How much effort do you put into your appearance now you're a mother?

Well as i'm a single parent of a 2 year old living with family,I don't have much time to do a proper routine in getting myself ready.

Firstly,from becoming a mother for the first time,i put all my effort into my child.I put myself second.

I had a year off work,so didn't need to make sure my appearance was presentable.As i only work part time i make more of an effort than i did in the beginning,but not a great deal of change.

My routine is :

Wash my face everyday and moisturise.

Apply foundation and concealer

Eyeliner and mascara.

Comb,brush my hair.

I only tidy my eyebrows if they get too unruly.

I shower about once every 4 days.

I don't sweat much but apply deoderant when i need it but always after showering.

Change underwear everyday.

Wash my hair and condition every 4 days

Dye my hair every 3 weeks

Shave once a week,never wax.

I applied fake tan to my legs about the second time in 2 years recently.

I remember in the beginning i didn't do any of this except have a bath,My hair needed cutting as well but i didn't care,though i desperately neededc it washing,it was dry and frizzy.I loved the first time i washed,conditioned and later had it trimmed.Then after about 3-4 weeks i started applying my make up to make me feel relatively human again.

My appearance isn't as perfect as it used to be but at least i make some effort.

I spend alot of time playing with my child,drawing with him,reading to him and helping im learn new things.

I currently work full time, have a 2 year old, and am 34 weeks pregnant, so if I'm at home and not going anywhere I really don't care if I look like death warmed over. There are days where I'll just be in the mood to feel pretty, or when I go out or come to work that I will do my make up and my hair, but if I'm just going to stay home then I don't worry about it much. I got lucky with my eyebrows and they pretty much shaped themselves and need very little maintenance, so I only need to pluck them once every 3-4 months or so, and I don't usually paint my nails.

I've had my days where I had absolutely nothing to do, but I felt like I was ready to acquire my own orbit and needed to do SOMETHING to make myself feel better, so I'll get dolled up even though I don't have to so I definitely understand where you're coming from.

Before kids I was really fussy about my appearance now with kids I am still fussy but there's a few things I don't do now.I only wear high heels on special occasions when I used to live in high heels and didn't like wearing anything else.Now it's not practical I tend to wear either flat sandals or boots with a slight heel as I can't cope with tottering everywhere anymore.I still do my make up and won't go out without it and I have to bath everyday.I have to wear something smart everywhere I go I hate feeling rough I am happier if I look ok.I don't fuss with my hair daily it's too time consuming.I used to it had to be just right but now I style it three times a week maybe and the rest of the time I put it up which only takes a minute.

I do about the same as you. I love makeup and could not live without it. It's just something I enjoy doing and it's been part of my morning ritual for 15 years. I like to look good for myself. I don't feel I'm at my best if I'm looking like an unkempt slob. I do it for my husband too. Now on weekends I don't always put on make up if I'm not going anywhere. I work full time and I wear it during the week.

I shower daily. In the colder months I don't shave quite as often. I do my hair every week day and do my make up (powder, eyeliner, mascara, shadow, blush, eyebrow pencil, lip gloss, concealer). I put on decent clothes for work. I have about 100 bottles of perfume and I wear it daily.

My husband probably thinks I'm high maintenance but he's never criticized me. If we are going out or having pictures taken or something, I'll take a little longer getting ready. His first wife was a roll out of bed, throw on clothes and out the door type. It's taken him a while to get used to a woman who puts more into her appearance and takes longer to get ready.

You're right, it doesn't take much time or effort. I don't care if people read this and think I'm vain or shallow. The truth is that your appearance is the first thing people notice. We all get judged by our appearance whether we know it or not. In my opinion, we've all let ourselves go. Back in the 50s and 60s people cared a lot more and had a lot more pride in their appearance. Just look at peopleofwalmart.com and that's now the norm. It makes me sad.

Well for me this is what I do everyday:

1)Pick out what clothes I'll where that day. For me it's skinny jeans/regular ones and a simple but cute top and I wear my new moccasins alot if I'm not wearing those I'm wearing flip flops. And as for accessories I always wear: my key necklace (my boyfriends grandma gave it to me last year for x-mas.) and small heart shaped looped earrings and then pink studs above my baby piercings.

2)Then of course I shower and shave every two-three days.

3)After I dry off I always brush my hair before getting dressed because it gets frizzy.

(My hairs being a pain this year.lol) But in reality I've been blessed with beautiful hair, my stupid body wave from like five or six years ago always brings it's dread full frizz for me to deal with.

4)I wear makeup but not that often because it takes me long. But when I do I'll put some glitter on my eyelids because I love glitter and I'm a major girl girl and some liquid foundation on any spots that need a few touch up's like acne or scars and when I see my boyfriend I'll wear lip gloss and spray on some perfume.

5)Yes I always wear decent clothes. I always wear everyday: either skinny or regular jeans and a decent top something with a cute design or fun/cute graphic or anything that's simple but cute, comfy, and casual and then my moccasins because I've always liked the style and there really comfy and cute.

6) I always about every five-six weeks get my eyebrows waxed and any other hair I shave because waxing hurts.

7) I always try to put on a quick spritz of perfume.

I'm too busy finger painting and building forts for all that most days. If I am going out to dinner or out with friends for the day I will make a little effort. If someone stops by and I'm looking like a mess "Oh well." I don't leave the house like this but I definitely don't do all of that extra primping like I used to.

For example, at home I will have my hair up, decent looking sweats on, no makeup, etc. When I leave I wear a nicer top, jeans, a little makeup and hair neat (up or down.) Forget chipped nails...lol. It can wait until later.

I put make up on about twice a week. I rarely shave my legs...but shave my pits everyday. I get my hair highlighted...but usually wear it up. I get my eyebrows done way after they need it. But, I try to wear clean clothes everyday. I would say that before kids I did a much better job at keeping my eyebrows looking nice...and I didn't wear my hair up so much because I had the time and desire to fix it more often. Other than that not much has changed. The one thing that I do now for myself is the occasional pedicure. Before I was pregnant I had never had one. Once I couldn't really reach my feet anymore, I had that done...and it was wonderful. Now, I still treat myself to one every so often.

I do just as much as I did before I had Aubree. I work at a bank so I have to maintain a professional appearance. I can't show up with my hair messy + thrown up in a tony tail or throw up / snot on my clothes.

Every day.. I shower, shave, brush my teeth, put make up on, use deodorant, use perfume and wear nice clothing. It takes me about 30 minutes to get ready.. from shower to putting my shoes on! I don't know how parents can say that they don't have time to shower!

I don't know about you, or anyone else, but I feel like complete crap if I don't do those things daily.

That's not being shallow or high maintenance that's just making your self happy who cares what other people think. Some people like to put make up on after babies are here and some people don't. But for me I don't, there days I put lounge wear on during the day if I stay home. But do what ever makes you comfortable and happy.

It's pretty much the same as before I had kids. I rarely wear perfume, do my nails or shave my legs. I do shower and blow dry my hair every day, wear makeup and try to dress halfway decent.