energizes the hair bulb to help keep the hair anchored, making it more resistant and protecting its natural colour. It smells great and psychologically it feels like you’re doing something positive while your follicles steady themselves on their hormone rollercoaster.
BBB Ultra Slim Brow Definer, £22
Everyone knows that one of the secrets to looking a lot more awake is well defined brows. They give shape to your face, open up the eye area and generally make you look 50% more groomed with around 10% effort. The Ultra Slim brow definer is a fantastic, easy to use, and crucially a stay-put product that will make you feel a lot more pulled together when you’re in the mood for company and even face-grabbing babies won’t be able to smudge your good work across your face!
Summer Fridays Jet Jag Mask Mask, £26 for 28g
Because, lets face it the lack of sleep does feel like you’ve taken the ‘red-eye’ on a round trip. This deeply hydrating, gorgeous smelling and skin plumping mask is one you don’t have to spend ages washing off! This might not sound particularly important but when you’re a new mum and time and free hands are at a premium, skipping this messy step in the ritual is a huge win. You can simply layer this mask on thickly and then after the recommended 10 minutes wipe of excess, or wear overnight.
Hot Tools Black Gold Volumiser 2-in-1 Brush & Hair Dryer, £80
Getting to a hairdresser’s can be quite tricky logistically in the early days of motherhood, so arming yourself with a tool that makes you look like you’ve just stepped out of the salon at home is a great idea. We absolutely love this Hot Tools wand, which seems huge but makes light work of an arduous blow dry, gives AMAZING volume and leaves you with smooth shiny locks every time. A great investment buy.
