Being a busy mom can quickly push self-care to the back burner. Who has time for a lengthy skin care routine anyway? It can be hard to figure out the best products to use, not to mention the routine you should practice. However, it’s important that you find the time to adequately care for yourself and your skin each and every day. Taking good care of yourself doesn’t have to take up a lot of time, nor does it have to be expensive. Follow these tips to combat aging and make it seem like you haven’t been sleep-deprived since you gave birth!

Create a routine

The simplest way to start practicing self-care is by first creating a routine. You should have a skin care routine you practice at night and one in the morning. Use products that are meant for your skin type, whether you’re oily, combination, dry, or sensitive. The key here is to be consistent once you’ve created your ideal routine. The best results will occur when you stick to a regimen with the products you’ve found that work well.

Collagen, please!

Collagen is a necessary protein made in our bodies that help our skin’s elasticity, helps protect your organs, and keep your hair strong and healthy. After we turn twenty-five, we start producing less and less collagen. With reduced production of this vital protein, our skin and hair will begin to age, which is why you may start noticing those fine lines and wrinkles. Try taking a collagen supplement to help reverse these effects. You can get collagen in a powdered form, which is great for mixing in your coffee or smoothies, or you can get it in a pill form. Also be sure to check out Hims

Stop bad habits

If you find yourself falling asleep in your makeup most nights or you can’t remember the last time you wiped down your phone screen, it’s time to reevaluate your habits. First off, common habits, such as forgetting to take off your makeup before bed can be detrimental to your skin. Makeup that sits on your skin overnight can contribute to dullness, adult breakouts, and early signs of aging. Make it a point to have makeup wipesclose to your bed so you have no excuse not to remove it. Additionally, cleaning your pillowcases, sheets, and cellphone screen are all crucial in preventing skin problems.

Swap for silk

Silk pillowcases are a must for so many reasons. Silk prevents sleep lines and creases on the face, which help you create future wrinkles over time. They’re also great because they don’t absorb your skin care products the same way that regular cotton pillowcases would. They keep products from rubbing off during the night so that they are the most effective. Silk pillowcases additionally reduce friction on your hair, which therefore reduces split ends and frizz. Start using silk pillowcases to transform your hair and skin!

Use products with Vitamin A

Retinols/retinoids are derived from Vitamin A, which help accelerate cell-turnover to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, dark spots, and acne. You can get these in various forms over-the-counters or you can get a stronger retinoid prescribed by a doctor. However, if you do choose to start using a retinol, it’s crucial that you wear an SPF every single day as it can make your skin more sensitive to the sun.

Exercise

There’s nothing that will make you feel as youthful as working out consistently. Exercise helps give you energy, removes toxins, and can even prevent wrinkles! Being a busy mom, it can be hard to find the time to exercise on a daily basis. If you don’t have time to go to the gym, try using online platforms that will guide your workouts and let you choose the duration. Apps like Downward Dog and PopSugar videos on YouTube are great places to start!