Post-baby skin truly has a mind of it's own. I feel like I have absolutely no control over this organism that covers my entire body. I wake up and every single morning it's doing something new. Sometimes it's dry, sometimes it's oily, sometimes both, sometimes there's a wee rash on my nose, on a rare occasion it's absolutely fine. During my pregnancy my skin started out awful and then I got that 'glow'. I say glow, it was more like a fine sheen of sweat from heffing around all that baby weight but either way it was lovely. When Naima came along, thanks to all the breast-feeding hormones it stayed lovely, and luminous and spot free. Fast-forward to post-breast-feeding and I have the skin of a spotty 16-year-old. Breakouts every other day, dark marks and dark circles under my eyes are ruining my hot mama look and it's starting to get a bit depressing. So rather than get down about it I decided to take action and try out some remedies to get my skin back to it's pre-baby best.
Best for irritated skin....Palmer's Daily Calming Facial Lotion, £5.95
Palmer's may be more well known for they're famous luscious-smelling body cream and bump butter but their facial skin care range is fabulous, purse-friendly and best of all it works. It doesn't smell to strong and used after the cleansing this lotion leaves your skin feeling soothed and moisturised without that greasy feeling you get with some face creams. Unfortunately it doesn't have an SPF so layer up with primer or serum that does, and you've got a budget-busting skin care regime.
Best all round regime....Bliss Fabulous Foaming Face Wash, £18.40 , Bliss Fabulous Every Day Eye Cream, £24.60 , Bliss Fabulous Face Lotion £25.60
I discovered this range after a rather decadent evening of pampering and cocktails at the Bliss Spa and I've been addicted ever since. The face wash leaves my skin feeling so super clean without over-drying it, a problem I sometimes have with my combination face. The face lotion was light enough but deeply moisturising enough for my skin and the eye cream instantly lifted my dark circles and reduced my puffy bags. Yes, this may be a little pricey but you don't need much of either creams or the cleanser for them to do the job so the bottles will last for ages. Well worth the investment ladies!
Best for dark marks and spots...Clinique Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector, £39.50, Clinique Even Better Skin Tone Correcting Lotion SPF 20, £35
Thanks to my many, many breakouts I've been left with loads of unsightly scars from spots that are really noticeable even on dark skin. They are my biggest bug bear and I'd give anything to get rid of them. Luckily Clinique have come come up with a formula that actually works to get rid of dark spots, like Ronseal it literally does what it says on the tin. Work the Even Better Dark Sport Corrector into your skin day and night and follow with the lotion and in about four weeks your skin will look a little less chicken pox, a little more hot face. Mega.
