9 Ways to Get Back Your Pregnancy Glow (That Don’t Include Another Baby)
Ah, that pregnant glow! Your skin radiated a gentle light, your cheeks were rad and rosy, and you had a subtle sparkle in your eyes. But now that your hormones have dipped, ebbed, flowed, and roller-coastered their way into some odd sort of limbo, the glow is gone. Sad face. But you don’t have to give up on the glow — or get pregnant again right away. Take a look at these non-hormonal ways to get your glam girl post-baby glow on.
1. Hydrate, hydrate, and hydrate some more. That dewy look is hard to get if your skin is screaming for moisture. Start from the inside and hydrate yourself. (And no, coffee does not count as hydrating liquid. Its diuretic properties cut way into its moisture contribution.) Instead, choose plain ol’ water. Even though it’s not exactly exciting, it will help your skin to stay supple and moisture-rich.
2. Start sleeping, seriously. The off-tone skin and bags under your eyes are far from the perky pregnant glow that you were sporting a few weeks ago. But luckily you can change the situation. A little extra sleep can give you some of that pre-baby skin sparkle back. Yeah, yeah we know getting sleep with a newborn is… a challenge. Try sleeping when your little one does, ask your S.O. to handle their share of early mornings, or forget about the mountain of laundry that’s forming in the corner and just go back to sleep.
3. Change your diet. No, this doesn’t mean “diet.” You’ve been eating healthy for nine months, and now is not the time to stop. Even though it’s totally tempting (and convenient) to jump onto the greasy fast-food wagon right now, continue eating plenty of fresh fruits and veggies and lean meats. The healthier you are on the inside, the healthier you’ll look on the outside. And that’s a double win!
4. Exfoliate the old away. Okay, so you can’t exfoliate actual years away. But you might look a little younger — or at least perkier — without dry, dead skin hanging out on your face. Choose a gentle exfoliant to lightly slough the scaly skin off your features. But avoid overdoing it: Too much of this beauty treatment is not a good thing. Think “fresh and glowy,” not “red and raw.”
5. Raid the kitchen cabinets. That new baby of yours is taking up all your time, and you’re loving every second. But that means you don’t have time to shop (even online) for face masks, exfoliants, or anything else that will perk up your skin. Forget about spending time filling a cart: Browse your kitchen instead! Avocadoes, coarse sugar crystals, coconut oil, yogurt, cocoa powder, and plenty of other kitchen staples are all natural ways to DIY yourself a glow-inducing beauty treatment.
6. Make moisturizing routine. It’s easy to forget about your moisturizer. Between early morning feedings, diaper changes, and everything else you do for your baby, slathering your face with your fave moisturizer probably won’t cross your mind… until your skin starts feeling tight and dry. Keep your moisturizer by your toothbrush, next to your bed, or anywhere else that lets you incorporate it into your daily routine. If that still won’t cut it, try setting a daily reminder on your phone.
7. Pick makeup that makes sense. Unless you have some serious help, spending a pre-baby amount of time on your morning makeup probably won’t happen. But that doesn’t mean you can’t get clever with cosmetics! A tinted moisturizer pulls double duty, giving you softer skin with an even color. Avoid powders or anything that has the word “matte” in the name. These will zap the glow away and leave you pasty.
8. Add in an SPF. Before heading out to the park for an afternoon of stroller-strolling fun, you shade your little one from head to toe. Don’t forget about yourself. Crisped skin won’t do much for a dewy, glowy complexion. If adding an extra SPF step is inconvenient (and it probably will be), pick a moisturizer or foundation that already includes it.
9. Banish the blush brush. You want to recreate the rosy glow that pregnancy gave you, but brushing on a powder blush may not be the answer you’re looking for — it can end up looking cakey, taking the dew away from your moisturized face. Swap in a gel or cream blush, making sure to blend it well on the apples of your cheeks.
What do you miss most about pregnancy? Tweet us @BritandCo!
(Photos via Getty)