This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost Australia, which closed in 2021.

16 Life-Changing Beauty Hacks Every Busy Mum Needs to Know

You'll still look fabulous.
This post was published on the now-closed HuffPost Contributor platform. Contributors control their own work and posted freely to our site. If you need to flag this entry as abusive, send us an email.
Leibowitz Picture Team; Design: Emily Kemp

For Glamour, by Megan Gustashaw.

Leibowitz Picture Team; Design: Emily Kemp

Ditch Your Nail Polish

Leslie Price, Editorial Director at Man Repeller: “Going nail polish-free on my fingers and toes has been really helpful. That way you never have to worry about chips, or getting tired of a color. Growing out toenail polish was the most painful thing to watch (it takes months), but now I get pedicures when I can with clear topcoat and it makes life much easier.”

Nails Inc 2-in-1 Base and Top Coat, $8,net-a-porter.com

Leibowitz Picture Team; Design: Emily Kemp

Embrace Your Natural Hair Texture

Jean Godfrey-June, Beauty Director at Goop: “The hack that changed my life was to accept my natural hair texture. I’d always blow-dried my hair because I just assumed I should. The brilliant hair genius Sally Hershberger told me to stop, and that my wavy hair was like Gisele’s. When I think of the years of my life, and particularly time with my kids, this one sentence saved me...I don’t know how I can ever fully thank her. Find a gorgeous celebrity with your hair type, look at all the pretty pictures of her, and fall a little in love with your hair.”

Leibowitz Picture Team; Design: Emily Kemp

Wake Up Your Eyes With Liner

Mandana Dayani, Chief Brand Officer at Everything But the House: "Everyone has that ritual that makes them feel confident and pulled together, and mine is eyeliner. I don’t feel dressed unless I’m wearing it. Since becoming a mom, lining my eyes is dual purpose: It makes me feel polished, and also hides any trace of lack of sleep. I’ve gotten my application down to just a few swipes in 2 minutes. I love Charlotte Tilbury eyeliner because it lasts all day."

Charlotte Tilbury Rock 'n' Kohl in Verushka Mink, $27,charlottetilbury.com

Leibowitz Picture Team; Design: Emily Kemp

Use Coconut Oil Before Bed

Emily Current, Stylist, Creator and Designer of THE GREAT: "I am obsessed with coconut oil. Once a week I slather it all over like a moisturizer and put it in my hair as a deep-conditioning treatment overnight. The next morning, I have the softest skin and hair ever.”

Native Virgin Coconut Oil, $25,target.com

Leibowitz Picture Team; Design: Emily Kemp

Try Overnight Braids

Shannon Nash, Senior Editor of KourtneyKardashian.com: "Every night before bed, I put my hair in a French braid. When I wake up it's wavy and I don't need any heat styling. Usually I hit the roots with dry shampoo or volume spray and then smooth flyaways with a tiny bit of pomade. Even though my hair isn't super thick, it's really long so it takes forever to blow out. This trick saves me time in that crucial window in the morning when I'm up with my 2-year-old twin boys, trying to get ready for work."

Sachajuan Volume Powder, $35,davidpirrotta.com

Leibowitz Picture Team; Design: Emily Kemp

Wash Your Hair Less

Mariela Rovito, Co-Founder of Eberjey: "Having short hair is pretty low maintenance as is, but I’ve managed to cut down the time of my daily hair routine by more than half. I used to have the time to wash and blow-dry my hair every day. Now I'm washing it every other day and using a good hair product on wet hair to avoid the blow-dryer all together. Wash-and-go has taken on its true meaning!"

Leibowitz Picture Team; Design: Emily Kemp

Buy Double-Duty Products

Meritt Elliott, Stylist, Creator and Designer of THE GREAT: "I use a tinted moisturizer with sunscreen, so I’ve combined three skin steps into one. I am loving the Honest Beauty Everything Tinted Moisturizer. I cannot live without at least one swipe of Chanel black mascara, and always have a white ponytail holder on my wrist to secure my unruly hair into a neat topknot."

Honest Beauty Everything Tinted Moisturizer, $28,honestbeauty.com

Leibowitz Picture Team; Design: Emily Kemp

Get Eyelash Extensions

Joanna Fasching, Head of Design at Bikyni: "My beauty hacks are eyelash extensions and a bold lipstick. My beauty routine has always been quite paired back, but with today's rushed mornings I often don’t have the time to put any makeup on. Eyelash extensions make me look and feel beautiful even when I don’t have anything else on. And adding a bright, bold lipstick pulls it all together."

Leibowitz Picture Team; Design: Emily Kemp

Invest in Time-Saving Services

Lanie List, Founder of Lovely Bride: "I’ve switched to as many semi-permanent solutions as possible to cut down on my morning get-ready time. Eyebrow embroidery (basically tattoo for your brows) has been a godsend and eliminates the need to wax frequently (see: Tina Lee Skin Care). Blinc Tubing Mascara is no joke and stays on through any daily turbulence. And I’m splurging on gel manicures at Paintbox in New York, which I’ve somehow been able to stretch out for four weeks."

