Sadly, not the kind I used to be.
I never thought I’d be one of those moms that “let’s herself go” and consistently leaves the house without make up on. Well, guess what? I’m so that mom. And you know what, I don’t think it’s “giving up” but rather I feel it’s been quite liberating. I have better (?) things to do than stand in the mirror and take time to get ready. It’s nice to get hours a week back by not doing full hair and make up. What I have noticed, though, by not wearing make up is that my skin looks dull, and like many proud mamas has a few more wrinkles than before and those dark circles seem a little darker. Lack of sleep, trying to stay hydrated while nursing, passing out some nights without washing my face, all has taken a toll on my skin. Let alone making sure everyone else is taken care of before I take care of myself.
While I was pregnant, I started to think not only about what was going in by body but what was going on it. Breastfeeding has kept me hyper-sensitive about the cosmetics and lotions I use. For my baby shower, my might-as-well-be sister-in-law gave me a gift certificate to Lush Spa in Philadelphia. So when my skin was looking drab, I figured why not go in and see what it’s all about. I immediately became hooked.
Lush’s ‘fresh handmade cosmetics’ are 100% not tested on animals, 100% vegetarian, 80% vegan, 67% preservative-free, and 46% unpackaged. A skincare brand without all the junk. It seems to align more closely with my overall lifestyle – I try to stay healthy in simple ways, stick to whole ingredients and limit preservatives, and recycle when I can. Long story short, here is what I got:
Ultrabland Facial Cleanser *daily use
Skin’s Shangri La Moisturizer *daily use
Ocean Salt Face and Body Scrub *3-4 times a week in lieu of a cleanser
Full of Grace Serum *instead of moisturizer at night and before/after a mask
Ayesha Face Mask *1-2 times/week for 10 minutes
Within days I noticed a marked change in my skin. It is brighter, wrinkles dark circles are diminished, and it’s plump and moisturized. Best part, I feel good about putting their products on my body.
-emilie