My first bit of advice is not to look in the mirror for at least a few days after your baby is born. I'm not trying to be dramatic, but trust me, if you look at your naked body right after delivering a baby, you will feel very, very dramatic. It's not worth the blow to your self-esteem, so just hold off for a few days, maybe a week. That being said, you should expect to be puffy all over from fluid retention, your belly will feel and look very squishy and misshapen for several weeks, hormone fluctuations can cause breakouts and hair loss and exhaustion will probably have you looking even worse for the wear. Of course, all of this is normal and at some point–probably not too long after your bundle of joy's arrival–you'll start to feel like it's about time to start looking like a human again. Below are some tips that can have you feeling and looking better, straight out of the delivery room.
Read more in ¿Qué más?: 5 Pregnancy habits to stick with after your baby is born
__Use mascara. __Even when you haven't slept for more than an hour at a time for weeks, a coat of black mascara will make your eyes pop and help you look more alert. Just don't overdo it. You want to look natural rather than like you're trying to cover something up.
Get a new haircut. As soon as you can spare a couple of hours away from your little one, book a haircut appointment with your favorite stylist. Your hair probably grew like crazy while you were pregnant and since you've been busy adjusting to life with a baby, it may have gotten a little out of control. Plus, it's a good excuse to get out for a little break.
__Break out the tinted moisturizer. __When you have a newborn, streamlining your beauty routine is a must. Tinted moisturizer is the way to go since it provides light coverage and lots of moisture in one product. You can even make your own by mixing a couple of drops of liquid foundation into your face lotion before applying.
__Make use of belly butter. __Buy the creamiest, most luxurious cream you can afford, and apply it to your belly, breasts and hips daily. You may not be able to get rid of stretch marks, but you can help them heal faster, which will lessen their appearance. You can even use virgin coconut oil, which has tons of health properties, and is perfectly safe if you are nursing.
Take your vitamins. You'll be pretty busy, and you may not be eating all that well, so it's important that you continue taking your pre-natal vitamins so you're still getting all the vitamins and minerals you need to be healthy. And if you're breastfeeding, your baby will be leeching tons of nutrients from your body, so even if you are eating well, you may not be getting everything you need. Remember, beauty starts from the inside out.
Take care of those nails. Okay, nail polish may not seem all that important, but it's something that will make you feel a little bit more like your pre-baby self, which serves as motivation to get you back into a solid self-care routine. The first time I bought a new bottle of nail polish after my son was born, I splurged and it was so worth it. It made me feel a bit more like a woman and not just a frazzled, feeding, changing, rocking machine.
Hydrate. Staying hydrated has endless benefits, but as far as beauty goes, a hydrated body retains moisture better, so your skin will have a healthier, more lively appearance in its natural state. That means, even on days when you don't have a spare second for makeup, you'll still look gorgeous.
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