Leibowitz Picture Team; Design: Emily Kemp

Consider a Low-Maintenance Haircut

Elise Loehnen, Editorial Director, Goop: "I swear by a haircut that requires no work—at worst, a 90 second blow-dry and a tiny bit of product; at best, a comb. When I had my first son, Max, I had long curly hair. I took what I would have spent on a VERY, VERY nice pair of shoes and made an appointment with Chris McMillan with the charge to give me the cut my hair actually wanted (and an added stipulation that I wanted to spend fewer than five minutes dealing with it in the morning). He gave me a skater boy fade—probably the opposite of mom hair. It made my mornings so much faster, and somehow gave me some street cred, too—a miraculous sensation when you’re 25 pounds overweight and lactating. It’s evolved to be a little softer since, but it's just as simple to deal with."

Leibowitz Picture Team; Design: Emily Kemp

Don't Limit Your Beauty Time to Mornings

Sylvie Ganter, Founder of Atelier Cologne:"Raising five children in two different countries forces you to be efficient at all levels. Since I spend so much time on planes, I have my routine down to a science. I don't wear any makeup and I'll use a facial mask if it's a daytime flight (I fell in love with Biologique Recherche recently, and find it extremely effective). When leaving Paris or New York, I always try to stop by the Clarins Spa in the Air France lounge for a 20-minute facial. It's an amazing way to relax and pamper yourself in an unexpected place at an unexpected time."

Biologique Recherche Creme Mask Vernix, $182,eliteskincare.com

Leibowitz Picture Team; Design: Emily Kemp

Look for On-the-Go Beauty Solutions

Nadine Abramcyk, Co-founder of Tenoverten: "I always carry a nail polish remover wipe in my bag so that I can save time in the morning and remove my polish on the go if I need to. Whether I'm on the subway or walking down the street, these wipes always seem to be a life-saver as I realize I am walking out the door for a day of meetings with chipped polish and can take it off on my own."

Tenoverten Non-Acetone Polish Remover Wipe, $32,tenoverten.com

Leibowitz Picture Team; Design: Emily Kemp

Try a Multi-Tasking Balm Stain

Susan Cernek, Editorial and Marketing Consultant (and former Glamoureditor!): "The Balm Stainiac is usually my baby shower present for the mom-to-be. It's a lip-and-cheek stain that does double duty, giving you that pretty, well-rested flush, even when you've been up for hours. Bonus: The swab-on formula works for those days when your skin is super dehydrated. So, like, all the days that end in 'Y.'"

The Balm Stainiac, $16,amazon.com

Leibowitz Picture Team; Design: Emily Kemp

Master the Two-Second Topknot

Tata Harper, Founder of Tata Harper Skincare: "I always pull my hair back to keep it out of my face while doing my skincare routine. In the past I would just use a hair band and style my hair after finishing my skin. Now I use a cute clip so I can create a quick messy bun before I wash my face and leave it in for the day."

Leibowitz Picture Team; Design: Emily Kemp

Let Your Hair Set While Getting the Kids Ready

Tracey Lomrantz, Director of Brand Marketing at Intermix (and former Glamoureditor!): "I work out and take a shower before my baby gets up, then towel dry my hair and spritz it with Bumble and Bumble surf spray, twisting it up into two low buns and wrapping them each with a hair tie. I leave my hair twisted like that while im changing, feeding, and dressing my son, then undo them just before I leave the house. I flip my head upside down for a good shake, and am out the door. It creates perfect beach waves with almost zero effort every time—and keeps my hair out of my baby's very grabby hands."

Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray, $27,bumbleandbumble.com

Leibowitz Picture Team; Design: Emily Kemp

Eliminate Steps Wherever Possible

Clémence von Mueffling, Founder and Editor of Online Magazine *Beauty and Well Being:*

"Having grown up in Paris with a French Voguebeauty editor as my mother, I have learned to not leave the house without a perfect 'au naturel' look. But getting ready in the morning with my 6-year-old twins has required a less time-consuming version. All-in-one products are my go-to. After applying a toning micellar water from Filorga, La Roche-Posay, or REN, or a spritz of thermal water from Avène, I apply my CC cream. It's foundation, moisturizer, primer, and sunscreen all rolled into one. My favorite brands these days are Bobbi Brown and Erborian."

REN 3-in-1 Cleansing Water, $25,renskincare.com, Avene Thermal Spring Water, $14, netaporter.com, Bobbi Brown CC Cream, $46, sephora.com

Close
This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost Australia. Certain site features have been disabled. If you have questions or concerns, please check our FAQ or contact support@huffpost.com.