In my house anyway. And no, it’s not actually mum - it is mom, mama, mommy, and usually at an extraordinarily shrill, high volume. Lately, with my six-year old daughter now in first grade and thinking she is All That (I know nothing), it is the extended club-version. The “moo-oo-ooom” with that tiny lilt right in the middle that says either in demand (I need you IMMEDIATELY even though you are really bugging me being here to help) or in disgust (What now? What could you possibly want of me? Don’t you see I am putting a bikini on my barbie doll?!) Eye-roll, exasperated sigh, big shrug.
Okay, I exaggerate. My daughter Maya is a firecracker but she is also a kind-hearted bundle of brains and humor and love. But the single mom thing - back-up - the Mom Thing (I know how hard my mama friends work, partnered or otherwise) is a full-time job on top of our regular, well, full-time jobs. And time, I have learned, is the commodity that leaves your life the moment you give birth, and the thing I crave constantly and miss enormously.
But enough of the pity party! The point is, we have so little time in which to do so much. I do more than I ever thought I would or could. And in the midst of being so busy, I have said goodbye to the time-rich indulgences that were a part of my life before mommyhood… bubble baths, at-home pedicures, yoga classes, hours on the couch reading the pile of books that now gathers dust and grows dangerously tall. I would single-handedly rob a bank if it meant I could spend an afternoon indulging in a whole lot of nothing, to be followed by something incredibly decadent like, say, a full night’s sleep.
So what’s a girl to do when the amount of time you need to preen and pamper and put yourself on the beauty train is in direct conflict with the amount of time you have? Two words: Time Savers! A drawer or cabinet full of amazing products that can save you time/multi-task is a must! The good news is that 2nd Street Beauty has a wonderful array of products that do two jobs at once (think: moisturizer/bronzer combo), helping to make you feel and look gorgeous in minutes. So you can be frosting cupcakes, packing lunches, applying fresh nail polish, and scooting the kiddos out the door while balancing your briefcase on your head all at once. The following staff favorites will help you accomplish much of the above.
A must-have for hair! Tigi’s Fast Fix. It is a Spritzer/Restyler that lets you mist your hair, shake it around or tease it with your fingers, and then locks it into place. Our Melisa swears by it.
Dermalogica Antioxidant Hydramist. I first started using spray misters and re-hydrators when I was flying back and forth between California and Montreal. Airplanes pull so much moisture out of your skin! And now that I am getting older, I am working to stay hydrated always. A few sprays of Dermalogica, my skin feels dewy and my make-up, wakes up!
Also from Dermalogica: Skin Purifying Wipes. They clean and refresh, giving you and your face a little boost. Perfect at mid-day when you and your skin may start to feel a little tired!
For your lips: Epicuren Enzyme Lip Balm. It is small enough to throw in your purse or pocket, has a soft and natural sheen and an SPF of 15. You get moisture and protection anytime you need it!
Two great products for the face that are real time-savers: Perricone’s tinted moisturizer, and the Jane Iredale Pressed Powder. Perricone’s moisturizer with a hint of color gives you moisture and a feeling of foundation make up in one step! The Jane Iredale powder is mineral-based but a much quicker application time than their loose minerals. Plus it provides great coverage and a natural SPF.
Finally, for those of you who don’t leave the house with chipped nail polish! Both Creative Nail Speedy and Seche Vite’s top coat take no time to apply and get that polish dry much faster than letting it dry on its own. So you can glam up your nails, take a few minutes to dry and set the polish, and garden the afternoon away! Beautiful nails and beautiful flowers in the same day…what more could a mum dream of?