Beauty Tips From My Mom

Many of us who love beauty products got into this realm from our mothers. I remember my mom putting bows in my hair every day before school and showing me how to apply blush for my first school play, and so many more precious things. Having worked at a makeup and fragrance counter for a few years at a local department store where she grew up, she knows her stuff when it comes to beauty. Though nowadays she asks for more of my opinions on beauty-related matters than the other way around, some of my best pieces of advice originated with her. So in honor of Mother's Day, I thought I would share some of my top tips given to me from my mom.

For Shiny Hair, Rinse Cold: Mom says this is true of everyone but especially for someone who has blonde hair like I do, but even though she herself has dark hair, she still abides by this rule. This is literally the first-ever beauty tip I can remember her telling me as a little girl , and it it does indeed work. The science behind it is that the cold water helps to shock the hair cuticle into closing fast and tightly after it's been opened because of washing and product absorption. This seals benefits of conditioning products but also makes the surface of the cuticle smoother and better able to reflect light as well as hold moisture, no matter what your hair color or texture.

When it Comes to Makeup, Find a Signature Look and Stick to it: As much as she enjoys beauty, Mom is not much one for experimentation, preferring instead to rely on the look she feels best in and become an expert in applying it. Specifically, that is a navy and taupe smoky eye with minimal black eyeliner in the waterline and a white browbone highlight. To copy this look fully would take me 15 mins at least. But I have seen her throw it on in less than 5 and still look fabulous. It has become second nature to her in spite of its number of steps. I,being someone who likes to be a bit more improvisational with my makeup, marvel at the ease and speed with which she can do this. So maybe consider finding your own best look, even if it seems more intricate, and see how practicing it may improve your ease in doing it.

If Face Makeup Products Have a Discernible Scent, They Will Overdry the Skin: I remember her telling me this very early when I started wearing full faces of makeup and trying to find my way through liquid foundations, nearly all of which have a synthetic fragrance. Sure enough, this added fragrance commonly irritates both her oilier skin and my dry, sensitive skin and causes excessive peeling. She and I tend to avoid liquid foundations especially, as those tend to be the most heavily-fragranced types of foundation. If we do use one, it is generally from a hypoallergenic brand. I personally recommend liquid foundations by Almay and Neutrogena for well-performing, inexpensive options.

Don't be Afraid to Pay for Products You Rely On And Budget Accordingly Elsewhere: By far, for Mom, her priority in her beauty budget is haircare, followed by skincare, and then foundation. As long as she can, she will pay higher costs if needed to keep using her trusted items for these categories and hardly strays from them. When she does, she almost always regrets doing so. However in color cosmetics, such as lipsticks and blushes and mascara, she is much more willing to both economize and experiment since those items are less of a priority for her. But she maintains in the types of things you really depend on, often you will spend more money in the long run trying to find a cheaper alternative than on buying the thing you really like. Of course, how and on what to splurge and save is relative for everyone, but you can read my thoughts on which makeup items I personally like to save and splurge in the article linked here.

A Simple Secret to Anti-aging is Moisturizing and Hydration: As effective and ubiquitous as retinol and retinol derivatives are in skincare for anti-aging. Mom, even though she is now in her 60s, does not use them. She and I both have a sensitivity to Vitamin A, which retinol is a form of. Still, she has very plump, smooth skin. Most people are shocked to learn her age, saying that she literally looks 10 years younger. Her secret is being vigilant about hydration, both internally and topically. She has always favored thick, emollient face creams, even despite having oily skin as a teenager, and remains quite diligent about slathering on this kind of product both daily and nightly. By the same token, she is also known to have glasses scattered everywhere around the house filled with water and tea, which she downs constantly. Ample hydration is key for overall health, but it has a very direct correlation to how supple our skin remains as we age and how resistant it will be to showing fine lines and wrinkles. I am inspired daily to up my hydration game because of her and hopefully will look as good as she does when I am her age. So as much as it might feel tempting to skip the thick moisturizer in the heat of the day or as tasty as the soda may seem when compared to water, be sure to do all you can to keep up yourself hydrated. You will look and feel much better for it now, and your efforts will radiate in your skin years down the road.

I cherish everything I learn from my mom, and not just in beauty. Her tips, however, have played a major role in how I have shaped my beauty routine. But whether these tips will apply to you or not, may you remember all the special women in your life—be they your mother or not—and all the beautiful things they do. Happy Mother's Day!