Glow on! Looking great after baby
Glow on!
Looking great after baby
by Lisa Petty
In hindsight, nine months flew by – and you can finally see your feet again. And your legs. But now that the blush of pregnancy has diminished, it’s time for a little TLC. Yet alone-time is a precious commodity when you have a newborn. Choose from this mix-and-match at-home spa menu.
Dry Brushing
Your skin had a real workout in the last few months of your pregnancy, and it needs to your help to snap back into shape. Along with a steady stream of skin healing nutrients like omega 3 fats EPA and DHA from fish oil; vitamins A, C and E, you want to stimulate circulation to all of your skin cells. One of the easiest ways to do that is by dry-brushing your skin.
To start your skin-brushing experience, buy a natural-bristle brush with a long handle, so you can get to those hard-to-reach places. To start your spa day, and while you (and the brush) are completely dry, start at your feet, and with long, firm strokes, brush upward toward your heart, front and back. Brush across your buttocks, and use a counterclockwise motion on your stomach and abdomen. Finish with your arms and each hand. Remember your palms and the soles of your feet, your scalp and the back of your neck. Avoid your face. Cover each area only once. Your skin will let you know how firmly you should press, but start with a light touch at first. As your skin becomes more fit and firm, you’ll be able to work more vigorously. Follow the routine with a rinse in the tub or shower.
Contrast Showers
On some days, you feel lucky to get two minutes in the shower. Make the most of them by increasing circulation to promote great looking skin. Improved circulation brings nutrients, oxygen, and immune cells to damaged tissues and helps eliminate inflammatory byproducts and other toxins. Simply start with a few minutes of warm water, followed by one minute of cold water. Repeat as often as you’d like, or for as much time as you have!
The All-Natural Pedicure
Soak your feet in warm water for 10 minutes. Use a nailbrush to clean under and around your nails and to scrub the bottoms of your feet. Gently exfoliate with a pumice stone or foot scrub, taking care not to remove too much of the protective outer layer. Regular exfoliation should help remove painful corns and calluses. When you’ve had your soak, thoroughly dry your feet. Then carefully push back your cuticles with an orange stick. Never cut your cuticles, as doing so can lead to infection. Using straight-edge clippers, trim your toenails to a length near the end of your toes to prevent the nail from growing painfully into the skin around it. Give yourself a well-deserved foot massage with coconut, olive, or avocado oil, and slip on a pair of cotton socks. Top your toes with a cheerful, non-toxic, water-based polish.
Tub time
Find a simple soaking solution doesn’t have to be pricey. Check out these health store finds!
Epsom salt: Melt away your aches, pains and tired bones with magnesium-rich Epsom salt. Dissolve 1-4 cups of salt in your bathwater, increasing the amount according to the level of discomfort you are experiencing.
Sea salt: There’s a reason we flock to the seaside in the summer: sea salt helps us restore, rejuvenate and heal. Choose a sea salt bathe to help detoxify skin and body systems, as well as negative emotions and experiences. Dissolve a cup or two in bathwater; soak and relax!
Vinegar: Help to restore the natural pH balance of your skin and restore an aching body with vinegar. Add 4 cups apple cider vinegar to bath water.
After your soak, pat dry and massage coconut, olive or jojoba oil into your skin.
Hot oil treatment
Give your hair deep conditioning while you soak. Simply rub coconut or olive oil through your hair, focusing on tips. Don an old shower cap, then wrap a towel around your head. After at least ten minutes, shampoo and condition as usual.
Aromatherapy essentials
Add a few drops of an essential oil to your bath water complements your soaking solution. Choose your fragrance based on your mood or whether you are starting your day or ending it.
- Anxious or stressed: bergamot, lavender, jasmine, juniper berry
- Lift mood: clary sage, ylang-ylang, sandalwood, marjoram
- Drift off to sleep: chamomile, lemon balm, neroli, patchouli
- Invigorate and awaken: peppermint, grapefruit, lemon, basil.
At-home spa check list
Have the following in your tool-kit:
- favourite music
- candles
- long-handled, natural-bristle brush
- pumice stone
- orange stick
- nail clippers
- bath soak
- essential oils
- nourishing coconut, olive or jojoba oil
Most importantly, a new mom needs time alone. Enlist the help of your spouse or doting grandparents to give you the luxury of a locked bathroom door for an hour. Plan your spa-time when you know baby will be well-fed or sleeping to minimize interruptions.
Originally published in Blush
