Whether you’re growing a human or you’ve just delivered a brand new person into the world, don’t forget to to take the time to nurture yourself and practice some hugely important self-care. Here are our favourite beauty products to revive tired eyes, soothe those sore parts and generally give you a boost on the journey through pregnancy and beyond.
Plant Apothecary BE WELL Body Wash (280ml)£20
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.
Mama Mio Tummy Rub Butter (120ml), £24
A super rich stretch mark protection cream for anyone who wants to keep their growing tummy deeply moisturised and help improve elasticity. Mama Mio are known for their incredible smelling products that make the ritual of rubbing that bump an absolute joy. We’re pretty much addicted.
Clarins Tonic Treatment Oil – Firming/Toning (100ml), £40
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. >> For more information check out this indispensable guide to pregnancy skincare by the Editor’s at Beauty Daily by Clarins.
Prickly Pear Cactus Hydrating Facial Eye Gel (10ml), £14.95
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 (50ml), £5.99
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 (100ml), £29
If there’s one thing you need when you’re pregnant it’s a permanently stationed reflexologist and leg masseur to knead away all the puffiness and tension in those weight bearing extremities. Oh? What’s that? You don’t have a dedicated reflexologist at your beck and call? Well, the next best thing to giving those legs and ankles instant respite is a generous coating of this fab peppermint oil, seaweed extract and Aloe Vera infused serum. The light as air formula sinks in quickly and makes your legs feel cool, refreshed and invigorated. Especially good for hot summer pregnancies and people with restless legs.
Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge for Lips & Cheeks Multitasking cream colour compact, £23.50
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 ryder, 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 (30ml), £41
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 (750g), £29.50
There is no better feeling than a deeply soothing, long soak in a tub especially in the days after giving birth when places are sore and tender and your hard worked muscles need complete relaxation. This midwife developed bath soak was created especially for post-birth recovery, for those first few baths after birth to clean, soothe and help maintain the condition of the perineum, as well as to calm aching and help heal bruising. Containing premium Epsom salts to relax tired muscles, tea tree and calendula for their anti-inflammatory properties, bergamot to soothe and relax and arnica to help reduce bruising it’s a great addition to your bath and the enveloping essential oils are deeply relaxing too. The soak can also be used by anyone who has had a c-section after the dressing is removed and the wound is undergoing the normal healing process.
Nessa Vagina Victory Oil (30ml) £24
We love the entire Nessa range of postpartum and pregnancy tailored products but this Vagina Victory oil is something that should be shouted about! There really aren’t enough conversations about vaginas regarding birth and postpartum treatment, which is very strange considering that they are one of the main conduits for delivering a baby. This collagen boosting organic oil is excellent for perineal massage both pre and post labour and was created to help restore elasticity, reduce hormonal dryness and provide relief from discomforts caused by pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, chemical irritants and other environmental factors.
Trish McEvoy Triangle of Light Eye Mask, £56
When slices of cucumber just won’t cut it and you need some deep under-eye care, these masks from Trish McEvoy are fantastic. There’s an instant soothing and cooling sensation and after just five minutes (we think you need at least fifteen minutes lying down with these on!) you can really see a distinctly less puffy and smoother under eye. The results don’t last for ever but you’ll definitely feel refreshed and look a lot more rested – at least for a good few hours! The pack includes eight sachets, each containing two pads. A great gift for a any new mum friends.
Lansinoh Nipple Cream (40ml), £8.39
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 (60ml), £144
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.
Love Boo Mummy And… lift! Bosom Buddy (125ml), £19.99
Whether you breastfeed or not, your bust is bound to increase and reduce during pregnancy at a rate you’ve never experienced before. A little TLC and nurturing of your bosom friends is definitely a good idea. This cream contains Echinacea purpurea which helps lift, firm and tone and Argan oil to soothe and help prevent and reduce stretch marks. Safe to use during pregnancy and nursing, the brand recommends gently removing any excess lotion prior to feeding.
BBB London Ultimate Arch 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 Ultimate arch definer is a fantastic, easy to use, and crucially 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!
Clarins Extra Firming Mask (75ml), £47
This is one of the Junior team’s all time favourite face masks. Not only is it deeply hydrating, gorgeous smelling and great for plumping out fine lines but it’s a mask that you don’t have to wash 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 1o minutes rub it into your face so that it just melts away. You can of course wash the mask off if you want to!
Hot Tools Black Gold Volumiser 2-in-1 Brush & Hair Dryer, £73.99
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.
