As a fly mommy, we want to look our best 24/7.  No matter if we’re hosting an elegant dinner party, cheering on our kids at a soccer game, or stocking up on food and supplies at the local market, we love being on top of our game. It’s not always easy playing so many roles while taking care of ourselves, but it can be done. I have compiled a list of time sensitive beauty treatments that can be done with regular household products. They’re easy to do, produce great results and won’t result in a trip to your local bankruptcy lawyer!

Face Steaming: This invigorating treatment helps to open your pores for a more deep clean feeling.  All you need is a pot of hot water, a towel, and 5-10 minutes to spare. Bring the pot of water to a steam (doesn’t necessarily have to boil). While the water is heating, wash your face as you normally would and gently pat dry. Place the steaming pot on a table or solid surface that can’t be moved or tipped.  Drape the towel over your head and hover over the steam.  Allow the steam to open your pores. You don’t want to be so close that the steam burns you, but you want to feel it against your skin.  Do this for 5-10 minutes.  Follow up with a gentle exfoliate (see body scrub), rinse and pat dry. Your face will feel clean, refreshed and recharged.  To add to the effect, add a few drops of rosemary oil or lemon oil.  These oils are also good for the skin so it becomes a one, two punch.

Teeth Whitening: While I have nothing against over-the-counter teeth whiteners, I know it doesn’t take $5 to $50 to get your pearly whites even whiter. All you need to brighten your smile is baking soda. For less than a dollar a box, you can whiten your smile without harsh chemicals or abrasives. Brush your teeth as you normally would. Rinse and follow up with the baking soda. Brush with the baking soda for one minute and let it sit for one minute. Rinse again then follow up with mouthwash if you choose. You should see results within a week.

Body Scrub: You might try to have me committed after this suggestion, but keep in mind that I do all of these tips personally and have seen the results. Coffee grounds can do more than wake you up in the morning. They can also be used as a great exfoliate. Take a handful of regular (not decaffeinated) coffee grounds and add some water, creating a paste. In a circular motion, rub the coffee paste all over your body, avoiding sensitive areas. Not only do the coffee grounds pick up dead skin cells, but the caffeine wakes up your skin and recharges it. You can try this with regular or flavored coffee grounds, but I stick to the regular. I thank my mentor Shanel Cooper-Sykes for this tip!

Soft Skin: During these harsh winter months, it’s hard to keep our skin soft and supple. That can be eliminated with the use of one word…soy. Soybean oil has been proven to add moisture to skin and improve its texture. It also helps to even skin tone and to slow the growth of hair. There are many ways you can obtain the benefits of soy. You can purchase products with soy oil listed in the ingredients, but this is usually the most costly route. You can add soy to your diet with soy milk, soy yogurt, or other soy-based foods. You can also do what I do; purchase a bottle of soybean oil (it’s all the same) and mix it with your body wash and body lotion. It produces the same benefits, and you can control how little…or how much…soy you use on your skin. I do need to mention a word of caution. If you’re trying to grow out your hair do not use soy in your hair products. It will be counterproductive to the results you’re trying to achieve.

Overall Appearance: It cannot be said enough. To absolutely look and feel your best at all times you must include two things in your life: water and rest. No beauty regimen in the world can replace these two elements. You need water to keep your body hydrated and to keep your systems active and healthy. You need rest to allow your body to recharge and repair itself.  It is absolutely essential to your mind, body, spirit and sanity to include plenty of H2O and rest in your daily life. Typically, adults need 7-8 hours of rest and an average of 8 eight-ounce glasses of water to maintain a healthy state. This, of course, varies from person to person. Your height, weight, activity level, and overall health are also factors when it comes to determining how much rest and hydration you need. Find your comfort level and stick to it.

There you have it, five simple and powerful tips to keep your fly mommy status. Not only will you look good fulfilling the many roles of fly mommy-hood, but you’ll feel good, too! That trumps all of the benefits combined. Everyone knows that when mommy’s happy, the world is happy. These tips work for me! I’m sure they will work for you, too!