Get those products working as hard as you do
We mums’ have enough products in our bathroom cabinets and handbags to groom an army. So before spending more dollars in the beauty aisle, let’s get what we already have working a little bit harder.
Lucas’ Papaw Ointment
The little red tube is many a girl’s go to brand for perfectly balmed, hint of a shine lips, but did you know it works on little bums too? We love it on nappy rash, dry skin, sore mama nipples. Smoothe a little on cracked cuticles, rough elbows and tame those crazy eyebrows.
Nail Polish
Do you keep losing tiny shoes and drink bottles? Did a mini scooter go missing? Ok, you know how hard it is to get nail polish off everything? Voila, instant ‘paint it on’ nametag. Try some nail art for a bespoke look. Sparkly, personalised iphone case? Yes, please.
Image courtesy of Nars
Baby Wipes
Oh, you thought they were just for babies? Amateur. They’re shoe shine wipes, clean my phone and keyboard wipes, spilt chocolate on my top wipes and chope the last table at the food court wipes. They’re also pretty good as a makeup remover when you accidentally get home at 2am. Apparently.
Baby Wash
It’s perfect for cleaning makeup brushes. It gives a great, soft leg shave and is delicate enough to handwash your delicates in, if you’re lucky enough to have sexy underwear on high rotation. Run out of bubble solution? No, you haven’t.
Nappy Rash Cream
A must have for any Mum. Yes, it keeps those cute little bottoms so cute. But it also soothes adult skin irritations and helps with ingrown hairs. If the cream has zinc oxide in it (like Sudocrem) you can use it as sunscreen and a wrinkle cream too!
Lanolin
Don’t need that never-ending tube anymore for those hardworking breastfeeding nipples? Don’t chuck it just yet. You probably already know it’s good for keeping lips soft and kissable but it’s also a dab hand at protecting leather. Rub a little into your handbag or shoes. For little ones with sniffles, pop a bit under their nose to protect their skin from drying out with all the sneezing and wiping.
Straightening Hair Irons
The key word here is ‘iron’. Running out the door and realise your skirt is slightly wrinkly. I think you know what we’re getting at.
Baby Oil
Smoothes not only baby skin, but yours as well (and his too, you saucy masseuse). Baby oil makes a pretty terrific and very gentle eye makeup remover. Oh and bye bye fly-aways, hello emergency hair shine serum.
Nappies
Engineered to absorb, nappies are perfect for an emergency clean. Whether it’s red wine on the rug or a whole bowl of milky cereal on the floor, you will thank us. Packing fragile items? Pack them in nappies, seriously. They’re a handy addition to your first aid kit too for a DIY hot or cold pack. ‘Fill’ with hot water and apply for an instant heat pack or fill with cold water, chuck in the freezer and you have yourself a cold pack!
Baby Powder
Dust on lightly to set your makeup and extend the life of that fierce red lip. A little goes a long way as an emergency dry shampoo to rid you of those greasy roots. Don’t want to bring the sand home from the beach or the park? Sprinkle all over your little one and the sand brushes easily away.
A word of warning: not every item in our cabinet functions in more ways than one. Unfortunately, despite trials, Baby Panadol definitely does not cure adult hangovers.
Main image courtesy of Johnson & Johnson
