Skin Care Tips for Busy Moms

Every woman blessed with the opportunity to be a mother faces the challenge of balancing her own needs with the needs of her child or children. My children are grown now, but when they were kids, I would make sure they were wearing and reapplying sunscreen … yet I often skimped on myself. That neglect can be seen on my arms and cheekbones now that I am in my 50’s.

Here are some simple steps that busy moms can take to insure their skin stays healthy and glowing long after the children are grown and gone!

Skin Care Tip #1:

I cannot stress enough the importance of not only washing your skin each morning and night, but using a cleanser that will not dry or damage your skin.

Many foam and gel cleansers are formulated with sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate or ammonium laureth sulfate. These surfactants are simply too harsh – they strip the water out of the skin, leaving it dehydrated. This dehydration then causes dead, dry skin cells to build up, making skin look dull and feel rough.

Bar soaps are also a no-no. The binders that hold a bar of soap together, even an expensive moisturizing bar soap, naturally have a high pH balance causing them to be too strong for the skin.

It is best to wash with a mild sulfate-free cleanser. One of my favorite cleanser’s for busy moms is an enzyme-based cleanser. Enzymes gently digest away dry dead skin cells, leaving the skin soft and supple. Enzymes also help minimize clogged pores and blackheads by dissolving cellular debris made up of dead skin cells and oxidized oils that can bind to the wall of the pore.

I personally use and recommend Visual Changes Ultra Gentle Enzyme Cleanser. If you stop by my studio this month Art of Skin Care in Redding, I’ll give you a free sample!

Skin Care Tip #2: 

Hydrate! Whether your skin tends to be oily or dry, it is important to hydrate. Skin cells, like all cells, need water to live – without water they die. Good hydration starts on the inside. Drink plenty of water every day. Dehydrated skin lacks luster and is more prone to wrinkles and blemishes.

Combination or oily skin prefers water-based serums or moisturizers for hydration. I like to recommend a serum or light moisturizer that contains hyaluronic acid and antioxidants for this skin type.

Dry to very dry skin often needs water and oil. A good moisturizer that adds both to the skin is essential. Though dry skin prefers a heavier moisturizer, it is still important to be sure that you use a moisturizer that allows your skin to breathe. Moisturizers that are filled with heavy plant waxes may at first soothe the skin. However, over time, the skin will stop producing natural moisture and dry dead skin cells will build up in the pores and over the surface, causing a dry rough texture of the skin.

Skin Care Tip #3:

During the child rearing years, moms often experience increased sun exposure. Protect your skin! Throw out your sunscreens that contain oxybenzone. Research indicates that this common sunscreen ingredient has hormone disrupting effects. For the most part, chemical sunscreens tend to be more irritating to the skin and can actually cause free radical formation, which leads to more sun damage in the long run.

Physical sunscreens, also known as mineral sunscreens, contain zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide which are naturally broad spectrum, meaning they protect against both UVA and UVB rays. These work by sitting on top of the skin and deflecting the sun’s rays, which has the added bonus of cooling the skin. In addition, while mineral sunscreens go to work the minute you put them on, chemical sunscreens require about 20 minutes to fully sink into the skin.

I strongly recommend that moms replace chemical-based sunscreens with zinc oxide based sunblocks. These have longer-lasting protection without the harmful ingredients.

Use sunscreen on your face and your body daily. Reapply every few hours when you are in the sun in order to ensure that you are safe from the harmful effects of the sun on your skin.