Mommy Must-Haves: {Skincare}

I've always been pretty prone to stretchmarks and already have quite a few on my thighs (thanks to a pubescent growth spurt), so I stocked up on plenty of stretchmark lotions and creams pretty soon after discovering that I was pregnant. To be honest, I haven't been very good at applying these on a daily basis until very recently, because I felt that it was unnecessary - my tummy only really started to show about four weeks ago.  Lately, however, I've been slathering on various creams and tummy rubs as often as possible - sometimes twice a day! During this past week I've started to notice that my tummy feels quite tight from time to time, so I take that as a sign that my skin is definitely streeetching - no (new) stretchmarks in sight just yet, though! At the moment, my go-to skin saviours are:

Top Left: Mama Mio Lucky Legs and Mama Mio Tummy Rub Stretchmark Butter
Mama Mio is a gorgeous range of products that was designed specifically for use during pregnancy, to treat various pregnancy and post-pregnancy concerns - think stretchmarks, deflated boobs and tired, swollen legs, and you're on the right track. This Tummy Rub is one of my favourite products - it just feels super-nourishing and luxurious, and I'm in love with the scent! I usually use this rich, indulgent butter at night after my bath. Although I haven't experienced sore, tired or swollen legs just yet, I have started to get lower backaches during the past two weeks or so. It's not uncommon for me to beg my fiance to give me a little lower back rub-down using Mama Mio's Lucky Legs at the end of a long day. Although this product is specially formulated for use on legs, I find that it works a treat on my lower back and I really enjoy the soothing tingling sensation. I have used this on my legs before after a long day of shooting and I must admit that it's a fantastic product - whether you're pregnant or not! In fact, I think it's a necessity for any woman who spends long hours on her feet - as someone who's waited tables before, I know for a fact that other waiters out there will love it!

Top Right: Guinot Anti-Ageing Sun Protection SPF30 for Eyes and Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Sun Defense for Face SPF50 Sunscreen PA+++
As someone with a  fair complexion, I'm very careful when I head outdoors and always ensure that my skin - especially the skin on my face - is well protected. My mom developed pigmentation during her last pregnancy, so I knew to stock my beauty kit with the necessary products to help prevent pigmentation immediately after falling pregnant. During winter, I wore Bobbi Brown's BB Cream SPF 35, which I felt was plenty of protection for the cooler months. For summer, I've added my summer staple, Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Sun Defense for Face SPF 50, to my morning routine. This lotion is fantastic as it is very hydrating so you can wear it alone (no need for another moisturiser), but it's also very light and easily absorbed. Better still, it doesn't leave that nasty white residue on your skin and works as a fantastic base to your foundation. I also like that it has a high SPF, because it means that I can use the same product throughout summer, whether I'm at the office or on the beach. I recently noticed that I've developed light pigmentation around my eye area, so I immediately googled appropriate treatments and methods of prevention. As well as recommending using an anti-pigmentation eye cream at night, many experts recommended using a sunscreen specifically formulated for the delicate eye area. (If you think about it, you're slathering sun protection all over your face but skipping the all-important eye area, which is then exposed to the sun. The results? Pigmentation and sun damage, but of course!) I wasn't too keen to start using my regular sun lotion on my delicate eye area, so I've opted to use Guinot Anti-Ageing Sun Protection SPF30 for Eyes instead.

Bottom Left: The amazing people at Clicks recently sent my a box full of gorgeous mom-to-be and baby essentials (more info and reviews to come!) and I started using the Clicks Stretchmark Cream with Tissue Oils the very next day. I was blown away by this product - it seems so unassuming at first, but once you use it - wow! I LOVE the scent - it smells deliciously fresh - and the lotion is very light and easily-absorbed, leaving no sticky residue. I've started using this every morning and I can imagine that it's going to become another summer staple. There's nothing worse than applying lotion to your body during summer, only to end up feeling like a hot, sticky mess by noon! There's none of that with this stretchmark cream; it sinks into your skin, leaving skin feeling well nourished, supple and smooth. Fellow mom-to-be's (and anyone who struggles with stretchmarks), I urge you all to get your hands on this amazing product!

Bottom Right, From Top: Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Tummy Rub, Kiehl's Creme De Corps Soy Milk and Honey Whipped Body Butter, Mama Mio Tummy Rub
I wrote a full post on Kiehl's indulgent body butter earlier this week, but I couldn't leave this delicious treat off my list of 'mommy must-haves'. As I mentioned in said post, I think the fact that I've been using this body butter regularly both before and during my pregnancy, has a lot to do with the elasticity and firmness of my skin right now. I still use this on a nightly basis, especially on my legs, but I've started using a stretchmark-specific butter, like Mama Mio Tummy Rub or Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Tummy Butter, on my tummy. I've long been a fan of anything Palmer's, but found that I simply couldn't stomach the smell of any Palmer's products during my first trimester (along with anything vanilla-scented). Thankfully, that seems to have passed so I'm able to enjoy the soothing scent of this gorgeous, thick butter on a regular basis now. I really enjoyed this product during winter (and when traveling to Joburg), as I found that the thick, creamy texture works wonders on dry, parched skin. (I may even be guilty of slathering it on feet and covering up in socks for soft, smooth feet in the morning - try it!)

Moms and moms-to-be, tell me: what body and skincare products could you not live without during your pregnancy? What were some of the skincare concerns you faced?



images: Chereen Gibson