By Anupriya Jamuar

We know that sometimes you don’t want to be bothered with a skincare routine between nappy changes and your baby’s feeding time. And we also know that you would love a regimen that saves on time and also your skin barrier.

We asked celebrity cosmetic dermatologist and Indian beauty guru, Dr Chytra Anand for a quick and simple skincare routine that meets all your needs. Read on to know what Dr Chytra suggests new mothers should include in their diets and skincare

Keep it easy

Cleansing, moisturising, and protection with a sunscreen are the three critical steps you must follow. Use soap-free, pH balanced cleansers; as soap tends to dehydrate the skin. Some times you can skip the moisturiser and directly apply sunscreen after washing your face in the morning.

“There is no harm in applying sunscreen during pregnancy or the lactation period. It is not harmful to the baby or the mother,” explains Dr Chytra. At night, cleanse your face again and apply your moisturiser to keep your skin hydrated.

Actives to add

Post-pregnancy your skin tends to get dehydrated, Dr Chytra suggests hyaluronic acid or a sodium hyaluronate-based serum or moisturiser. You can also look out for a ceramide-based moisturiser and vitamin E. “These are all safe ingredients that you should use because your skin really just needs to be hydrated,” explains Dr Chytra.

“96% of the skin is about water and during your post-pregnancy it is imperative to keep your skin hydrated as lactation takes out a lot of water from the body,” she elaborates.

Actives to skip

“Avoid using ingredients like hydroquinone, retinol, or salicylic acid during pregnancy and the lactation period. These ingredients don’t have enough studies to see their effects during pregnancy so, we always advise avoiding them,” says Dr Chytra.

You can always find safe substitutes for these ingredients though. Instead of hydroquinone, try licorice root extract, or a glycolic-lactic acid combination. For acne, apply azelaic acid and niacinamide instead of salicylic acid.

A healthy diet equals healthy skin

“Drink at least 2.5 - 3 litres of fluids per day. Sometimes we even suggest up to 4 litres (when you’re breastfeeding) with electrol to keep your electrolytes in balance,” suggests Dr Chytra. “It is important for the water to pass from your gut into the skin cells and electrolytes or charged water are excellent sources.”

“With food, nuts are critical, especially in the first 6 months as they contain antioxidants to help skin repair—post-pregnancy a lot of tissue repair needs to happen in your body,” explains Dr Chytra.

“Calcium, vitamin B-complex, vitamin D, iron and omega acids are some nutrients you must focus on as these are what we call as your cell repair foods,” elaborates Dr Chytra. So, a healthy dose of almonds, walnuts and seeds along with fruits and vegetables should be your focus.

Two steps in the morning, two in the night, a balanced diet and you’re good to go.

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The Quickest Do-It-All Skincare Routine For Busy Moms