Meet Mini.
She’s reallllllly good at making people look pretty. She’s a freelance Chicago make up artist, and a natural talent at that! (You can check out some of her recent work on her IG here + her website here.) I love collaborating with her for my maternity and mommy clients because it’s so nice and refreshing to get the pampering we deserve every once in a while! (Lost your beauty groove? Same boat, mama. Don’t ever feel guilty treating yourselves, ladies!)
We recently did a session together along Chicago’s Riverfront with her and her handsome hubby. These two are just unreal- we had a BLAST unwinding from a work day, sipping champagne, listening to some good old tunes, dancing, and taking pretty pictures. Can’t wait to share my favorites with you all. Hope you enjoy!
P.S. A bonus guide on MASTERING the FIVE MINUTE MOM FACE at the end of this post. You won’t want to miss this! (I personally LOVE how Mini shares both high + low end products. Our beauty inventory shouldn’t break the bank!)
Let me just preface this next bit with some real honesty first. In my eyes, EVERY mom is a glamorous woman. I know that every female has their own struggle, and a lot of women have a tough time trying to find their inner beauty and path after motherhood. I get it. But if we take care of ourselves and can do little things to make us feel better- then our whole family benefits from our elevated mood! Do we NEED this? Of course not. We’re naturally beautiful. Our husbands and kids think the WORLD of us. But I think that especially for a mom of young child(ren), we need to prioritize self-care for ourselves. I find that most mommies I talk to easily get caught up in the grind of the daily routine and the occasional toddler tantrum. These are just some easy, simple tricks I want to share to help you feel like Mama’s got her groove back! 😉
Tired Mommy Beauty Fix:
CONCEAL.
There’s so many options these days. BB cream, tinted moisturizer or traditional foundation. Apply where needed, and using a primer does wonders to help this stuff stay put all day long.
Mini’s Faves: Too Faced Hangover Face Primer, Bobbi Brown’s BB Cream.
Jenny’s Faves: Laura Mercier’s Foundation Primer, IT Cosmetics CC+ cream
BLUSH/BRONZE.
It gives a tired mommy a healthy warm glow, and brings back life to a Vitamin-D deprived Chicago mama! The idea is that we want a wash of color, and not racing stripes across the cheeks. Aim for a looser big brush so it warms up the face and gives you a bit of color.
Mini’s Faves: Milani Cosmetics Baked Blush (drugstore); Red Vino for fall/winter and Luminoso for spring/summer. Tarte’s Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush; ‘Fearless’ and ‘Blissful’ are her two go-to colors.
HIGHLIGHTERS.
Want to go lighter on makeup or make it seem like #iwokeuplikethis? This genre of cosmetics perfects the skin with light-reflecting pearls for a dewy, natural-glow finish… an added bonus with SPF protection and it comes in a travel size. Ummm, yes please!!
Mini’s Fave: BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector.
BROWS.
There’s just something so much more polished about cleaning up your brows. If you already sport a fuller browed look naturally, just quick wax/clean up makes a huge difference. If your brow hairs are more sparse like me, I typically don’t really leave the house without a quick brow touch-up. These recs are easy to throw on in a jiffy, even if your babes are tugging at your leg…
Mini’s Fave: Brow Wiz Pencil, Anastasia Beverly Hills
Jenny’s Fave: Gimme Brow Volumizing Fiber Gel, Benefit Cosmetics
LASHES.
Mascara helps you feign looking alive and awake when your coffee hasn’t quite kicked in yet. Up all night with a teething baby? Right there with you, babe. Choose the right mascara- volumizing for thin lashes, or color for pale blonde lashes.
Mini’s Fave: Maybelline’s Lash Sensational
Jenny’s Go-to if time and money were a luxury: Lash extensions! I have approximately 10 lashes on each eye, thanks to my half Korean side. Sorry, I don’t have a specific Chicago place to recommend because it’s wishful thinking. I wish I had more time for this! 🙁 Instead, I don’t go anywhere without my trusty eyelash curler!
LIPS.
To avoid the dehydrated look, at the very least throw on some tinted lip balm. Want a bit more color without looking like you’re going to the J. Parker rooftop on a Friday night? Use your finger to blot on your lipstick for a lighter stain effect.
Prefer nude + natural? Here’s an affordable smooth and creamy version; Revlon ColorStay in multiple shades to match anyone’s skin tone.
Mini’s Fave: NYX Cosmetics Butter Gloss in Crème Brulee
Happy guilt-free self-care, mamas!
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