For many mothers, their lives revolve around juggling not just their children but careers, social lives, extracurriculars, and possibly even school, making putting their needs first difficult or impossible. When it comes to self-love and care time, most mothers report they can’t find time to run most of their essential errands, let alone pamper themselves. One of the essential things mom needs from their skincare products is for them to be convenient, time-saving, and, most importantly, effective. If you’re looking to revamp your skincare routine so you can look and feel your best, keep reading for the most game-changing skincare items every mom needs in her arsenal. 

Azelaic Acid Products 

Many mothers, especially those who are pregnant or breastfeeding, are concerned about what ingredients are in their skincare products – rightfully so, as your skin is your body’s largest organ – so ingredients like retinoids and salicylic acid to treat acne or fine lines are off the table. Any azelaic acid product is safe during pregnancy and beyond and helps clear redness, acne, rosacea, and hyperpigmentation. It’s truly a wonderful product; look for it in serums and use it in your nighttime skin routine – it takes two seconds and can make a world of difference. 

Pimple Patches

Growing up, most of us thought we would battle acne as pre-teens or teenagers, and that would be that – but if you’re like over 25% of American women, you deal with adult acne. Whether it’s due to hormones or stress, getting pimples can be a real bummer, so having pimple patches on hand is not only a game-changer, but they’re discreet enough that you can wear them during the day. Most pimple patches contain Hydrocolloid, which can flatten and drain even the biggest zits in a few hours. While it can be tempting to pop your pimples, it’s easy to scar your complexion through popping, so invest in pimple patches in your skin tone and apply them as soon as you see an unwanted friend appearing on your face.

Arm Firming Creams

Women’s bodies go through a lot during pregnancy, not the least of which is weight gain. While it’s important to note that it takes the average woman about two years postpartum to return to her pre-pregnancy body, you may find that some areas of your body have loose or sagging skin. Investing in an arm firming cream to prevent batwings or other arm skin issues like creping is easy, and applying it right out of the bath makes it a no-brainer for soft and firm skin. Don’t feel limited to just using on your arms either; most firming products can be used anywhere on the body, from your tummy to your thighs, so apply liberally to keep things nice and tight. 

Red Light Face Masks 

One just a product that celebrities could afford or influencers were gifted, red light face masks are affordable enough today that even families on tight budgets can afford them. While wearing your red light mask may scare your younger children, it’s worth it when it comes to clearing up skin conditions like melasma and hyperpigmentation. These light masks are also phenomenal at preventing fine lines and wrinkles as well as keeping them at bay. 

Hydrating Sleeping Creams 

Whether your skin type is dry or oily-prone, everyone needs hydration overnight. Dehydrated skin accelerates aging and can leave you with a dull and tired complexion. Moms are often tired enough to need a product to do the heavy lifting overnight while catching up on their beauty sleep.

When selecting the best nighttime moisturizer, look for products that contain ingredients like hyaluronic acid, which helps to deeply hydrate the skin, as well as alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) or beta-hydroxy acids (BHAs), which can help to gently exfoliate and brighten the complexion. Other beneficial ingredients to look for include antioxidants like vitamin C, which can help to protect the skin from environmental damage and reduce inflammation, and caffeine, which can help to depuff and firm the skin.

Taking care of yourself as a mother shouldn’t feel like another thing on your to-do list, but depending on your motherhood season, it does. By adding the above convenient and game-changing, not to mention time-saving products to your daily skincare routine, you’ll look and feel your best. And remember to treat yourself to facials at least once every few months!