I had my second baby a few weeks ago, and have been struggling to get into a daily routine that allows me to shower/apply makeup/wash my hair.

I normally snatch a few minutes in the morning, before Mr. G heads out to work to hurriedly apply a bit of concealer and pull on some clothes (often inside out). So, I’ve been trying to streamline my mornings and figure out what products and treatments are actually worthwhile. Here are my top five:

1. The Eyes Have It

The name of my blog is a bit of a giveaway, but I love long eyelashes. Dark, glossy lashes with a good curl are my trademark and I rarely leave the house without lashings of mascara. However, with two children under two, there are two issues with this. One, finding the time to carefully curl and coat my lashes, and two, after twelve hours of feeding, burping, scooting, bathing and cooking for them, my mascara is usually artfully coating the majority of my cheeks. So, I swear by eyelash extensions. They eliminate the need for mascara, last for weeks and look amazing. Best of all, the wonderful Hannah from Love Lash will come to your house if you are short of time/sleep and beautify your peepers.

2. Bag lady

The number one bit of makeup that I cannot live without at the moment is under eye concealer. I have tried them all, from the ultra famous to lesser known brands, and have found the best. By Terry Touche Expert Advanced covers all the evidence of sleepless nights and makes your skin look fresh and glowy. I am slowly becoming a huge fan of this range, as so many of the makeup products are full of skincare ingredients as well, so they really help you to skin a few steps!

3. Get cheeky

The second must have item of makeup for tired, weary skin is blusher. A dab of something rosy on your face, makes you look younger and fresher instantly. I am currently in love with Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge, which is a sheer, creamy blush that adds a youthful glow in an instant. But, cream blushers don’t last all day, so I also use Nars powder blusher in Orgasm,
which has a golden tinge to it, to warm up your skin on those ‘sallow’ days!

4. Sonic Youth

Mr. G is a technophobe like no other (he actually took a day off work to be home for the arrival of his iPhone 5), and I fear it is rubbing off on me. I have fallen in love with two techie beauty gadgets, namely the Clarisonic and my Sonicare toothbrush. Both have proved indispensible in the last year or so, when time has been short and results much needed. The Clarisonic has made my skin clearer than ever, reduced fine lines and texture, all in a one minute daily blast. It’s like a giant toothbrush for your face, and with consistent use, the results are fantastic. Quicker than a trip to a facialist, and probably cheaper than a lot of facials out there!

The Sonicare toothbrush is the best I have tried (and I’ve worked my way through quite a lot). It’s fast and super effective at cleaning your teeth and gums gently, so fab whilst pregnant (your gums can get quite sore).

5. Relax

The most important part of my day, is the 10 minutes I take every evening, once the babies are in bed (or Mr. G is on duty) to have a long soak in the bath. The most important component is some good bath oil, which helps me to feel pampered and lull off to sleep. My two favourites are Aromatherapy Associates Deep Relax and Beatitude Peace. Both are heady mixtures of relaxing essential oils, which soothe my mind and prepare me for the onslaught of the following day (add a glass of wine
whilst soaking, and it is honestly my idea of heaven!).

Details

Hannah at LoveLash, 07815 059 795. £60 for a full set of lashes

By Terry, Touch Expert Advanced, £28.50, available from Space NK

Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge for Lips and Cheeks, £18 from Bobbi Brown counters nationwide

Clarisonic, from £130, available from Space NK and John Lewis stores

Philips Sonicare Toothbrush, from £25 available nationwide and online from Boots and Amazon

Aromatherapy Associates Deep Relax Bath Oil, £37, available from Aromatherapy Associates stockists nationwide

Beatitude Peace Bath Oil, from £22, available from the Beatitude website