Monday 17 August 2015

Pregnancy Beauty Tips

Pregnancy beauty tips
Your delighted that your pregnant but are you really ready for the body changes that come with it? 

I know I certainly wasn't, despite the obvious you put on weight, your boobs become huge, your back, hips and skin have a mind of their own too. I have been lucky to escape the pregnancy acne and additional facial hair that comes with some pregnancies. But I definitely got the short straw on the sickness front (6 -20 weeks) and hip pain (22 weeks onwards). 

So what are my top tips for pregnancy pampering and relaxation?

1. Sleep when you can and make sure you get your eight hours of sleep:
I've been awful at following my own advice here so learn from my mistakes. In the early days of pregnancy you will feel really tired and fall asleep at any given opportunity. Go with it your body is busy making a baby after all, rest when you can and definitely go to bed early to get at least eight hours sleep

At sixteen weeks of pregnancy you will have developed a love hate relationship with sleep. You will frequently need the loo, you can develop sinus pain, leg cramps and if your baby is anything like Yaya, night time means party time. Yes this is the time when Yaya becomes most active, just when I'm settling down to go to sleep (or try at least). 

Top tips for this stage of pregnancy are make sure you wind down to bed and try having a warm bath. I have been loving the Verbena Foaming Bath from L'Occitane £20. It has a wonderfully soothing lemony smell and is absolutely divine. 
Pregnancy beauty
When in bed sleep on your left side, you will find this most comfortable, use a pillow behind your back to try and stop you rolling on your back. Having a pillow between your knees will also help your hips and pelvis. Consider investing in a pregnancy pillow this was the best thing that I did, I just wish that I had done it sooner. 

2. Your pregnant not ill: 
This was what my midwife said to me at my first appointment and at the time I thought what a stupid thing to say. But it is true. It is very easy to stop doing all the things that you love and that make you happy. 

Just because you are pregnant does not mean you get to eat for two, be weighted on hand and foot and stop doing any exercise. Exercise not only makes you feel better but it is great for baby too, pregnancy yoga is a brilliant way to relax too. 
Pregnancy relaxation
3. Stretch marks: 
Most women dread this and will do anything to not develop them. To be honest I was quite relaxed about this, I see them as a sign that you've had a baby, almost a badge of honour. 

But that said from day one I did use body oil. The following two are ones I have been loving.

Pregnancy stretch marks
This was the first oil that I used in early pregnancy, as it has such a light fragrance it was perfect for not setting off the sickness when rubbing it in. 

It's the perfect oil for keeping my skin moisturised and is very easily absorbed in my skin. My only negative is that the dispensing applicator is really slow. 

As my pregnancy has developed and the sickness has eased, I have used the Clarins Tonic Body Treatment Oil £40.
Pregnancy stretch marks
The first thing to share about this oil is the smell which is divine, like a botanical garden, rich with hazelnut oil. I have been applying once a day at night after a bath and so far I have no stretch marks. It is easily absorbed, has evened out my skin tone and improved the texture of my skin. 

Both oils are also perfect to add a few drops to your nails in later pregnancy to perk them up. 

4.Pamper yourself:
Take some extra time for yourself. The Sanctuary Spa has a wonderful ultimate retreat hat box for mums to be £18. 

Mums to be gifts
The box is filled with wonderful luxurious relaxing bath and body goodies. Perfect pampering for the mum to be.  
Mum to be gifts
mum to be present
The cooling leg and foot gel has been wonderful when I have been on my feet all day.

The tips shared above are perfect for mums to be but also great pampering and relaxation tips for anyone. It is important however when pregnant that you look at the ingredients of any products to check that they are suitable for your skin and that you can use them. For more information have a look here.  

What are your perfect beauty tips to relax and unwind? Do you have any mum to be pearls of wisdom to share with me?

 photo foodieforce_32.jpg

20 comments:

  1. This is honestly such a fabulous insight into pregnancy! I don't plan on having a little one anytime soon, but it does worry me how little I know at the moment :/. A pregnancy pillow sounds like such a good idea and you're SO right about seeing stretch marks as a badge of honour! :)

    Style Sunrise☀

    :)
    x

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    1. I honestly knew nothing and it is surprising how much changes and what you can and can't do. But you learn it as you go along. Hopefully I can share some of what I have learnt so when you are ready you know a little more than I did Lucy x

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  2. Very interesting Lucy - and funny that your baby is raring to go at night when you are wanting to sleep!

    Suze | LuxuryColumnist

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    1. Funny now but I just hope that the baby is in a more sociable routine when they arrive Lucy x

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  3. Ok so I'm not pregnant and don't plan on being any time in the near future but this was actually really interesting (and dare I say useful) to read! I feel like people don't talk about what being pregnant is like that much so it's great that you're talking so openly about it - now I know what to expect for that distant, distant time haha :) hope you're getting enough sleep xxx

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    1. Your right people don't really share the information that would be useful to know. I had no clue about most of the things that I have had to learn and preparation is key. Glad you found it interesting Lucy x

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  4. thanks for sharing!! might have to take notes on this for when I do get pregnant in the future! :D

    Have a great weekend!
    Animated Confessions

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  5. This is a great round up of tips! Will have to make note for the future!

    Ash | Liakada

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    1. We can do a swap you can share holiday destinations and I can give pregnancy tips Lucy x

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  6. This was really interesting to read, and I think the hat box for mums is such a lovely idea :) The bath foam sounds so good, I'm glad you're taking time to pamper yourself! xx

    Toasty

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    1. It is a lovely gift. I was lucky to have my birthday not long after my twelve week scan so got spoilt with pampering bits Lucy x

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  7. I'm not even pregnant and I think I wanna invest in one of those pillows haha! I have to sleep with a pillow between my knees and those things just look so comfy. I feel it'd be a step too far though I spend enough time napping as it is! Hope you pamper yourself loads and that you manage to get lots of sleep x

    Josie’s Journal

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    1. If you sleep with a pillow between your legs you should definitely invest in the pregnancy pillow is perfect for getting a good nights sleep. Supports your back too. Lucy x

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  8. Excellent tips Lucy, I wish I'd had this to read about 7 months ago! I just got the sanctuary box set at my baby shower this weekend and I am already in love with the cool foot get, i'm suffering so bad with swollen feet in the heat at the minute :( Have you got a birthing ball? I love bouncing on it when my hips and lower back are hurting, it eases the pain and makes me feel more flexible. Take care lovely! x

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  9. I know so did I that's why I thought I would share. Why no one shares some of the more challenging elements I don't know. The baby box set is lovely. Hopefully rubbing the foot gel will help. I don't have a birthing ball the other half saw it as a fab and that I would only use for five minutes. Would definitely will help with the hip pain. Hope you are making the most of your maternity leave Lucy x

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  10. There's loads of pregnancy yoga videos on YouTube! I still can't believe you're pregnant, I'm so excited for you :)

    Corinne x
    www.skinnedcartree.com

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    1. I will have to have a look I really do need to be doing more. For the first few months neither could I but now I am carrying a mini bowling board I kinda can't forget:-) x

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  11. Pregnancy terrifies me. Probably not what you intended by this blog, but it really does. Sounds like you're doing it all like a mega babe though! x

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    1. Your not on your own or in the minority, it scares the hell out of most women. Mainly because it is totally an unknown. Maybe sharing the reality will make you less scared and worried or make you realise that actually being terrified is sensible. I'll tell you in a couple of months Lucy x

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