Are you like me? Does your ‘beauty routine’ consist of brushing your hair, on special occasions, applying some mascara? If so, you’re not alone. And more importantly, you don’t have to feel bad about it either. Making “me-time” is over-rated and quite frankly seems like just another thing for us to feel guilty about not doing.

Even if you do manage your make-up each day and your wardrobe has had a recent revamp, there is a chance you can’t seem to find the time for those one-off special treatments everyone else seems to enjoy.

Most of us don’t have time to shave our legs every other day, and we certainly can’t be applying face masks each evening. So, if you want to rediscover those things called beauty tips, here are a few secrets that will keep you looking and feeling a little better and won’t leave you short of time

If It Bothers You, Loose The Hair

Arguably, the most annoying upkeep in life is trying to keep your body hair under control. Now, there is nothing wrong with staying natural and leaving your hair to grow, but equally, there is nothing wrong with wanting to shed your hair either.

I am lucky because, being a redhead, most of my body hair is very fine and fair, so it isn’t really noticeable, but I like the sensation of smooth legs. Trying to find time to shave or burn the hair off with cream, though, can be tough. On one occasion, I got hair removal cream all over the furniture after the kids had left the back door open, and a raccoon found its way into the house. I had to chase it out before my hair removal time was up.

I’d swear our kids are just laying it wait until they hear the bathroom door shut so they can do something outlandish.

The magical answer for those who want to lose their hair without the need for regular upkeep is laser hair removal. There’s tonnes of information online here http://lasermedica.ca/treatments/laser-hair-removal/, which explains all the ins and outs of the process. Just a few sessions in a beauty salon, and you will never have to shave again. I haven’t tried it myself, but friends who have tried laser hair removal tell me it’s a real lifesaver if the bane of your life is cutting your knee with a rusty old razor. Wave goodbye to those days and say hello to super smooth skin forever.

Refresh and Relax

One of the most simple ways to look and feel better is frequently overlooked. The key to a healthier, happier you is sleep. Not only does it help your body recharge, but there are also a whole slew of health benefits of quality sleep.

Your mind and body benefit hugely from a good full 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep each night. But that’s easier said than done, especially with kids in the house, right? 

If you struggle to get to sleep at a decent hour, begin by turning off all of your electronics at least an hour before you want to drift off. There are two reasons for this:

  1. Interacting online, whether positively or negatively, is stimulating. The more stimulation you have before you try to sleep, the harder it will be to drift off. Even reading the news can be enough to set off excitement, anxiety, or any other emotion so if you want to catch some zzz’s press the button and power down.
  2. The light emitted from your electronic devices may appear to be white light, or be dimmed through your night-time settings, but it still emits blue light. Blue light is the most effective at transmitting images to your brain and is subsequently more stimulating. By turning off your devices you immediately reduce your blue light levels and make it easier to fall asleep.

In-Shower Secrets

No matter how busy our lives are, most of us at least try to take a shower every day.

But let’s be honest. Showers these days involve a quick wash of your hair and a rinse of your face before the kids start banging on the door complaining they have something stuck up their nose and need your help NOW. You barely get the chance to wash the conditioner from your hair, let alone get into anything that could be described as a beauty regime.

However, if you can afford to spend a couple of extra minutes in the shower, there are a few quickie tips you can try.

If you’re having significant problems with split ends, then try out an in-shower deep nourishing hair mask. Slap it on before you go for a wee, allow the mask to do its thing, and then wash it out at the end of your shower. There are also plenty of face masks that are made to use in the shower. However, that does rob you of the enjoyment of scaring the cat with your face mask, so wins and losses there.

You don’t need all the time in the world to feel a little more human and maybe even a bit more like the person you were pre-kids and family.