Whether they care for the kids and household full-time or juggle their domestic responsibilities with paid jobs, one thing is for sure—moms work around the clock. From early morning to late at night, mothers do everything to ensure everybody is well-fed, loved, and happy. Unfortunately, moms are often too busy taking care of the family and many other things, so much so that they hardly have time to pamper themselves.
That said, if you’re one such busy mom, we’re here to help you out. Whether it’s choosing the right clothes, doing your makeup, or caring for your hair, we’ve got you covered. Here are nine time-saving styling tips for hardworking moms like you:
Invest in High-quality, Low-maintenance Basic Pieces
Creating a put-together look can be effortless if you have high-quality, low-maintenance, and versatile garments in your wardrobe. So, invest in classic pieces that you can easily mix and match into outfits that look great on you.
More importantly, clothes that are easy to maintain, such as leggings, maxi dresses, and non-iron blouses or shirts, should be at the top of your shopping list. This means going for items made with wrinkle-resistant, quick-drying, and machine washable fabrics. This way, you won’t have to waste your precious time hand washing, ironing, or sending these clothes to the cleaners.
Learn to Accessorize When Styling
Another key to dressing stylishly in a few minutes is learning how to accessorize. Wardrobe add-ons, such as shoes, jewelry, bags, and scarves, are the little details that can complete any look. With the right accessories, you can turn any basic outfit from average to fabulous in an instant.
For example, let’s say you’re already running late for a parent-teacher meeting at your child’s school. Perhaps you’ve only got a plain white t-shirt and skinny jeans on, and you don’t have any time to get changed. Instead of scrambling to come up with another outfit, you can head out looking fashionable in a few seconds by sporting some key accessories, such as a nice chunky bracelet or some gorgeous earrings.
Prepare Your Outfit the Night Before
As a mom, you probably pick out your child’s outfit the night before a busy day. You take the time to find matching pieces that are both comfortable and cute and set them aside for a hassle-free morning. You may not realize it at first, given how focused you are on taking care of others, but this technique is a fool-proof and time-saving way to help you look fashionable the next day, too.
So, set the next day’s ensemble aside in an area where you can easily grab your clothes after showering. With this simple strategy, you can quickly put on fashionable outfits every day without ruining your daily schedule.
Simplify Your Makeup Routine
If you’re often in a rush, you’ll be glad to know that you don’t need a complicated makeup routine to look glamorous. You can start with a tinted moisturizer to hide skin imperfections and even out your skin tone. If possible, opt for formulas with sunscreen for added protection. Afterward, you can use an eye shadow stick that you can easily apply using your fingers. Complete the look by doing your brows and applying a lip-and-cheek tint for rosy cheeks and beautiful lips.
Use Double-duty Products
Another sure way to save time and money on your makeup routine is to invest in double-duty cosmetics and skin products. As mentioned in the previous tip, you can use a tinted moisturizer instead of applying moisturizer and foundation separately. You can also purchase a lip-and-cheek tint or cream that you can use as a blusher and lipstick in one.
A beauty balm or BB cream and color-correcting or CC cream are also great investments. They conceal acne, dark circles, and other skin imperfections and address uneven skin tones while providing anti-skin aging benefits at the same time.
Buy Makeup Wipes
Apart from investing in products that serve multiple purposes, you should purchase high-quality makeup wipes to remove beauty products, dirt, and excess oils from your face. Unlike traditional cleansers that involve repeated lathering and rinsing, makeup wipes require considerably less effort. Just use them to wipe the makeup off your face, and you’ll be ready to sleep.
As such, these wipes are the perfect solution when you don’t have time to do your full cleansing routine at the end of any given day. Make sure to purchase makeup wipes designed for your specific skin type for best results.
Stock Up on Dry Shampoo
Dry shampoo is your best friend during super-demanding days when you just don’t have enough time to wash your hair. Relying on this product is particularly important when you have oily hair that turns dull and limp after a day or two of not washing it. All you need to do is spray the dry shampoo directly onto the roots of your hair, and your gorgeous mane will be revitalized in no time. As a bonus, your hair will smell fresher, too.
Try Using a Leave-in Conditioner
If your hair looks dry and frizzy, and you don’t have time for a deep conditioning treatment, your best bet is to use a leave-in hair conditioner. This product effectively moisturizes your hair to make it shinier and tangle-free, all without having to rinse it out. The best part is that you can apply it to your hair any time without needing to step into the shower. So, always use a leave-in conditioner before heading out to tame flyaway hair and control frizz instantly.
Get a Low-Maintenance Haircut
If you want to make your busy life more manageable, the best thing you can do about your hair is to get a low-maintenance haircut. To be specific, you’ll want to go for a hairstyle that doesn’t require multiple styling aids, treatment products, and a lot of work to look good.
If you have thick locks, you can try a layered bob to reduce the weight on your head and make hair care more manageable. If you have naturally wavy hair, you can opt for a tousled pixie cut that requires practically no upkeep. All you have to do is a bit of finger tousling, and you’ll be all set.
Hopefully, this article gave you a lot of ideas on styling and how you can pamper and love yourself a bit more despite your busy schedule. Remember that taking time out to dress well and look your best benefits you and the entire family. After all, when you look good, you feel good. And when you feel good, you’re in a better position to care for the people you love.
Find more beauty ideas like these styling tips in our archives. Styling yourself doesn’t have to be difficult.
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Meg is an author at Cinnamon Hollow. She writes on a variety of topics sharing tips and ideas for daily life.